The average UK household can save over £27,000 throughout the course of a lifetime and decrease their carbon footprint by making small, everyday changes to the way energy is used in the home.
Substantial savings can be made by taking simple actions and cutting fuel costs does not have to interfere with everyday life.
Turning the heating in your home down by just 1 degree can save a household almost £6,000 over a lifetime, which equates to a saving of a few hundred pounds each year. Not heating your house when it is empty can save around £4,500 over the years.
Paying to heat your home is a fruitless exercise if the hot air escapes though draughts and gaps. Around 75% of Britain’s homes are losing energy due to inadequate insulation and insulating your home is a cost efficient way of keeping heat in and energy bills down.
A third of all heat is lost through the walls and simple insulation will save the typical household over £100 each year. If your house was built between 1930 and 1990 then it is likely to have cavity walls which are suitable for insulation.
The roof of your home is another probable place for heat to escape. 25% of warm air is lost here but simply insulating your loft with glass-fibre or mineralwool, ideally 270mm deep, traps the heat, saves you about £150 each year and is also kinder to the environment.
Cut out draughts and stop heat escaping by filling door and window gaps with foam strips or mastic sealant. Even keeping your curtains drawn at night time helps to minimise draughts and heat loss.
Older, less efficient boilers are more expensive to run than newer versions and can drain both power and pocket. New, energy-efficient condensing models may be more expensive to install but will give real value over their lifespan.
Energy saving tips that can be used year round include changing to energy saving light bulbs. Changing ten bulbs could save a household around £50 a year.
You can save pennies every time you make a cup of tea simply by ensuring you use just the right amount of water in the kettle.
Turning off lights when they are not needed saves £806 over a lifetime and not leaving appliances on standby saves a significant £2,296. Remember to switch off mobile telephone chargers when not in use as this saves approximately £426 and jumping in the shower instead of taking a bath will make you £1,680 richer in the long run.
Simply shopping around and comparing suppliers helps you to get the best energy deals. Paying by direct debit can help to cut costs and money off deals are often found on energy efficient products.
By making small changes to the way you live and the energy used, you can save a staggering amount of money and help to protect the environment at the same time.
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Adam Singleton writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.
