With the cost-of-living on the rise, there’s never been a better time to cut back on your energy bills. From draught proofing your windows to having shorter showers, we’ve put together our seven top tips to reducing your energy use around the home.
- Buy a new build home – Did you know that a new home will save you money? According to the House Builders Federation, owners of new build house are saving on average £3,100 per year in energy costs compared to owners of older houses. The average new build home emits a third of the carbon of older properties, reducing emissions by 2.2 tonnes each year. New houses are designed with enhanced insulation, double glazing and cost-effective boiler systems, which all result in a lower energy consumption and reduced running costs. In comparison, older properties tend to be more expensive to run, due to outdated plumbing systems, single glazed windows, old wiring, loose roof tiles and poor insulation.
- Turn appliances off standby mode – Although you may think appliances such as the TV, microwave, coffee machine etc are all turned off, you could be wasting money if you aren’t unplugging appliances and leaving them in standby mode. In fact, research by British Gas suggests that you could save around £55 per year by switching off household devices when not in use!
- Be smart when cooking – If you’re cooking up a storm in the kitchen, be sure to always use a pan that is an appropriate size for the food you’re cooking. Heating up a bigger surface area unnecessarily will use more energy than needed. Once you’ve picked your pan size, make sure you then pick a similar size hob/ring, to ensure you’re not wasting energy. If you’re boiling water in a pan, try not to use more water than is needed to cover the amount of food you’re cooking, as it’ll take much longer to boil water that isn’t really needed. Another top tip when it comes to cooking, is try to keep your rings/hobs as clean as possible, as any food that is covering them will absorb heat, making it less energy efficient.
- Save water when showering – One of the easiest ways to save money in the bathroom is to spend less time in the shower. A top tip to help with this is to use a shower timer or even pick your favourite song and get out once that has finished. However, if you’re a long shower lover, then there are a few things you can do to help save money, such as switching to a water efficient showerhead. According to Water Corporation, a household can save up to 20,000L of water per year by installing a water efficient showerhead.
- Use Hive – One of the most effective steps you can take to reduce your fuel bills is to have an efficient heating system that you can control easily, such as Hive. If you own a Stonebridge home then you’re in luck, as all of our houses come with the Hive as standard, so you can control your thermostat on any smartphone, tablet or Amazon Alexa/Google Home. This means that if you’re out of the house, you can ensure you’re not wasting water or heating, as you’ll be able to set schedules, turn it on as and when you need it, set up zoned heating and so much more.
- Be sensible when doing the laundry – Laundry is a task that we can’t escape, but there are a couple of ways you can save money whilst doing it. Firstly, did you know that washing your clothes at a lower temperature, could save you up to £40 a year? Changing from a 40 degree wash to a 30 degree wash means you can get three cycles instead of two, using the same amount of energy, depending on your washing machine. And once your clothes are washed, another easy way to save money is to use your tumble dryer less. Tumble dryers are one of the most energy-intensive devices in the home, so you should only use it when you really need to. Try to avoid overfilling the tumble dryer too, as this will lengthen the drying time.
- Draught proof your home – According to Energy Saving Trust, stopping heat from escaping through unwanted gaps around doors and windows could help you save around £60 per year in a typical home. Draught-proofing strips around window frames are a great way to save money, as well as draught excluders for the bottom of doors. And it’s not just windows and doors that let a draught in. Chimneys, fireplaces, floorboards, skirting boards and loft hatches can all be culprits too.
Thinking of moving to a new build to help save money on your energy bills? Call 0113 357 1100 or email sales@stonebridgehomes.co.uk to find out more.
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