Using energy in the domestic household is a necessary evil. Yes, there are a lot of benefits to it, in that we thrive on more comfortable living and have the potential to use all sorts of electrical devices that we once didn’t. However, there are also downsides to having a home with high energy usage. For starters, your bills are likely to be a lot more expensive, and you’re actually contributing to the pollution and carbon emissions in the environment. It’s in everybody’s best interests that you reduce the energy usage in your home, but what are the best ways of doing this? Well, follow these top tips and you’ll be living a less expensive and eco-friendlier lifestyle in no time!
Take a Look at Your Appliances
Stop whatever you’re doing and have a sweep of all of the electrical items in the room that you’re currently sitting in (if you are at home!). Now you’ve done that, count up how many appliances there are, that are plugged in and switched on and you aren’t currently using. Chances are, there are quite a few, aren’t there? And if you don’t have any, then well done you! You’re already on your way to reducing your households energy consumption.
This is a small change you can easily make that won’t impact your life on a day-to-day basis at all, but will massively reduce your energy usage and the cost of your monthly bills. Most the time if you feel like you’re overpaying on your bills, you absolutely are – but it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re being overcharged! These appliances consume energy if they’re switched on, even when they’re not in use, so make a concerted effort to turn your switches and appliances off! The littlest things can sometimes make the biggest difference.
Trusted professionals deliver home energy grants by installing what’s needed to make your living space more energy efficient. This includes energy-efficient home appliances and fixtures. They can provide cost-saving energy solutions for your home without hidden costs. Additionally, many energy providers offer free or subsidized energy audits to discover areas where you can save money.
Your Heating System
Keeping your home at a comfortable temperature is one of the most important things. Typically, people find that their energy bills are far more expensive in the winter months as opposed to the summer, due to the colder outdoor temperatures. Keeping your home warm in the winter is crucial, however, have you ever considered that if your home isn’t properly insulated, then it could be letting in more cold air than it should be? This is something that people often overlook when they’re paying for high energy bills throughout the winter, but if you tackle this issue you could seriously reduce the amount that you have to use your heating during these months.
It’s actually really simple too. All you need to do is have a look at all of your windows and doors and make sure that each on is properly sealed. If not, you could either look at resealing them, or replacing them for something more sturdy. For example, if you don’t have double glazing, investing in some could save you a lot of money in the long run. Likewise, if you live in a brick house that hasn’t been worked on in a long time, consider getting in touch with a repointing brickwork specialist to do some improvements. Although some of these things do cost money, what’s better – to have a one off payment due now that’ll reduce all of your regular payments in the future, or to keep paying more and more for your energy bills? It’s a no brainer really!
Water
Next, think about the ways in which you use the water in your home. Did you know that on average, it takes up to one hundred and fifteen litres of water to fill a bath, in comparison to the mere fifty that a shower uses in comparison. If you bathe every day currently, why not consider switching it up and showering instead? By making this simple change, which is actually more time efficient anyway you’ll save as much as sixty-five litres of water. Likewise, are you guilty of leaving the tap running while you wash your face, brush your teeth, or even have a shave? Or do you even put the shower on for five minutes before you get into it? Be more aware of when you’re using your water, and whether it’s really necessary.
Finally, if you wanted to take it a step further, you could invest in a low pressure showerhead. These reduce your water usage, energy usage, carbon emissions and will likely reduce your monthly bill too! Just by doing a little bit of research and making conscious decisions, you can make the world of difference – so what are you waiting for?
