How Energy Aware are you?

How Energy Aware are you?

Do you know where your energy is going?

Understanding how your home uses energy is the first step to improving efficiency and cutting costs. Here are ways you can monitor your electricity usage.

Read your meter

Look at your meter regularly and keep track of how much electricity is being used during different time periods. This will give you an idea of what areas to focus on in your cutting cost efforts.

For example, if you find that your home consumes the most energy in the mornings before work then you should consider what activities are electricity-intensive.

Tip: kettles and toasters are high wattage appliances so be sure to get the most out of every use. It is also very interesting to see how much energy your home is consuming when you are not even inside.

Tip: Appliances on standby (plugged in, but not turned on) still consume up to 70% of their full electricity requirement, so unplug these items when not in use.

Use an Electrisave

This device shows you exactly how much electricity each device in the home uses. If you act on the information it provides you, you will have recouped the costs in a matter of months and it will help you save money. Visit www.electrisave.co.uk

Lights

Lighting accounts for 18% of our electricity bill. Install low energy bulbs. Their initial cost is high but they use a quarter of the power of conventional light bulbs. Over their life time, low energy bulbs can save you up to £70.

Housekeeping

Elements in kettles and washing machines that are coated with limescale are inefficient and use more energy to raise the temperature of the water they are heating. Use a de-scaler like Clagon in your kettle or washing machine to remove limescale. Vinegar can aslo be used to maintain your domestic appliances against the build up of limescale. Every two months run a 60 degree cycle with no clothes and add 200ml of white vinegar. This will reduce electricity use and maintain health of these appliances.

Freezers

Freezers that are filled with frost work harder to stay cold. They should be defrosted regularly. Good seals on fridges and freezers are needed to keep them working efficiently as well. Well stocked fridges and freezers need less energy than empty ones do.

Hot Water

Dishwashers and washing machines that heat their own water should be kept to low temperature settings. All modern detergents are designed to clean successfully at 40 degrees Celsius and there is no need for a prewash. Washing at 65 degrees Celsius will require much more energy. Wash loads only. Half full dishwashers are costing you money. If you heat your water electrically, you can expect your hot water cost to be double if you bath instead of shower. Ecover products have a range of environmentally friendly detergents that clean successfully when following the above suggestions. www.ecover.com

Replace

Old or poorly maintained appliances are costing you money. Although it may seem a huge investment to buy new appliances it will end up saving you sooner than you think. Although it takes a lot of energy to produce new appliances, if you buy sensibly, you will have an item that has a long life and minimal energy use. It is essential that you old appliances are disposed of correctly. A reputable retailer should remove your old appliance and dispose of it for you appropriately.

For example: Tumble driers are appliances that contribute in a big way to your electricity bills. An 'A' rated model will use an average of £23 of electricity a year whereas a 'G' rated appliance will use almost double that. Don't forget, if you have a garden, you can dry your clothes for free in the summer with the use of a clothes line.If you are looking at replacing appliances or need to know how efficient or environmentally friendly the products you use are, Good Energy recommends the Good Shopping Guide as a reliable and factual resource. You can find them online at: www.gooshing.co.uk

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