Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last six months or so, you’ll have realized that the UK is in the grip of a recession that’s refusing to be swept aside even by a plethora of government economy-stimulation measures.  Yawn, yawn, yawn, we hear you cry – and yes, we’re sick of hearing about it too.  But there’s no getting around the fact that desperate times call for desperate measures, and with very few spare pennies floating around at the minute it’s in everyone’s best interests to make their money work harder.  When it comes to shaving vital pounds off those nasty household bills, energy efficiency is key, and it’s a win-win situation; you save money and do your bit to save the planet too!  Here are our top tips for reducing your energy bills this winter:

1.  Energy MOT

Perform a free home energy check online at www.energysavingtrust.org.uk – just answer some simple questions about your home and they’ll supply you with an impartial report detailing how you could save energy and money.  The EST website is also packed with energy-saving information, including details of government grants available to help with the cost of energy efficient home improvements, whether it’s a wind turbine or just some extra loft insulation. Don’t forget that all homes for sale or rent in Northern Ireland require Energy Performance Certificates.

2.  Ban the bill

Switch to direct debit and paperless billing.  Many companies – gas, water, electricity, telephone etc. – offer discounts for customers who choose a paperless billing service, which basically just means that you’ll receive your bill and any correspondence about your account via email instead of in the post.  As well as scoring you some all-important money off your bill, you can sleep a little easier knowing that your carbon footprint has shrunk!  Paying by direct debit is another potential way to get some discount and obviously saves on any hassle because you can be sure the bills will get paid on time.  A word to the wise, though; try and resist the temptation to leave email bills unopened in your inbox – you should still open them and give the itemization a once over to ensure it is correct.

3. Switch off lights.

This is such an obvious one and yet not always easy to remember.  Try to get into the habit of switching off lights as you leave a room and resist the urge to leave lights burning in hallways, porches etc. unless it’s absolutely necessary.  If your kids insist on a nightlight, consider switching to a low-energy LED solution for safe, long lasting and cheap light.  Making the switch to energy saving light bulbs will also help to cut your electricity bills and is kinder to the environment as the eco-friendly ones have a much longer lifespan.

4.  Standby and deliver

These days many appliances such as TVs, DVD players, stereos etc, have a standby button which means that when you switch them ‘off’ they go into a sort of power saving mode – but crucially, they are still connected to the power source and still consuming energy!  Switching these items off at the wall when they are not in use – at night, for example, could save you a surprising amount of money, not to mention improving your home’s fire safety.  The same applies for mobile phones and other items – avoid leaving them plugged in for longer than it actually takes them to charge fully.

5.  Crank it…down

Turn your thermostat down – reducing the temperature by just 1˚C could reduce your heating bill by ten percent – typically a saving of £55 in a year.  The optimum temperature for a living room is 18-21˚C, although a higher temperature may be required for babies and the elderly.  The most efficient way to run your heating is generally to use it only when needed, rather than leaving it switched on all the time, so make good use of your heating timers.  Set it to come on shortly before you get up in the morning, or before you get home from work, but make sure it’s off when nobody is home or when you’re all tucked up under duvets – and during chilly winter weather, switch to a thicker duvet for extra snuggle factor!

6.  Boiler TLC

Look after your boiler – make sure it’s serviced regularly by a professional to ensure safety and efficiency as well as avoiding expensive emergency plumbing call-outs.  If your boiler is more than fifteen years old, chances are it’s past its best; replacing it with a highly efficient new model could save you a packet each year – it’s estimated that some older boilers are only around 65% efficient whilst new models have around 90% efficiency.  Take advice from a qualified heating engineer to find the model that best suits your home and lifestyle.

7.  Bleeding love

There’s no point in having a super-efficient boiler if your radiators are backed up with air so make sure you bleed them regularly.  You can tell your rads need some attention if they heat unevenly or make excessive noise.  This will ensure that each one operates at full capacity, heating rooms more quickly and wasting less fuel.

8.  Let it breathe

Speaking of radiators, you’d be amazed how many people spend a fortune making sure theirs are piping hot, only to stifle them with furniture and heavy curtains!  Make sure you leave enough space in front of radiators for the heat to circulate properly into the rest of the room – 12 inches should be enough and this will also protect your furniture from heat damage, especially wood and leather which can dry out and crack if placed too close to a heat source.  Curtains are great insulators but they can prevent heat from getting into the room so tucking them down the back or leaving them open while the radiators are on is a good idea.  You can then close them to keep heat in.

9.  Sunny side up

Make use of natural sunlight by keeping curtains and blinds open during the day.  Sunlight on glass is a great and totally free way to heat a room so make the most of it – you should also leave the doors open so that heat from the warmer rooms can circulate into the rest of your home.  At night, when heat is quickly lost through exposed glass, use lined curtains to keep heat in.

10.  Wrap it up

Top up your insulation.  The required level for loft insulation in new build homes is 300mm so if your home has less it’s worth topping up to reduce your fuel bills even further.  If you live in an old house with no loft insulation, you may qualify for a grant to have it installed.  The same applies if your home has no cavity wall insulation; most homes built after 1920 have cavity wall construction (which means the external walls have a double-skin construction with a space between them) but for those with unfilled cavities, up to a third of the heat lost from that property escapes through the walls.  Having insulation installed could save you up to £115 each year.  Finally, everyone needs a good winter coat – and your hot water tank is no exception.  Making sure yours is fitted with a nice new, thick jacket will keep your water hotter for longer meaning you have to use less fuel when it comes to all that festive washing up!

11.  In hot water

Most modern boilers will have a thermostat for hot water as well as central heating and you should ensure that yours is set no hotter than 60˚C – this is more than adequate for household use whether bathing or washing up.  Any hotter and you risk wasting energy and money, not to mention burns and scalds from too-hot water. A good rule of thumb is that you shouldn’t really need to use the cold tap much (if at all) when taking a shower.

12.  Don’t be a drip

It’s all too easy to ignore a dripping hot tap – after all, how much water could it possibly waste?  The answer is…a lot!  A dripping tap could half fill the average bath in just one week which is a waste of both water and money, so make sure you get yours fixed and that they are fully turned off when not in use.

13.  Appliance science

Choose energy efficient appliances.  You may not be able to survive without a plethora of household helpers, but choosing washing machines, tumble dryers and fridge freezers with a good energy rating can cut your bills significantly.  Top rated appliances cost more initially but are often of a higher quality, which means they have a longer lifespan and will save you more money during that time.
Appliances are rated from A-G with refrigeration products also capable of achieving an A+ or A++ rating.  The difference is substantial; the average A++ rated fridge-freezer costs on average less than £14.04 to run each year, compared to a G-rated appliance, which could cost in excess of £60 over the same period.  An A-rated dishwasher should cost less than £18.72 a year, while it’s G-rated equivalent could cost you more than £40. (Source: www.which.co.uk)

14.  Use it or lose it

Make your appliances work for you.  Make sure your washing machine and dishwasher are actually full before you put them on and carry out regular cleaning and maintenance of filters etc. to ensure a top-notch performance.  Most modern washing machines are packed with features, so make use of economy programs, half load options and remember the laundry mantra – if it’s not dirty, wash at 30!  Even your humble kettle can get in on the energy-saving act – only boil the water you need.