Over the last few years energy bills have risen sharply in the UK taking a substantial chunk out of our income. There are steps you can take to save money on your gas and electricity bills though.
Many of us just accept the energy prices that we have to pay but thinking about the energy we use in our homes can help us identify areas for improvement. The following advice is designed to help you have more control over your energy bills without changing your lifestyle too much, and could have a huge effect on the cost of your gas and electricity.
To make big savings on your gas and electric bills you need to think about your home as a living system with parts that all have an effect on each other. Heating will make up most of the energy costs in your home, so reductions here will reduce costs significantly.
For example, installing double-glazed windows and loft insulation will stop energy escaping from your home. Keeping heat in will mean you won’t need to constantly heat your home to be warm. As the walls and windows will retain the heat better than a home without insulation, when it comes to replacing your boiler you can opt for a smaller more efficient one, saving you even more money.
Double-glazed windows will reduce your bills by around £40 per year, loft insulation will save around £100, and an efficient boiler anywhere from £120 up to £200 each year from your gas or electricity bill.
You could also insulate other areas of your home. Lagging your hot-water tank will keep more heat in it and insulating wall cavities will also conserve more energy. Draught proofing is the next step to stop your budget from flying out the front door. Depending upon the size of your home, draught proofing could knock up to £35 off your energy bill per year, paying for itself in about three years.
Energy saving light bulbs will reduce energy consumption, so replace them throughout your home where possible. If you have a study you may prefer a brighter light but everywhere else get those new bulbs installed. Energy saving bulbs will save you £5-£10 a year with the cost recovered in six months. Containing only trace amounts of mercury, they are able to be recycled easily and give off just as much light as traditional ’soft tone’ bulbs.
It is also worth checking the energy ratings of your appliances and replacing any high energy consuming devices when possible financially since it will save you money in the long run.
