House Hold Appliance Tips

Wash your clothes at 30 degrees compared to a higher setting uses around 40% less energy. This is because your washing machine has to work longer to heat up the water to a hotter temperature.

If you can, avoid using the tumble dryer and hang your washing outside to dry. If you don’t have access to outside space, use a clothes airer in a well-ventilated area with access to a window.

Always wash your clothes when you have a full load, this way you won’t waste energy by doing lots of cycles. However, do not overload your washing machine, otherwise you risk your clothes not being washed properly.

Cutting the time you spend in the shower will slash both your water and energy bill. You will save money on energy as you are heating less wate. Energy Saving Trust says keeping your shower time to four minutes could save you £70 a year.

Swap the Bath for a Shower

Swapping a long bath for a four-minute shower just once a week could save you £12 a year on your energy bills according to the Energy Saving Trust. You could also save an extra £7 on your water bills.

Swap your shower head with a more efficient one to save around £55 on your gas bill and £45 on the water bill for a family of four.

Be careful to make sure all taps are off when you’ve finished having a bath or shower. The same applies when you’re brushing your teeth. Do not leave the tap running.

Uswitch says there is “no absolute proof” to determine whether a dishwasher is more energy efficient than washing by hand. \If you do have a dishwasher, make sure you are on an Eco setting and wait until you have a full load. Empty your machine regularly to avoid having to re-wash items

It is recommended that you only fill the kettle up with the amount of water you need. As well as saving water, you will save energy as your kettle will have to work less hard as it boils for less time.

A dirty hob with burnt on food and grease will use more energy as it will take longer for the heat to come through. Always remember to give it a good clean to help lower your bill and cooking time

Slow cookers cost 5p – 6p an hour to run sa opposed to ovens which can be 86p – 96p an hour. Slow cookers can be used for stews, soups, roasts, cakes and baked potatoes.

Using a saucepan with a lid helps save you energy as you’re trapping the steam an heat in as you’re cooking. Cooking with lids on uses roughly 10% less energy that cooking without.

USwitch says the microwave is generally the most efficient way to heat up and cook food. This is because it is always quicker and smaller in size compared to an oven. Always make sure your food can be microwaved first by reading the label!

Bulk Cook in the Oven

If you are using the oven, try to make maximum use of the space – and the energy you are using – by cooking as much food as possible in one go. This also prepares you for the week ahead, as left-over portions can be frozen or chilled for later, then warmed up in the microwave.

You can check for free or cheap energy-saving appliances on the Save Water Save Money website
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It sounds like an obvious one but we are all guilty of this. Turning the lights off when you leave the room will save you around £20 a year on your annual energy bills according to Energy Saving trust.

Energy Saving Trust says you save between £1 and £4 per year for every traditional or halogen bulb your replace with an LED. While it would cost you in the short-term to replace every bub – approximately £145 for the average household – you could save £40 per year.

Make sure you’re getting the most from your central heating by bleeding your radiators at least once a year. Bleeding your radiator involves getting rid of trapped air inside that causes warm water to stop circulating around your radiator. To do this you need a radiator key (which can be found at your nearest DIY store and a something to catch any water.

Try Foil Behind Your Radiators

You can buy sheets of reflective sticky-back aluminium foil from RKL Tools for £7.50, which works by bouncing heat back into the room. Some online hacks claim you can replicate the same effect with regular foil but there isn’t enough evidence to back this up.

It might sound obvious but don’t waste money by heating rooms that you’re not using. Go round your home and make sure your radiators are switched off in any room that isn’t occupied.

Check the windows and under the doors for signs of cool air entering your home. If the cold is coming in then you’re wasting money trying to keep your home warm. You can make a cheap draught excluder for your doors with old jumpers and socks or invest in a rug to stop cold air escaping through the floor. Foam draught excluders for windows can be bought from RKL Tools starting at £2.99 for a pack.

Rearranging your furniture might just help to reduce your energy bill. Move furniture away from radiators so that heat can circulate more freely.

If you are healthy and looking to just warm up your hands, research from MoneySavingExpert has found that heated USB gloves are one of the cheapest options. It estimates that USB gloves cost less than 1p per hour to run, with an up-front cost of roughly £5.

Keeping your curtains shut in the evening reduces heat loss by up to 17% according to researchers at the University of Salford. Line your curtains with a thick liner. Blinds may keep the heat in but to a lesser degree. In warm weather, do the opposite and keep your curtains open for longer. This will keep the sun coming in, thereby making your home hotter for longer.