It’s a very difficult time all round just now but one issue we can all do something about is energy efficiency. As well as saving money now, using less power will help us more sustainably in the future.
To help people work out the best actions for them we have gathered together our top 12 energy saving tips.
Please send us your tips at info@sinch.earth
Key messages
- Layer up and heat yourself – but make sure you keep warm enough.
- Insulation is the most cost-effective way to keep the heat in – cheap quick wins can be had by tackling drafts caused by gaps around doors and windows and by improving roof and loft insulation. In both cases you need to maintain adequate air circulation, especially in roof spaces. Take care not to block the eaves up.
- Adjust your central heating thermostat – turning it down even a degree brings significant savings.
- It’s normally cheaper to run a central heating system at a steady low heat than keep switching it on and off or heating individual rooms for long periods.
- Turn down radiator valves in rooms you don’t use, but ensure there is some heat produced to avoid condensation and mould.
- Consider portable heating for individual rooms for short periods – oil filled heaters are the most efficient. Also check out this room-by-room guide on energy efficiency.
- Check your gas boiler settings – combi-boilers are often not optimised for energy efficiency. Before you make any changes you must read this info here first. If you have a hot water tank instead, to avoid contamination, you must keep the cylinder at a minimum of 60°.
- Be more aware of the energy used by individual appliances. Think about replacing inefficient items.
- Upgrade your lighting to LED where appropriate – advice here.
- Think about how you can cook more efficiently and avoid waste. Microwaves are very efficient (est. 8p a day compared to 87p for an electric cooker). They can be used to cook whole meals (see here) as well as for rewarming batch-cooked food. Air Fryers might be worth using to avoid using the hob.
- Consider installing solar panels, the cost is coming down and the price of energy won’t be falling significantly any time soon.
- If you do need to replace radiators think about sizing these for heat-pump readiness.
Dig deeper into the advice available based on your own circumstances.
