Energy-efficiency tips

Five simple steps to help you cut your energy bills  

Minimising  your energy use and carbon emissions isn't all about investing in renewable technology and energy-management systems. There are some very simple steps that any home or business can take to help eliminate wasted energy and reduce energy bills. To get you started, here are a five handy hints from the Energy Saving Trust:  

1. Don't leave appliances on standby
It may seem obvious to switch electrical equipment off, but it is amazing how many of us don't. From televisions and computers to water coolers and vending machines, if you can switch them off, you should. Leaving electrical items on standby can use up to 85% of the energy they would use if they were in use. Make sure you switch  appliances off at the socket or unplug them completely.
 
2. Remember to switch off your lights
When you leave a room, ensure you switch the lights off. Better still, in hallways, corridors, toilets and other rarely used rooms, fit sensor-activated lighting. Motion-detection sensors switch your lights on when movement is detected and switch them off after an allotted time has passed with no movement - so lights are never left on when they are not needed.
 
Other energy-saving tips include changing to LED lighting or energy-saving light bulbs, rather than strip-lighting or traditional incandescent bulbs.
 
3. Reduce your thermostat setting
Turning your thermostat setting down by just 1°C could cut your heating bills by 10%, saving an average of £60 per year for a household.
 
4. Close your curtains when it gets dark
At dusk, close your curtains and blinds to stop heat escaping through the windows. In industrial and commercial buildings that aren't open 24 hours a day, ensure that curtains and blinds are closed before you leave. Make sure your curtains don't cover any radiators, as this will absorb heat and prevent it spreading throughout the building.
 
5. Check for dripping taps
Dripping taps may be costing you a lot more than you think. Over a week, a single dripping hot tap wastes enough hot water to fill half a bath.

For more expert advice on saving energy and to find out how you could make significant savings, please contact us today.