It is crazy how those bills start to build up if you do not keep an eye on them. We can spend a fortune heating and lighting our home without even realising why. This is especially true if there are a lot of people living in the house. Imagine a family of four. They are all in separate rooms. That means four different lights are switched on. Four taps are running. Four televisions, laptops and Ipads are being used. All at the same time. Is it any wonder your energy bill is through the roof? But you can change all that with these simple solutions.
Turn Those Lights Out!
That is definitely a major message we want you to take away from this article. When you leave a room turn the lights off. Leaving them on is a waste you do not want to pay for. We do not recommend turning off hall lights. Dimly lit places can dampen your mood but do consider whether you need them on through the day. Also, if you are going out remember to switch everything off before you go.
Do not go overboard with this idea. Remember that if a plug is switched off then there is no need to unplug all devices.
Don’t settle; shop around for better deals
Believe it or not, there are energy providers that sit outside the “Big 6” that could give you a much better deal on your energy bills. The cheapest average annual bill, for instance, comes from Utility Warehouse. As per a recent study from UK Power, they found that due to Utility Warehouse’s energy pricing model, combined with the fact they don’t rely fully on energy and provide other utility services, customers are able to experience cheaper energy tariffs. In the current climate, it would certainly be naive to stick with your current provider without exploring other options, so do some research and see if you can save by switching.
Bleed your radiators
It might sound strange, but ‘bleeding’ your radiators is a quick and easy task to remove pockets of air. If your radiators aren’t heating up properly or are cold at the top and warm at the bottom, they may need bleeding.
Start by turning off your central heating to ensure your radiators are cool. Insert the radiator key into the bleed valve and place a cloth underneath to catch any water. Finally, twist the key anti-clockwise until you hear a hissing noise, then close it once the water starts leaking out of the valve.
Long Showers?
Is there someone in your family who spends their life in the bathroom? Then you may want to think about adding an additional water supply to your home. Companies like The Water Tank Factory offer brilliant systems at affordable prices. These can be used to collect and store rainwater. At least then if they are using a lot of water all you need to worry about is how much it will cost to keep hot.
Here is a tip for reducing your hot water cost. Phase-out hot showers. The way to do this is to start exercising in the morning. Work up a sweat and then head into the shower. Your body will crave a cool, refreshing bath. It will invigorate your body and wake up your mind for the day.
Let The Sun Shine
You may have noticed the funny flat, black dishes appearing on people’s roofs in your area. These are solar panels. A rather expensive investment that people hope will pay off eventually. However, whether they do will depend on your local climate. Remember, we may be in for a fantastic summer. But that does not mean the sun will come out next year. If you live in a tropical country, this may be the perfect way to reduce costs. But if you live in a place where the typical forecast is rain and lots of it, perhaps not. Just wait though, home wind farms may be next.
Shut Those Doors
Assuming it is not the middle of summer keep your doors closed. This will keep the heat in for longer and lead to a warmer house in general. You will be less inclined to turn the heating on in the first place. You can also think about improving your insulation.
We know some of these are seemingly small and insignificant. But little fixes will help. One last tip. Do not unplug a device before it is completely charged. If you do, you are wasting more energy than necessary.
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