Tip #1
Even if it’s just by one degree, lowering the thermostat is one of the easiest steps you can take to reduce your energy usage. It is thought that just a slight adjustment could save around £145 per year, according to the Energy Saving Trust.
Choose a setting between 18 and 21 degrees, depending on whether you are mainly sitting or are constantly moving around the room, and adjust the setting as you need to. You can also use smart thermostats so that your home is always heating to the temperature you are most comfortable at.
Similarly, consider bringing down the the central heating flow temperature on your boiler to around 60 degrees for Baxi Combi boilers and 65 degrees on Baxi System boilers. This could help you save money on your heating while still being comfortable.
Don’t turn the temperature down any lower, as this could cause the growth of harmful bacteria in your system.
A well-fitted jacket for your hot water cylinder keeps your water hotter for longer. That means that your boiler won’t need to work as hard to heat it up, which can save money in the long run.
Make sure your cylinder is maintained regularly and is well-insulated to ensure it works at the best possible level.
There’s always the temptation to put the heating on to dry clothes, especially when the weather gets colder. However this means that your boiler will need to work harder in order to heat the room, which can waste energy and, you guessed it, costs money.
The same applies with putting furniture in front of the radiator. The warmth becomes trapped and is prevented from reaching all areas of the room.
These are usually around windows and doors, so it may be worth looking for any gaps around frames or through gaps underneath the doors.
You can also use thermal curtains which, when closed at dusk, prevent the heat from escaping. Similarly, consider using draft excluders and upgrading your windows to double or triple glazing. Even a simple roller blind can lead to a 15% reduction in heat loss.
Removing debris also means that your boiler doesn’t have to work harder to overcome blockages that the debris can cause. As a result, you won’t waste energy and the risk of having to fork out for expensive repairs is much less.
Make sure to carry out an annual service on your boiler to keep warranties up to date and the system in top condition. A regular maintenance plan also identifies problem areas before they escalate. Prevention is better than cure!
You can also identify appliances that are consuming the most energy, which might be useful in looking for alternative, more efficient options.
Smart thermostats in particular help to keep your home at a comfortable temperature. Like many other ‘smart’ devices, smart thermostats can integrate into your existing heating system and can start working straightaway.
Consider adjusting your hot water flow temperatures to be cooler in summer and warmer in winter as another way of being efficient with your energy useage.
Lighting makes up around 11% of a typical power bill, so turning the lights off in rooms that you are not using could be an effective way to conserve energy. Better yet, consider switching to LED bulbs which use around 70% less energy than standard lightbulbs.
Unplug your phone or laptop charger once your device is finished charging to protect the battery and look after your energy usage. Switching off your appliances and devices instead of leaving them on standby could save around £45 per year!
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