25 tips to save energy at home

Energy saving tips for your living room

This is where we spend the most time and where we can make the most savings

1. Think about the size and type of screen you choose when you buy a new TV. In general, the smaller your TV, the less it will cost you to run and think about the age of the product.
2. Laptops are more energy efficient than using a desktop.
3. Utilise your power-saving settings: computers use almost the same amount of power whether they're active or idle, so using your sleep settings will turn the appliance off.
4. Printing, if you have to use a low-energy inkjet printer where possible, rather than a higher-energy laser printer.
5. If you're listening to the radio through your TV, make sure you use the radio screen blanking feature - it's a handy way to save energy.
   
   

Energy saving tips for your kitchen

This is where the most energy is used on a regular basis meaning there are savings

1. If you're using the kettle to boil water, avoid overfilling it - this could save £11 a year on your electricity bills.
2. Use glass or ceramic dishes instead of metal dishes and trays in the oven. Glass and ceramic materials retain heat better than metal.
3. If you can reduce running your dishwasher by one run each week, you could save £14 per year.
4. If you wash up by hand, make sure you use a washing up bowl rather than wasting water as it's running from the tap.
5. Keep the oven door closed while you're cooking. Each time you open the door, the oven loses up to 25 degrees of heat and subsequently requires more energy to increase it again.
6. Run your washing machine at a lower temperature, you can often do everyday washes at 30°C, which uses 40% less electricity over a year.

Energy saving tips for your bathroom

The main concern in the bathroom is the amount of water and heat used

1. Turn the tap off when you're brushing your teeth or washing your face - it can waste more than six litres of water per minute while it's running.
2. Swapping one bath per week for a four-minute shower could save you £12 on your energy bills annually.
3. Think about how long you are spending in the shower, shorter showers, under four minutes, could save an average household £70 a year on energy bills.
4. A water-efficient shower head will cut down the amount of hot water you use but still feel like a strong shower.
5. Make sure to fix or reach out about any leaks and drips which could be wasting water over an extended period of time.
6. Make sure to unplug any appliances that may be plugged in and charging (think electric toothbrushes and razors) 

Energy saving tips for your bedroom

1. When you're sleeping turn your heating down to 18 degrees, this can save you money and you'll also sleep better. 
2. However, if you like to be toasty, invest in an electric blanket, they don't consume much electricity.
3. Switch your TV off before you go to sleep. This is a waste of energy and has negative health effects due to the blue light.
4. Invest in smart technology, which can switch off your plugs at the wall once you are asleep.
5. Close the door to keep heat in.