Top Five Energy Consumers

We all know that the cost of living only goes one way…. Up! Particularly in the current climate, anyway to save a little money helps. We thought it would be useful to create an article offering suggestions in which to become more energy efficient in your own home on a daily basis.

Utility bills are something that every household has to deal with and again in recent months, we see the big energy providers holding onto their considerable profits even though their wholesale costs have reduced significantly over the last 6 months or so.

So what can we do to combat this? Well, the truth is not a lot. One way is to switch tariffs / providers; however this can be futile, depending on when you switch etc. Another way is to take a look at which domestic appliances have the biggest impact on our bills and use them more efficiently.

Power = Energy ÷ Time…… right?

In a nutshell, the less we use an appliance or any electrical device, the less energy it will use. With this in mind, we have come up with a list of the top five “offenders” and how you can become more energy efficient…..

Number 1 - Water Tanks

If you have an old-fashioned central heating system (with a water tank in your airing cupboard, not a combi style), be sure that you have a tank jacket for insulation. Also, why not turn your thermostat down? There is little point in having hot water if you need to dilute it with cold to lower the temperature. Turning your thermostat down by 1°C could cut your heating bills by up to 10%. Also if you can identify times of the day when you need to use hot water, set the timer on your boiler accordingly.

Number 2 - Televisions

If you’re not watching the TV, it’s a good idea to switch them off (not just on standby). If you happen to be upgrading to digital, think about choosing a TV which has a good energy efficient rating. New TV’s will be clearly marked with labels which give an idea of energy consumption. Do bear in mind that according to Which (consumer watchdogs) LCD TV’s beat plasma TV’s outright in terms of energy efficiency. People often rate a TV screen by its size but, though the prevailing mentality is that bigger is better, it is a simple fact that bigger will also consume more energy. Rather than have a 42” screen that in some cases, is just too big for the room,go for a 32” or 37” screen, that way you save twice, spare change in your pocket and less energy consumption.

Number 3 - Vacuum Cleaners

Do you really need a vacuum so powerful that you have to yank the vacuum from the carpet before it consumes it? Arguably not. A lot of homes nowadays have wooden flooring rather than carpets which, is just as easily cleaned with a broom and pan. And you can reduce usage simply by not dithering, why not time yourself vacuuming and see if you can beat it next time round.

Number 4 - Kettles

It is a common habit for people to overfill kettles with water they don’t use. This costs money each time. So it is sensible to only boil the amount of water required… And to ensure it is used when boiled! Do also bear in mind that boiling your water in a kettle is much more efficient than doing it on a hob. As such, if you’re cooking vegetables, don’t start from cold – pour boiling water in the pan from the kettle.

Number 5 - Economy 7 / Off peak tariffs

This may sound like an old idea, but is still around today and more importantly still works. Energy providers offer off peak tariffs which have a different price structure i.e. energy used at night is cheaper than energy used during daytime. This allows you to heat your water during the night or use washing machines, tumble dryers and dishwashers (providing they use a timer function) at off peak times, impacting your energy bill dramatically.

Cutting down on power consumption is a matter of habit forming as much as anything else. If you make the effort to switch plugs off at the wall or turn off lights if you’re the last person to leave a room, it will soon become second nature