Everything you Needed to Know about Gas and Electricity part 3
The most obvious, and free, way to use less energy around the home is simply to turn things off when not in use, or use them less. When you leave a room, turn the light off. Turn your TV/computer off at the socket instead of leaving it on standby. Only boil the amount of water you need in your kettle. Defrost your freezer regularly. Doing these things alone can knock several pounds off your bill.
Sometimes you may need to spend a little money in order to save it; energy saving lightbulbs are a good example of this. Replacing the regular lightbulbs in your home with these energy efficient ones can save you more on your bill than what the new bulbs would cost in the first place. The same goes for your 'white goods' – oven, fridge and washing machine – and other appliances such as kettles and microwaves. These all now come with an energy efficiency rating, which indicates how much kWh that particular model uses. If your current appliances are old, they may be using a substantial amount; consider spending a little and investing in newer, less energy-hungry models.
To reduce heating costs in the colder months, invest in draught excluders. When you have the heating on, turn the thermostat down a few degrees and close your curtains, tucking them behind the radiators if possible – this can save a small fortune on your heating bill. If there are radiators in rooms you don't use much, turn them off. There's no point heating a room if there's nobody in it.
If you've tried all these different methods of reducing your bills, it might be worth looking at other electricity and gas suppliers and seeing what their prices are. Compare electricity prices from several different suppliers and see if you could get your utilities cheaper elsewhere. Different providers charge different unit prices so you might be able to get a better deal.
About the Author: J Tillotson is a financial author in the UK with a particular interest in saving energy
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Print Article | Download PDF | 34 views | Sep 15 2008
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