Energy saving tips can be kinder to our pockets as well as the environment

WITH winter here, keeping the house warm, powering laptops while working from home, cooking hot meals and general home maintenance continue to impact daily living.

However, a few simple but effective energy saving tips – particularly in times of high household bills - can be kinder to our pockets as well as the environment.

Everyone in the home can play their part by making some really easy tweaks, that could avoid heftier utility and/or repair bills in the long term.

Having a look around the home and getting younger members of the family to play their part too, can promote energy saving awareness that will lead to cheaper utility bills.

Did you know that:

• If a typical family replace their inefficient shower head with a water efficient one, they could reduce their combined heating and water bills by around £60. 

• A running tap can use more than ten litres of water a minute, so turn off the tap while brushing your teeth, shaving, or washing your face. Use cold water if you don’t need hot. 

• Hanging up your washing outside can be an effective way to dry clothes, especially when the winter sunshine makes an appearance. It may take longer for them to dry but, by doing this, it can save you £50. 

• When you’re making a cuppa, only adding the water you need to the kettle will reduce the energy needed to bring it to the boil. Doing this can save you £10 a year.

• Insulation can easily be slipped over the exposed pipes and save heat from escaping, saving your energy bill – so don't add frozen pipes to your winter woes or expense.

• You could install radiator reflectors. These panels cost around £30 per pack and sit behind the radiator, directing heat away from the wall and out into the room. The more effective your radiators are at heating your home, the less hard they’ll need to work. In fact, installing radiator reflectors could save you £25 a year. 

• One of the simplest and most tried and tested ways of reducing energy consumption and keeping your home warm is to draw your curtains or blinds to stop the cold from coming in and keep the heat from escaping.

• Bleeding the radiators is one way to ensure your heating is working effectively and efficiently. 

• If you are warm enough, try turning down your thermostat by one degree to save around £145 a year. For most, the lowest comfortable temperature to set your heating is between 18°C and 21°C (as advised by the World Health Organisation).

• As well as saving money in the winter, there is also a chance to look forward to brighter days to take full advantage of having solar panels installed. These can cut your electricity bills and reduce your carbon footprint, and you may even receive payments for extra energy you generate.

Safe Local Trades has a number of tried and tested reliable tradesmen who can carry out a range of property improvements that can save you money, as well as those who specialise in energy saving solutions for your home or business.