Housing strategy and development service

Saving energy is key to helping people afford their energy bills. There are many ways in which people can save energy. The tips set out below can be done without any cost to you.

• Turn your heating thermostat down by 1^oC could save you up to 10 per cent a year on your heating bills.
• Make sure lights are turned off in an empty room.
• Close your curtains at dusk to stop heat from escaping. This could save you up to £15 per year.
• Make sure your hot water temperature is not too hot; usually setting it to 60^oC or 140^oF is adequate.
• Don’t leave televisions or stereos on standby by as they can still use as much as 60 per cent of the power.
• Defrost fridges and freezers regularly to keep them running properly.
• Don’t put warm food in the fridge straight away, let it cool down first.
• Where possible keep your fridge or freezer in a cool place away from ovens or heaters.
• Use the right size pan for the food you are cooking and the right size ring on the hob.
• Keep saucepan lids on, this enables you to turn down the heat.
• Don’t use more water than you need to.·
• Use a kettle to boil water for cooking.
• Use a toaster rather than a grill to make toast.
• Avoid over filling kettles for just one drink - ensure there is only enough water to cover the element.

These tips are relatively cheap to undertake and can save you money on your fuel bills:

• Invest in draught excluders for doors, letterboxes and windows that open to the outside of your home to reduce the amount of warm air that escapes from your home. It can save you up to £20 per year.
• Hot water tank jackets cost around £10 and will save you up to £15 a year. Hot water pipes can lose heat so insulate them wherever possible as it could save you up to £5.
• Energy Saving light bulbs produce light using a fraction of the energy. These bulbs can last up to 12 times longer than a normal bulb which will save you approx £78.

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