Slash your energy bills (a few quick immediate ideas)
Want to shrink your carbon footprint and your monthly expenses at the exact same time? It sounds like a win-win, but figuring out where to start can feel overwhelming. You don’t need a massive solar panel installation or a complete home overhaul to make a difference.
Sometimes, the biggest savings come from the smallest changes around the house. Read on to discover easy, budget-friendly hacks that will instantly lower your energy bills without cramping your lifestyle.
Also read how to install affordable home insulation. And maintain your boiler.
- Switch to energy efficient lightbulbs.
- Unplug ‘vampire devices’ (things that are left on standby when you could turn them off: TVs, gaming consoles, phone chargers (don’t charge at night when you are sleep).
- Turn off lights when you leave a room. This is also good to stop birds flying into windows.
- Only turn down the thermostat by a degree or two (and put on a sweater) if safe to do so. For old people and pets, it could cause hypothermia in very cold weather.
- Clean or replace air filters every 1 to 3 months on heating/cooling systems, to keep them running efficiently.
- Use draught stoppers under doors, and seal leaky windows. Learn more on how to draught proof your home.
- Run full loads on your dishwasher and washing machine.
- If drying outside, store rotary lines away when not in use (same with football nets, to stop wildlife getting trapped).
- Match pot sizes to burners, to prevent wasted heat.
Take the free carbon calculator to save big!
Carbon Savvy’s carbon calculator is wonderful and free! It was created by Mukti Mitchell, a carbon expert, who once built a solar-powered boat and sailed it round the British Isles! He’s the son of ecological writer Satish Kumar.
To get the full benefits, do the full version. So sit down with a cup of tea and a paper and pen. You’ll need all the info about your home, dig out your bills to see how many watts you’re using etc. It also includes lifestyle changes, to reduce your overall carbon.
By the end, you will have heaps of info on how to reduce energy use in every area of your home and life. And that’s not just greener, but you will also save a fortune on energy bills.
