How to Save Money on Your Electricity Bill

Electricity is something that we all take for granted nowadays but how can we reduce our usage and spend on electricity.  As well as rising costs from electricity suppliers, there have been concerns raised by Ofgem about Britain running out of energy generating capacity.

There are lots of tips on how you can cut down your energy usage, saving money in the process.  Some of them involve lots of initial outlay such as solar panels but there are lots of ways to save money without having to buy new energy efficient appliances, you can just change the way you use them.

Lighting – turn off lights in rooms that you are not using.  When the nights are drawing in, it is tempting to light up the house at night but do you really need a light on in the kitchen when you are sitting in the lounge?  Also, try switching to energy efficient light bulbs – low energy bulbs can last 10 years (compared to traditional bulbs which last for an average of 1 year) meaning you’ll need to replace them less too.

Compare suppliers – energy suppliers are constantly changing their prices so switching supplier could save you money.

Turn things off – not so many years ago, people always unplugged anything that was not in use but now it is common for people to leave things plugged in or on standby.  According to the Energy Saving Trust, leaving things on standby or not switching them off when not being used costs the average UK household £45 to £80 per year.  Some things such as satellite/digital TV recorders and modems need to be left plugged in but if you are unsure, check the instructions first.  Don’t forget to unplug chargers when you are not using them too.

Kitchen – a few simple things you can do to save money in the kitchen are set your washing machine to 30°C (most powders and liquids are now made to work well at lower temperatures), only fill the kettle with enough water for what you need as filling it right up uses extra electricity and use a bowl to wash up to save running the hot tap for too long.  When you buy new appliances choose energy efficient models.  Believe it or not, the different between running an energy efficient one and one of the least efficient ones can be hundreds of pounds per year.  Also, dry washing outside when possible as using your tumble drier can cost up to £139 per year if your drier isn’t very energy efficient.

Draughts – lots of homes lose heat and therefore money out through windows, doors, chimneys etc.  Even using a simple draught excluder and curtain at your front door and closing all of your curtains in the evening during the cold winter nights can save you money and keep your house much warmer.  If you live in an older house it may be worth checking for gaps around the skirting boards or floor boards and if you have an open fire place, check the chimney for draughts.

If you’d like a more high tech solution, as Ipswich’s leading electrical specialist, Barton Electrical have a Smart Home Control solution which helps you to save and monitor your energy spend.  Please feel free to contact us for a chat about this or any other electrical needs you may have.  Also feel free to look into our Elnur electrical heating solutions.

For the best way to save money on your electricity speak to us.