At a time of rising living costs, we are all looking for ways to save money. A family home can be expensive to run, with gas and electricity a significant drain on finances. The energy cap has been increased, and prices are set to almost double. At the same time, petrol prices are high, food prices are going up, and the interest rates are increasing.
The strain on the family purse is heavy for most of us, and we need to make savings where we can. Sometimes the best thing we can do is compare and switch to a new energy deal, but if you already have a new deal or are still in a contract, you might think of other ways to take control of your bills. Fortunately, we can do much to reduce our energy use while keeping the family warm and comfortable. Part of these savings comes down to sound investments in the right technology, part is down to educating the children, and the other half is how we keep costs down.
Here we offer some simple steps you can take now to make a difference to your annual outgoings.
Beware the vampire energy suckers!
Let’s face it, telling the kids there are vampires in the house could be amusing for a moment or two. While the toothy, bat variety of vampires is a thing of legend, energy vampires are a reality. There are items in your home that continue to suck up energy even when not in use. For instance, your toaster or computer monitor is likely to use as much energy sitting there plugged in as when you are browning bread or checking social media.
Making it a family habit to walk around the house and switch items off at the wall can make a 20% difference in your electricity use. A harder habit to instill into the home is to avoid charging mobile phones overnight. A mobile phone takes about an hour to charge, but over eight hours will continue to suck energy. Therefore, getting the household out of the habit of plugging in before bed will do a decent amount towards reducing your bills.
Maintain energy-efficient appliances
When replacing appliances in the home, it is important to check their energy rating. The A +++ device is the most energy-efficient. If you buy a B-rated dishwasher instead of an F-rated dishwasher, you will save about 11 a year. A dishwasher is an essential item in a family home, and the more efficient, the higher the savings. And, despite popular opinion, you use a quarter less water with a dishwasher than hand washing your dishes.
Similarly, opting for an AC unit with a high SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) rating can lead to decreased energy consumption, lower electricity bills, and a more eco-friendly cooling solution. Additionally, the problems like AC internal water leaks can also be minimized as these units are engineered with better insulation and improved drainage systems, thereby reducing the risk of water leakage and potential damage to your home.
Use more energy efficient fuels
Across the world, the most commonly used medium to cook would be gas stoves. You might find different gasses available as fuel in your region and the efficiency of these gasses would vary too. When you compare the most commonly used gases– propane and natural gas, they would give you different levels of efficiency in usability and costs involved. Natural gas would burn much faster than propane due to its higher flammability, which means that you would need refills more frequently, not to mention the danger it could pose in case of a leak. This could rake up a higher bill than when you use propane. In addition, propane tends to have lower carbon emissions than natural gas. So, if you want to switch to something more energy and cost-efficient as well as eco-friendly, you could consult professionals on sites like fsioilandpropane.com to have a propane HVAC system installed.
Maintaining the efficiency of your appliances is also essential. Your boiler is a good example of the increasing cost of use due to poor maintenance. An annual service of your boiler costs 80 a year but will a) elongate the life of a boiler when average replacement costs are about 1200, and b) make the heating of your home much cheaper. In addition, make sure to get each component of the boiler checked, especially the oil tank it is connected to (likely with the help of a company similar to Green Seal Oil Tanks). This can help you prevent the chances of replacement, which can eventually save a lot of money.
Go smart!
One-degree change in your heating can save you around 80 a year on your gas bill. Most of us heat our homes at about 21 degrees, which is cozy. However, a change to 20 degrees offers little difference in comfort levels and saves a significant amount. If you encourage the kids to wear jumpers, you could bring this down another degree.
To be precise in the heating of your home and so prevent waste, a smart thermostat is a wise investment. First, it will allow you to set a precise temperature to be sure to turn the heating down by 1 degree. Second, you can change the temperature of each room separately.
Change to LED bulbs
Another easy decision to make is a change in lightbulbs. Halogen bulbs are bad for the environment in many ways and cost more to switch on. They also don’t last as long, so you end up replacing them more often.
An LED bulb is more expensive to buy but will last up to three times as long. An LED bulb will also save 10 a year on energy. While one 10 is small fry in a family home, when you count the number of bulbs in your house, you will realize the savings soon add up.
Every little helps
When running a family home, the small savings will make the pay packet stretch. Encouraging the whole household into good habits with gas and electricity devices can make a significant difference to your utility bills over a year – and help the environment in the bargain.