Electricity Saving Ideas and Advice

Every year electricity gets more and more expensive in the UK - There is some good news though, by following the easy and hassle free energy saving tips below you could actually cut your electric bill.

Simple Tips On Saving Electricity

1. Turn off your electrical items when not being used e.g. television, video, hifi, games console, and other electrical equipment (Do not use the standby as this still uses a great deal of power).

2. Do not leave your television, dvd player or console on standby mode. Electrical devices can use up to 80% as much power when in standby mode as when they are on. So never put anything on standby in your home or office.

3. Replace all of your inefficient incandescent light bulbs with energy efficient CFL, or LED bulbs and lamps. Halogen spotlights (GU10, MR16) can now be replaced by very energy efficient and far longer lasting LED Spotlights.

4. Hang your clothes out to dry rather than using an electric drier or place them in your airing cupboard.

5. Cook as much as you can at the same time when cooking in your electric oven.

6. Use a microwave to reheat food or to cook small portions. The overall power used will be far less than using your electric hob or oven as it will not need time to heat up.

7. Turn down your heating system by 1-3 degrees. For every degree you lower your heat you can save up to 5% on your heating bill.

8. Purchase energy efficient 'A' rated white goods (fridges, freezers, washing machines, tumble driers, dishwashers etc). Some of these models can use more than 50% less electricity than other models and that is a considerable saving on your electric bill.

9. Vacuum or dust the condenser coils at the back of your fridge freezer. Accumulated dust on these coils reduces their efficiency of the appliance by up to 25%, meaning the runnig cost is costing your 25% more on your electricity bill.

10. Keeping your fridge or freezer full actually makes the appliance more energy efficient, but dont over pack it, as air still needs to circulate in the appliance.

11. Save on ironing costs by folding or hanging as soon as they come out of the washing machine or tumble dryer. This will cause less creases and mean ironing take less time.

12. Make sure you only put cooled or cold food into the fridge, if you are placing cooked food in there leave it out to cool down first.

13. Do not place uncovered liquids into the fridge. These liquids will slowley evaporate and this will make your fridge work harder and use more electricity.

14. When bioling water or other liquids on boil the amount you need. Also you can now buy energy efficient eco kettles.

15. Use a convection oven. A conventional oven has a small fan inside which circulates the hot air throughout the oven and will cut the cooking time by up to 30%.

16. Don't preheat the oven for roasting.

17. Don't keep opening the oven door. Every time you open the oven door you will loose about 20°C of heat - So make sure the oven door is clean and look through the glass if you need to check how the food is coming along.

18. Put lamps in the corner of a room so that the light is reflected off two walls (and remember to use energy efficient lamps and bulbs).

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