Winter is just around the corner and Big Energy Saving Week is the perfect time to make sure you’re ready for when the cold months set in. There are lots of things that you can do ahead of the winter to make sure your home is running efficiently and plenty more you can do during the winter to make sure you’re getting the most out of your energy use.
Energy efficiency isn’t just about making big changes to your home. Many people don’t realise how easy it is to cut their bills just by making small adjustments around the house. That’s why we have pulled together some top tips so that you can cut your bills and stay warm during the colder months.
So if you’re looking for quick and easy ways to improve the energy efficiency of your home why not try any of the following:
- Stick draught strips around your windows and doors to prevent drafts saving you between £25 and £35 a year
- Close your curtains and doors to retain the heat inside rooms
- Consider whether your thermostat is set at the right temperature to keep you warm and comfortable. Turning it down by just one degree, if you can, this can save around £85 per year
- Make sure your water pipes and tanks are lagged to prevent freezing
- Having a new boiler installed can save you money. A new gas boiler is about 25% more efficient than one that is 20 years old saving up to £270 a year
- Uncover your radiators to make sure the heat is making its way into the room
- Only filling the kettle with the amount of water you need can save around £7 a year
- Reduce the amount of heat escaping through walls and reflect it back into the room with radiator reflector panels
- Changing light bulbs to LEDs could save the average household about £35 a year
- Portable heaters can be good for a top up but shouldn’t be used as a main heating source, they can be expensive to use
Jacqui Maxwell, Head of Customer Services, said: “There are many simple ways to improve energy efficiency around the home, from closing the curtains to uncovering radiators. At SSE we don’t want anyone to worry about the winter months, which is why we are encouraging customers to get in touch to ask about the additional help and energy efficiency that we can offer, to help manage energy costs.”
For more advice on energy efficiency and help available to customers read our booklet Helping You Save Energy and Money.