With the cost-of-living crisis, it has never been more important to save as much energy (and money) as you can. It may be a surprise, but little changes to our everyday lives can make a massive difference on our dreaded energy bills. This is further helped by today’s tech brands with many modern appliances featuring energy saving modes & programmes that are kinder to both the planet and your wallet. Below, we have compiled a list of energy saving tips to give a helping hand this Winter:
1. Turn off appliances at the plug
Your favourite technology could be using more energy than you think while not in use. We all get taught to turn off lights and electricals when we’re not using them but putting them in standby still uses power. The average household can save an average of £30 a year by turning them off at the wall. If this seems like extra faff, the use of smart sockets controlled by your smart devices or handy timer plugs can save you money with built-in timers to automatically start or shut off for times when you are usually at home.
2. Wash with care
A necessity for everyone, the laundry is an inevitable cost for every household. Using your washing machine on a 30-degree cycle is fine for most wash loads with many popular detergents finding it the optimum temperature to clean clothes effectively without racking up the cost. If you are constantly overloading your washing machine, it may be worth swapping to a model with a bigger drum so that you can run a bigger wash load and reduce the overall number of cycles per week. Not sure if you are overloading your appliance? You should be able to fit a fist between the dirty laundry and the top of the wash drum!
3. Fill your dishwasher
Remember to only run your dishwasher when it is full as it will use the same energy and water regardless of how many dishes you need to clean. By reducing the number of times you run the dishwasher by just one wash load a week, and saying goodbye to running the dishwasher daily, you can save £17 a year!
4. Invest in A-rated appliances
If you’re in the market for new tech, whether that be a new washing machine or the latest TV, it is always good to take a look at the energy ratings! Revised in March 2021, a simpler rating scale was introduced to make the shopping process a little bit easier (read about it here). By investing in more energy efficient appliances, you are future proofing your energy bills and helping yourself save in the long term.
5. Take care of your appliances and they’ll take care of you
Following basic maintenance advice on your kitchen appliances can not only keep them in great condition and expand their life span but also save energy. Simple tasks such as defrosting your fridge freezer regularly and cleaning behind them to prevent dust build-up (which can trap air and cause overheating) will prevent your appliance from overworking to maintain optimum temperatures and help you stay energy efficient.
6. Make the most of ‘eco’ mode
Quite often, the eco-modes included with our appliances are left underused and understated. These programmes, usually included on laundry appliances and dishwashers, opt for a lower spin speed and/or temperature to provide the usual prime results. Although these may not be the best choice for really messy wash loads, they will suit most households if you can spare a little bit of extra time. In some cases, using these modes can use even less energy than a short cycle! So how is it so effective? Up to 90% of the energy a typical washing machine uses is to heat up the water. In comparison, an ‘eco’ mode that uses a lower temperature can save up to 59%. This is a simple but effective solution to keeping your bills low and your clothes looking great.
