Five ways to save energy and keep bills down this winter
Heating our homes to a comfortable level is essential for our health and wellbeing, especially during the winter. Rising energy costs has made understanding your bills and reducing power usage much more important but it can be hard to know where to start. Our energy advisers, Simone and Shona, have shared their top tips for saving energy and money.
Cook Smart
"The kitchen is one of the biggest culprits for wasting energy and pouring money down the drain," says Simone.
Switch off appliances like your microwave and electric oven when they're not in use rather than leaving them on standby and you could save around £45 annually. Turn off your electric oven 10 minutes before the end of cooking time - it will hold its temperature but make sure food is still piping hot. Boil only the amount of water you need when making hot drinks and use a cup to measure.
Draught-proof your home
Prevent energy loss by sealing air leaks, adding insulation and using curtains and blinds to regulate temperature. Keep radiators clear - do no put large pieces of furniture in front of them or hang clothes on them to dry.
To arrange a free draught proofing assessment please call Care & Repair Edinburgh, part of the Age Scotland family, on 0131 337 1111.
Switch off lights
"Not exactly a lightbulb moment but a quick way to save money and energy is to turn lights off when you leave a room," advises Shona.
Where you can, choose energy efficient applicances and fixtures and replace all the lights in your home with LED bulbs. Most LEDs use at least 75% less energy, saving you a huge amount of money on your bills.
Our Warm and Well guide offers great tips on how to make your home energy efficient and stay warm for less.
Wash wisely
Use your washing machine on a 30-degree cycle instead of higher temperatures and only run a cycle when the washing machine is full. Swapping a bath for a shower and taking shorter showers can also save a lot of energy.
For more information sign up to our free energy workshops at age.scot/workshops.
This article appears in the latest edition of Advantage magazine which you can read here
