During the summer months when the weather is good and we need less heating, our energy consumption and our energy bills go down. It is easy to become complacent while the sun shines, but colder weather is never far away and we need to keep an eye out for smarter energy options come the autumn and winter.
Keeping an eye on the most competitive prices around can be difficult, as so many energy providers promise the best deal around. A great way to view all your options in one place is with price comparison websites such as moneysupermarket.com, so there is no more time consuming shopping around necessary.
In the current economic climate when prices only ever seem to be on the rise, it is a good idea to look for smarter gas and electricity options.
Switching suppliers doesn’t have to be a hassle, use comparison sites to compare prices in one handy place with a simple questionnaire. Simply input your current supplier, tariff and current spend and the site will run through the most competitive options available to you.
You can have access to cheaper prices, perhaps a better service and discounts available for paperless billing, online account management, direct debit payments and more. You might also be able to save by using gas and electricity from just one supplier.
Take your fight against soaring energy costs for the coming winter even further by assessing some simple but cost effective steps you can take in your own home. Consumers waste so much energy without even thinking about it, so take these hints to heart.
Obvious, but often forgotten, is the simple task of turning off any appliances you are not using. Don’t leave them on standby. Appliances on standby can use from 10 to 60 per cent of the electricity used by the same appliance switched on.
Proper insulation can save you money on your energy bills, so lag your hot water tank and insulate your pipes. Don’t forget to insulate the loft; as much as 20 per cent of heat loss happens through badly insulated lofts. Similarly, installing cavity wall insulation can save you up to 35 per cent of heat loss through walls.
Do you really need your thermostat set so high? Just turning it down one or two degrees can save as much as 10 per cent on heating bills. Remember it’s much cheaper to turn that thermostat down and put on a sweater. You can also do the same for your hot water thermostat.
If you are going to be away in the winter, turn that thermostat to its lowest setting to cut down on bills but maintain protection from freezing.
Simple but effective tips for reducing energy consumption in the kitchen include shutting the fridge door and not keeping it open for longer than necessary when removing produce.
It is also a good idea to defrost your freezer regularly. Only boil as much water as you need in the kettle, as it is a huge waste to boil a full kettle for one cup of coffee. Leave your saucepan lids on while cooking to allow you to turn down the heat. Dripping hot water taps are an unnecessary sin, so get them fixed.
Prevent heat loss through doors by fitting a brush or other type of seal on external doors and also fill in any gaps in floorboards and skirting boards.
It may be a larger outlay to start with, but you will see savings year on year if you install solar energy. It may also be an idea to investigate other green options, such as wind power and biomass fuel.
This guest post is brought to you by moneysupermarket.com.
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