Your Energy this Winter
Almost a quarter of all UK emissions are caused by heat escaping through poorly insulated buildings and houses. This means the more energy used to warm our homes the more harm we cause the environment.
Households are facing up to 56% rise on energy bills in coming months, with no cheaper energy deals in sight due to the rise on wholesale prices (the price of energy and gas suppliers must pay).
We all know it’s good to be as green as possible to reduce our carbon footprint. With energy prices continuing to surge we have been looking at ways to use less energy which will save money AND protect the environment.
Be Energy Smart
Taking a bit of time to understand the energy tariff you are on will help you utilise your energy wisely and save money in no time.
Knowing key information about your energy deal could make a huge difference to your consumption. Do you pay more for energy during the day than at night? If so, household chores like washing will be cheaper in the evening.
Always be aware of your usage, most suppliers offer a smart meter which comes with an in-home display, so you can monitor your daily consumption. If you know when you’re using the most Energy you can work out how to cut back.
Staying Warm
Heating your home is probably the most expensive bill you have as a tenant. With that in mind, let’s explore some tips on keeping your home cosy this winter.
Let’s start with the thermostat, reducing your thermostat by just one degree will have you saving around 10% on your bill, and you won’t even notice the difference! Turn off your heating at night, and also when the property is empty.
If your radiators have temperature control valves, use them! Turn them down in rooms you do not use as often and close the doors.
Make sure nothing is blocking the radiators – anything close to the radiator will not only block the heat but absorb the warmth.
Heavy Curtains and laying a rug will help to keep the heat in and the cold out!
The Big Turn Off
Around 9 – 16% of electricity consumed in homes is from devices left in standby mode.
Turn appliances off when they are not in use. TV’s, laptops, tablets, and other devices left on standby will continue to consume energy, so it’s best to turn them off at the plug when not in use.
Charging your mobile phone overnight uses 6.5 hours of extra power! However tempting it is to get a full night charge, remember the battery should be fully charged in just two hours – a programmable timer on your plug socket is very useful for managing this.
Light Bulbs
Swapping your older light bulbs to LED bulbs can save up to 80% on your consumption! Not only do they consume less energy they use the energy more efficiently too.
LED lightbulbs have a much longer lifespan, they also produce zero toxic elements. 95% of the energy in a LED is converted into light with only 5% wasted as heat, compared with 80-90% for an old-fashioned incandescent bulb.
Light pollution contributes to about 6% of global carbon dioxide emissions and this simple swap is not only good for the environment but will also save you money on your bills.
Communicate with your Landlord
If you feel your property is using large amounts of energy or your bills are expensive, speak to your landlord / letting agent. Make them aware so they can investigate the many ways on making a house more energy efficient.
Some of the ways a landlord can improve not only the quality of the property, but also their energy performance:
- Cavity wall insulation
- Loft insulation
- Better quality windows and doors
- A more energy efficient heating system
A property must have an EPC (Energy Performance certificate) to a grade E or above to be legally allowed to rent.
The government plans to ensure rented properties are up to at least C by 2025 so making your landlord aware of any concerns could help improve the grading early on.
2022 and Beyond
Whatever you decide to do in 2022, using less energy will work for you and the planet.
There are significant changes ahead within the energy market and we will do our best in the coming months to keep you updated.
We will continue to support our Tenants, Letting Agents and Landlords on this journey through uncertain times. If you need further support, please do get in touch with the team.
More energy saving tips can be found here