Energy has become a controversial topic for everyone. It has always been a valuable resource, but people have trouble agreeing how much energy we should be using and how much we should cut down on energy use. One thing people can agree on though is that nobody wants to pay a lot for their energy bills. Luckily there are many ways to cut down on costs. It doesn’t have to be hard, there are plenty of simple things you can do to save both money and power.
Ditch the Standard Rate
The easiest way to cut down on energy costs is to switch energy providers. If you’ve been with the same energy supplier for more than three years and have not switched your company, they likely will bump you up to the standard, default rate. They won’t tell you, and it will not be as cheap as it would be if you had your best possible rate. You could save hundreds a year simply by switching energy companies.
Control Heating
In the United Kingdom, energy starts with heating. Two thirds of energy used in the home is for space heating. This accounts for half of our energy bills. Including water, it rises to two thirds of the overall average costs. You should work on your insulation to ensure that heat stays in the home. You can also use a smart thermostat. This new technology can help you control the temperature of the property remotely so that you can control the heat and cooling of each individual room. Smart thermostats also have machine learning capabilities to learn and understand your schedule. It can also change the temperature based on the weather.
Maintain your Home for Winter
When winter is coming, you should make sure that your home is prepared. Make sure that your drain is cleared and free of debris. You should see to it that your gutter is secure and that your timbers and brickwork don’t need to be repaired or changed out. Check your external pipes, tapes, and hoses to see to it that they are drained, turned off, and insulated. If you go the extra mile to make sure your home is energy-efficient for the winter, you will be saving money and doing the right thing at the same time.
Replace Incandescent Bulbs with LEDs
According to the experts at the site MoneyPug, which is used as a platform to compare energy prices, LED lightbulbs are 90 percent more effective than traditional bulbs. Not only do they save energy, they are cheaper. LEDs pay for themselves in a matter of months. Lighting takes up the majority of energy usage. To ensure that you are cutting down as much as possible on lighting, switch all your bulbs go LED and use timers, lighting controls, and meters.
Buy Efficient Appliances
While heating and lighting are a big part of energy consumption, they aren’t everything. Your appliances also affect how much energy you are using. Using appliances efficiently can make a big difference when it comes to your bills, especially when you have to wash and dry clothes, clean dishes, and more. Nowadays there are smart appliances that will help you save energy and cut down on costs.
There are lots of ways to save money on energy. It doesn’t matter whether your home is large or small, you can take steps to ensure that you are cutting down on energy usage as much as possible. Maintaining your home for winter, replacing incandescent bulbs with LEDs, using efficient appliances, switching suppliers, and controlling your heating with smart thermostat and other methods can all help you cut down on these costs.
So what are you waiting for? These are not the only options available to you for cutting down on energy usage and saving money, but they are good places to start. Once you cover the basics, you will be able to find new ways to slash prices and live more sustainably. When you do, you won’t only be saving yourself money and working towards a goal, you will be doing the right thing by saving the planet’s resources, living a more environmentally-friendly life, and making your home more efficient
