Tips for saving electricity
Don't leave appliances on standby and remember not to leave laptops and mobile
phones on charge unnecessarily - this could save around £33 per year on energy bills.
Always turn off the lights when you leave a room.
If possible, fill up the washing machine, tumble dryer or dishwasher: one full load uses
less energy than two half loads.
Only boil as much water as you need (but remember to cover the elements if you're
using an electric kettle), and de-scale it from time to time
If you are buying a new appliance go for the highest rated one you can afford and look
for the Energy Saving Recommended logo. All Energy Saving Recommended
appliances are guaranteed to be among the most energy-efficient available on the
market - saving energy and reducing running costs. If you are planning on buying a
new refrigerator for example, choosing an Energy Saving Recommended model will
save around £50 on energy bills over the lifetime of the appliance and around 235kg
of CO2.
If your gas and electricity meters aren't read regularly, bills based on estimated
readings mean you could end up paying for much more gas or electricity than you
actually use. Reading your meter regularly and updating your energy supplier also
enables you to keep track of what you're using and cut back if necessary.
Use energy saving lightbulbs. They last up to 10 times longer than ordinary bulbs, and
using one can save you around £40 over the lifetime of the bulb. This saving could be
around £65 over its lifetime if you're replacing a high wattage incandescent bulb, or
one used for more than a few hours a day.