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This Big Energy Saving Week, we’re sharing practical tips to help you reduce your energy usage and lower your bills, all while keeping your home warm and comfortable.

These energy-saving steps benefit your pocket and play a vital role in promoting a more sustainable lifestyle. Every small effort reduces overall energy demand, which helps lower greenhouse gas emissions and supports the shift to a greener, cleaner planet. 

Here are some impactful ways you can start saving energy today and contribute to a more sustainable future:

Heating

•  To heat your home efficiently and keep you and your household healthy, aim to maintain a consistent temperature of around 18-21 Degrees Celsius. Keeping your thermostat in a medium setting, rather than frequently changing the temperature throughout the day, helps prevent unnecessary energy loss. Allowing your home to get too cold before reheating can use more energy overall.
• Bleed your radiators to prevent any air blockage and improve their efficiency.
• Don't cover or block your radiators. If you have the space, it's good practice to move big items of furniture away from radiators to promote the circulation of the warm air.
• We’re giving away radiator reflectors to help reduce heat loss in your home* Contact our  Sustainability Team to order one through the post. *Available for a limited time only. 
• You can also draught-proof your rooms by blocking gaps around windows and doors and using draft excluders. Make sure not to block trickle vents on your windows, as they are essential for maintaining airflow and preventing condensation and mould. Using extractor fans in kitchens and bathrooms is also crucial for proper ventilation. A simple but effective way of reducing draughts and keeping in the heat is to always keep doors closed when you're in a room – it'll help keep the heat in and means your central heating doesn't have to work as hard. 

Water

• Reduce your water usage by taking slightly shorter showers or swapping a bath for a shower once a week. 
• The hot water temperature on your combi boiler is a useful setting to check. This controls the temperature of water coming out of your hot water taps. By default, this temperature may be set high, so a simple change will ensure you're not overspending by heating your water to a higher temperature than you need to. It is recommended to set your hot water temperature at 55 Degrees Celsius, for washing and bathing.
• If you have a hot water tank, avoid using the immersion switch. This process is similar to constantly boiling a kettle (but on a much larger scale!) and will increase your energy bills considerably. Use your heating programmer to set times to heat water so it is ready for when you are likely to need it. 
• When making a hot drink, just boil the water you need rather than a full kettle. This could save you £6 per year. Alternatively, pour any leftover boiling water from your kettle into a hot water flask to use later on in the day for your next drink or in cooking. It should keep hot and save having to boil the kettle again.

Washing

• Use a 30°C cycle on your washing machine and avoid using the tumble dryer. 
• Check if your washing machine has a shorter cycle setting (or ‘eco’ mode) and use quick washes for those loads that are not as dirty or do not need a long cycle or hot wash.

Lighting

• Replace old bulbs with energy-efficient LED lights. You can also turn down the brightness on your TV and use the ambient light sensor.
• Turn your lights off when you're not using them or when you leave a room. This could save you around £7 a year.
• Unplug devices when not in use to avoid standby power loss. You can also check the energy rating on your appliances, with A-rated appliances being the most energy efficient.
• Defrost your freezer. Ice build-up forces the freezer to work harder to maintain the correct temperature, leading to higher energy usage.
• Don’t run your dishwasher half empty, only run it when it is full.
• Check the temp of your freezer and fridge, setting those too high uses more energy. Recommended settings are fridges between 3 and 5 degrees and freezers at -18 degrees.
• A slow cooker is a great way to batch cook stews and casseroles and costs just 3p per hour on high.

Kitchen

• Use a slow cooker or air fryer, and only boil as much water as you need.
• Cover pots and pans while cooking. If you're bringing a pot to a boil, covering it with a lid helps it retain heat and reach a boil faster, reducing the amount of energy used.

Thrifty Tips

• Thick curtains, especially lined and insulated, will keep the warmth in.
• To make the most of natural light during the day, open curtains and blinds throughout the house to let the light and heat in. Just remember to close them again as soon as it starts to get darker in the evenings.
• Using solar lights instead of electric lamps indoors could help save small amounts on your electricity bill. While solar lights are generally kept outside, where they harness the sun's energy, solar lights can still be used indoors. You can leave them outside during the day to charge, then bring them inside in the evening.
• Check if your TV has an ECO setting, this will allow you TV to be as energy efficient as possible.
• Do not charge your mobile or laptop overnight as it takes approx. 3 hours to charge and this is wasting energy.
• Regularly clean tumble dryer filters to ensure your appliance is working efficiently.
• Fill a washing-up bowl to do the dishes rather than the whole sink, or just washing dishes under a running hot tap. This way, you'll reduce the amount of hot water you need.

If you are having difficulty with the cost of basic needs, we encourage you to get in touch . Our Welfare team can help and source support for residents most impacted by the cost-of-living crisis.

By incorporating these energy-saving tips into your routine, you'll help reduce emissions, save energy, and make a positive difference. Stay tuned to our social media channels next week for more updates during Big Energy Saving Week!