Save Energy, Save Money and Save the Planet!

Julie Willenbruch’s June update

In the UK 27% of our carbon dioxide emissions are produced by the energy we use in our homes. With energy bills set to increase again this year, reportedly by as much as 40% in August, it’s becoming more and more important for us all to change the way we use energy.

The trouble is that energy is so easily accessible for us and is not something that can be seen and easily measured - the closest we get is a bill through the door. So it’s difficult to know which appliances use the most energy and what you can do to reduce your consumption.

Following Wallington’s successful pilot energy saving trial (see April update for more details), tenants on the Estate have managed to save 15 to 20% on their energy bills by making simple behavioural changes.  

Here are the tips that helped them to make these savings:

Heating:

• If you have a thermostat, turning it down by just 1°C can cut as much as 10% off your heating bills.

Cooking:

• Turn your microwave off at the wall when not in use. Powering the clock can use more power than heating your food!
• Use the right size pan for the food and cooker hob and keep saucepan lids on - this enables you to turn down the heat.
• Don't use more water than you need.
• Use a kettle to boil water for cooking.
• Use a toaster rather than the grill to make toast.

Lights:

• Remember to turn off lights when you leave a room for long periods.
• In most homes, about 10-15% of the electricity bill is for lighting. One energy-saving light bulb can save you £60 over the lifetime of the bulb - as they last up to 10 times longer than ordinary light bulbs.

Electrical Appliances:

• Switch off at the socket appliances such as TVs, videos, stereos, and computers, as they use energy when they are left on standby, in some cases up to 85% of the electricity used if they were fully switched on.
• Charging equipment- Unplug mobile phones, shavers and electric toothbrushes etc. once they are fully charged, otherwise they will keep drawing electricity.

Washing machines and Dishwashers:

• Only wash full loads or use a half-load or economy programme.
• When using the washing machine, between 85-90% of energy is used just to heat up the water. Therefore, dropping the water temperature of your wash could significantly decrease your energy consumption.

Fridges & Freezers:

• Avoid leaving the fridge door open and over-filling the fridge as it will have to work harder to keep everything cool.
• Don’t put hot food into the fridge, allow it to cool first.
• Defrost fridges and freezers regularly to keep them running efficiently and cheaply.
• If your fridge is positioned next to a cooker or heater leave as bigger gap as you can.

Tumble Dryers:

• Electric tumble dryers are commonly the second biggest energy user in the home, after the fridge. Whenever and wherever possible hang your clothes out to dry.
• If you do need to use the dryer, then ensure the clothes are as dry as possible after washing, e.g., they have gone through a fast spin. This will reduce drying time considerably.

Kettles:

• Avoid over-filling the kettle for just one drink but be sure to cover the element.

Why not have a go at using some of these energy saving ideas around your home and measure how much you’ve saved over your next few energy bills?

The more you try, the more you'll save and they’re completely free!

We’d be interested to hear how you get on so why not contact us to let us know how much you’ve saved and any of your top tips?

julie.willenbruch@nationaltrust.org.uk