With the skyrocketing price of energy and the need for sustainability, marginal gains in keeping your home warm during the winter can go a long way. So we made you a list of everything that’s in your power to reduce your gas and electricity bills whether you’re a renter or an owner – from easy fixes to more ambitious projects.
Does seeing an energy bill in your inbox give you the chills? We’re there too. Does being able to go outside without a jacket in mid-November worry you about the future of our planet? Understandable. If the answer is global, we, as individuals, can still have an impact on how much energy we use and how many zeroes will be on our energy bills. So let’s start with the easy wins:
Say bye-bye to standby mode
TVs, game consoles, computer and tablet chargers, and coffee machines are among the electric appliances that we switch off but never completely turn off. The average household spends a whopping £65 a year because items are left in standby mode rather than turned off at the plug.
Defrost your fridge freezer
A 4cm layer of ice in your freezer means it will need twice as much energy to run!
Get a Tasker to clean your fridge and freezer now
Draught-proof your windows
Old homes especially have gaps on the ground floors along the walls and the windows. Fixing it means finding out where the air comes through and filling it with draught-proofing strips that you can get from any hardware store. Alternatively, if it’s a window you know you won’t open during the winter season, you can install window film covers to reduce draughts.
Get help with draught-proofing and window sealing
Use the eco-program of your washing machine and dishwasher
Not every time, as sometimes you need a cycle with high temperatures to remove grease stains. But using an eco-program most days can save you on average up to £50 a year.
Limit the shower time to 5 minutes
Save water, heat and money by avoiding baths and limiting your shower to 5 minutes. According to a study from the United Nations Foundation, doing so could save “as much carbon emissions as is sequestered annually by half an acre of U.S. forest.”
Get rugs and curtains!
What’s not to like about rugs? They add warmth in every sense of the way: a warm atmosphere and a warm floor, especially if you have hardwood floors with air gaps. For your windows, installing heavy thermal blinds or curtains will really help with the insulation of your home.
Shop for rugs on IKEA and get the help of a Tasker to mount your curtains
Prep your heating system
Get someone to have a look at your boiler, your pressure system, and also at the efficiency of your radiators by bleeding them and getting rid of any trapped air or sludge. (Read more here with 6 ways to get your home prepared for winter)
Install reflective panels behind radiators
Radiators will lose some of their heat to the adjacent wall if you don’t place foil panels in between the radiator and the wall. This will only cost you £5 to £8 per panel and in just one year you should make that money back with the savings on your energy bills. A great option if you’re renting.
Switch from halogen and incandescent light bulbs to LEDs
This will reduce your carbon footprint considerably, as well as save you up to £15 per year per lightbulb.
Insulate your doors
Use weather strips on the exterior and interior to seal gaps, a keyhole cover, and a door draught excluders or seals at the bottom of the door. For doors that will remain closed all winter, use removable caulking or cover the door with a plastic film that will catch any draught. Read more here on How to insulate your home, from your walls to your attic.
