As we come to the end of the hot summer with energy prices continuing to rise, Martin Goss and Lib Dem team have come up with the following energy-saving tips, to help a little with the current looming energy crisis we all face!

1. Heating and water
Turn the water temperature or heating down a bit, over time this will save you more than you realise. The timings of the heating and water over each day can equally impact the size of the bills you receive. For example, turning the hot water off just before having a bath will prevent the system from reheating a tankful of water.

People are also heat-creating machines – we turn food into heat. If you’re cold sitting down, then consider moving around and going up and down the stairs a couple of times. There’s the added benefit of getting a bit of exercise!

2. Windows, curtains and blinds
Just as double-glazing works to keep heat in and cold out, your blinds and curtains can also help. Even if you have double or triple glazing in your home and they are draught-proofed you can still lose heat through your windows. If the sun is warm in the daytime, you can benefit from the heat by keeping curtains open, and then at night-time. close them to keep the heat in.

3. Call the supplier and check you’re on the right tariff
If you live on your own or are on a low income, you may be on the wrong tariff. Call your provider and ask them if there is a better one. Alternatively, check with uswitch.com and see if there is a cheaper provider.

4. Does your supplier offer smart meters?
These meters can be installed by some providers for free and will allow you to see how much energy you’re using which allows you to check which devices use the most energy. Seeing the minute-by-minute and day-by-day costs will help avoid waste and the anxiety of not knowing what the bill will be.

5. Most modern devices use very little energy on standby and some, such as routers and set-top boxes like satellite receivers may fail if regularly switched off. A smart meter will allow you to see how much power they use. Switch a device off and see how much the reading falls.

6. Reduce the use of hot things
Heating requires a great deal of energy. If the unit cost of electricity reaches 50p per KWh, a tumble dryer load could cost £2.50. Similarly, consider just how often clothes need to be washed and use a full load rather than two half loads.. Using an oven for ten minutes to warm places could cost 50p each time. Turning off the radiator in an unused room and closing the door is another obvious way to save energy.

7. Think more circular – what can be re-used?
As an example, instead of boiling a kettle for gravy, consider using the hot water from the vegetables – it adds more flavour too! If you have a wood burner, look for people in your local community who are trying to offload wood from projects. Facebook marketplace can be good for this. These are just a couple of examples!

8. Consider using the microwave more
Microwaves heat things up more efficiently than the oven saving energy. One way of leveraging this may be to batch cook meals such as spaghetti bolognaise (with friends maybe) and then the resulting extras can be stored and ‘pinged’ in the microwave in minutes. Heating a mug of water in a microwave could be a third of the cost of boiling water to the minimum fill line in a kettle.

9. Efficient LED bulbs
Modern LED light bulbs start instantly, produce a good light, have a long life and can cost as little as a pound each. If the light in a room you use a lot is not a low-energy one, replace that one first.

10. Invest in smart tech products
Last on the list are smart tech products, such as Zado or Hive, which can help you manage your heating and hot water more efficiently. If you cannot afford the initial outlay of these, regularly monitoring a smart meter and changing the times on the heating system manually will achieve much the same result. Now might be a good time to invest. Don’t forget to employ a local tradesman to help your local community!

   Leave a comment