Refrigerators and Freezers

The general rule with appliances is that the older it is the less energy efficient it will be. So ask yourself how is the appliance? If the answer is ‘very’, then seriously consider splashing out and replacing it with a modern, energy efficient version. The energy saving usually means that you will recover any expenditure within just a few years! (Don’t forget that both your refrigerator and freezer remain on twenty four hours a day, so it is important that they are as efficient as possible).

However, if you cannot replace your refrigerator or freezer at this current time or you have already got a modern version then you can follow these simple steps to ensure that you improve energy efficiency:

1. Locate your fridge or freezer as far away from a heat source or appliances as possible – try not to put them next to ovens, dishwashers etc.
2. Also the colder you set the fridge or freezer the more energy you will use, so only lower them to their recommended temperatures – usually -18^oC for freezers and 1-4^oC for fridges.
3. Finally, keep the freezer full – less energy will be used when more food is in a freezer, but keep less in your fridge which allows air to circulate – it also helps to let food cool down before putting them in as it means the appliance has to do less work to cool them down.

Washing Clothes

Another tip to save energy is when using a washing machine keep the temperature as low as possible, it is usually accepted that 30^oC is the best energy efficient temperature, with modern machines being more than able to wash the clothes at that temperature as at a higher setting. It is worth noting that your washing maching will use energy and water more efficiently when it is full, so was clothes at 30^oC and in full loads.

Once you’ve washed your clothes do you really need to dry them in the tumble dryer? Where possible let them dry naturally outside or on an indoor rack. Admitedly this is not always possible but if you can avoid using an energy sapping tumble dryer.

Other gadgets

The number of gadgets that an individual owns has gone up as more and more high tech gadgetry hits our stores. In the typical modern home between 5-15% of all electricity consumed is done so needlessly because TV sets, radios, phone and MP3 charges are left on standby or are plugged in when not in use.

Just be aware of how much gadgets you have and the next time you walk around the house, just do a quick check at how many of these are on standby or whether the plug is left on or a light is on unnecessarily. The message…just switch it off.

Watch how much electricity you consume

If you can, get your hands on a ‘smart meter’ (your local library should be able to let you borrow them as you would a book). This is a simple device that tells you exactly how much energy you are using and how much money this is costing you. Research has strongly indicated that when people know how much energy they are using they are more likely to cut down on it.

Shower or Bath?

Showers use less energy than baths, and the shorter the shower the less energy you will use – it makes sense, the less water you use the less heating is required for the water. Stick to a 3 minute shower and you will be dripping with savings!

Keep you eye out for a low-flow shower nozzle, which mixes air with water flow, and results can reduce the amount of hot water needed by half!

Switch to energy-saving bulbs

Just over 5% of the power that drives an old-fashioned incandescent light bulb goes to produce the light, with the rest used to create heat. Energy-saving bulbs use about 75% less electricity to power than its predecessor, generate far less heat and can last more than 10 times longer. All of this adds up to a saving of up to £65 per bulb throughout its lifetime! If you’ve got a lot of incandescent light bulbs in your property that can mean one big saving over time!