“Energy” is topic of conversations in everybody’s homes at the moment with winter looming closer and the climate navigating some rollercoaster changes. The We Stay team have been working proactively and efficiently to create a strategy to support and guide our landlords and yourselves through this potentially challenging time.
As Winter creeps in, for many the fear of rising energy prices creeps in with it. We’re here to reassure you that there’s no reason to fear – The team have been working together to find efficient ways to reduce your energy bills without cutting back on your luxuries.
Here’s what you need to know to help you stay warm throughout this winter without hurting your wallet.
To improve your carbon footprint and bank balance, we highly recommend you pay close attention to your plugs. If you look around and spy a sea of little red tabs… This is your first step to improvement. Get into the habit of switching off at the mains once you’re finished with your appliance, leaving appliances on standby could be costing you and the environment a fortune! This small change could reduce your energy bills by an average of £30 a year. Every little helps!
DID YOU KNOW: In standby mode, many appliances consume up to 90% of their normal power. Each year, 4 million tonnes of carbon dioxide are released from appliances that are left on standby… So why not help the environment and save on your electricity bill at the same time?
BONUS TIP: For those looking at smarter ways to turn off standby appliances, you may benefit from investing in a timer plug to schedule turning appliances off automatically. You can find a range of reliable electrical digital timers online for less than £10!
- Install a smart thermostat
When it comes to bang for your buck – smart thermostats are one of the best investments to utilise heating efficiently. Using smart technology, these thermostats learn and understand your home, your habits and routine when it comes to heating your home. Smart thermostats work by only warming the rooms that you are using. You also have full house control from the ease of your phone, you’ll never have to worry about coming home to a cold house or heading out the door and leaving it on all day again!
Studies show you could save yourself up to £75 a year by installing thermostats, programmers, and thermostatic radiator valves.
- Turn down your thermostat
Speaking of thermostats…
DID YOU KNOW: Turning your heating down by as little as just one degree, you can save your household up to £80 a year! It’s amazing what you can find out by simultaneously trying to be more environmentally conscious and also save pennies!
- Buy efficient appliances
Have you been putting off buying a new appliance for some time now? Well, now’s the perfect time to invest in future savings by upgrading your appliances to energy-efficient ones. In most cases, throwing away a perfectly good appliance won’t save you much money, but if you’re considering a replacement, choosing one with a high energy-efficiency rating makes the most sense and the most savings in the long run.
Compared to an A+ model, an A+++ fridge freezer will save around £320 in energy bills whilst modern dishwashers typically cost about £7 less a year to run than older models. In order to improve your home and reduce your energy consumption, we recommend replacing what you can in your house.
DID YOU KNOW: LED bulbs last five times longer than the usual halogen bulbs, plus they use 80% less energy to produce the same amount of light. A much more cost effective way of illuminating your home.
- Be more conscious about your water usage
Our last fabulous tip for today revolves around being smarter about your water usage. There are plenty of ways to reduce your energy bill simply by using the water you need and not excess.
- You can save up to around £25 per year by using a washing-up bowl rather than a running tap for washing dishes.
- Reducing your shower time by just 1 minute off of every shower can save you up to £7 a year. If you’re looking to be extra conscious, set a timer to keep tabs on how long you spend singing in the shower.
- By investing in an energy-efficient shower head, you could save as much as £18 on energy bills each year, plus another extra if you have a water meter.
- Cold water therapy is all the hype at the moment, and for good reason… There is an extensive amount of evidence around the benefits of “cold showers” for your health, energy and mental wellbeing. Give it a try to also reduce energy usage when heating the shower.
BONUS TIP: We highly recommend having a smart meter installed in your home if you don’t already have one. Not only do they help provide a realistic insight into how much energy you’re using per hour, but it also helps you to control your energy usage and see where you can save in order to lower your bills and reduce your carbon footprint.
Interesting Facts
Have a browse at these figures to shine some light on the areas boosting your bills each month, make sure you are limiting your “standby time” on these appliances.
Low Energy Consumption Chart
High Energy Consumption Chart
Conclusion
There are hundreds of ways to help your wallet and the environment by being more conscious of your energy usage. Not only will you be reducing your energy bill, but you’ll be saving the planet at the same time. For more tips on how you can reduce your energy bills contact us now.
If you’ve enjoyed today’s blog, feel free to tag us on Instagram at #westayyourway to let us know your tips and tricks for cutting down your energy bill!
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