The average UK household energy bill is rising each year. The six major energy companies in the UK have made no secret of the fact that they are intent on pushing up their prices. The UK Government are also desperate to increase the level of green energy consumed, a process that is not cheap. Things look especially bad for people in the city who will be hit the hardest. However, we are often our own worst enemy with careless energy usage and wastage equally to blame for soaring energy bills. What you need to do is look at your home as a whole unit before deciding on changes to each individual room. This will help you conjure up an effective plan that will save you hundreds of pounds a year.
Did you know that your windows could account for anywhere between 10-25% of your energy bill? You need high quality double glazing or else your energy bill will take a hit. During the summer, heat from outside will penetrate single pane glass and increase the temperature of the home. As a result, you will need to use extra air conditioning. During the winter, heat will easily escape which means that you need to use more fuel to keep the house warm. Double glazed windows with low-e coating and argon gas is the most cost effective solution. Another quick tip is to place a heavy duty, clear plastic sheet on the inside of your window during winter. If the sheet is sealed tightly, less heat should escape.
The process of heating and cooling the home is responsible for more than 40% of your total energy bill. It’s likely that the heating, air-conditioning and ventilation equipment in your city home is quite old and it really should be upgraded. This will not only increase their efficiency, it will also reduce the amount of Carbon Dioxide gas that is created and sent into the atmosphere. It should go without saying that your heating should be as low as is comfortably possible in the winter and the air-conditioning needs to be used as sparingly as you can manage during the summer.
Every city glows with lights at night time but do you have to use traditional light bulbs? Lighting is responsible for more than 10% of your total energy bill and you could save up to 75% off your lighting costs if you use Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs). Each CFL is said to save you £20 over the course of its lifetime. Although they are a few pounds more expensive to buy than a regular bulb, it’s clear that easy savings can be made through them. Always turn off lights when you don’t need them. This includes outdoor lights.
Living in an urban area is expensive enough without having to pay an excessively high energy bill. The above are just three of the dozens of easy energy saving tips you can utilise. Best of all, you can start today. Common sense alone should save you money off your energy bill.
