Top tips from Citizens Advice Ipswich for Energy Savers Week
To make the most of this year’s Energy Savers Week (19-26 February) take a take tour around the house, while we highlight the simple changes and swaps that could help people save money.
At a time when fuel debts top the list of worries for clients approaching us for help with debt and energy prices continue to rise we are using this consumer awareness week to point out how households can reduce energy usage and make the most of what they are using around the house.
Chief Executive at Citizens Advice Ipswich, Nicky Willshere, says:
“It’s clear the cost of living crisis hasn’t gone away and we at Citizens Advice Ipswich are here to help. Our debt and energy advice teams are helping people with all manner of bills. Alongside this we are pleased to offer practical advice on how to reduce fuel debts for families across the region.”
Let’s start our money saving tour…
1. In the bathroom
- Keep your shower time to 4 minutes – using a timer, or listening to a song can help
- Reduce the water temperature of your shower; cooler showers use less energy
- Keep your bathroom ventilated — close the bathroom door, turn on your extractor fan or open a window during, and for 15 minutes after, your shower to prevent damp and mould
- Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth, shaving, or washing your face, and use cold water if you don’t need hot
2. Doing the washing
- Use your washing machine’s ‘eco’ cycle for dirty laundry – this takes longer but uses less energy. These are sometimes called ‘Eco 40-60’ or ‘Eco cotton’ cycles
- Use a cold cycle (20 or 30 degrees Celsius) for laundry that needs a ‘freshen up’ but isn’t visibly or heavily soiled
- Use a heated clothes airer instead of a tumble dryer – these are cheaper to run, and they’ll also allow clothes to dry more quickly than a standard clothes airer. Remember to ventilate the room by keeping trickle vents or a window open. You could also use a dehumidifier
- Hanging your washing outside can be an effective way to dry clothes. You can do this on sunny days but colder and overcast days can also be drying days. Look for days when it’s breezy and when the ground is dry
- If you are on a smart tariff, then schedule appliances to run during lower price times (only run them when you are at home and awake due to potential fire risks)
3. In the kitchen
- Use the appliance that fits the meal you’re making. An air fryer, microwave or slow cooker usually use less energy than an oven or hob, and can be more economical if cooking a single meal.
- Defrost frozen food in the fridge before you cook it – this will reduce the cooking time
- Cook more food at the same time – you can keep leftover food, that is safe to reheat, in the fridge or freezer
- Put lids on pans while you’re cooking, and make sure you’re using the right size pan for the amount of food so you use less energy heating it
- When you boil the kettle, measure out the water you need – don’t overfill the kettle. Boiling water in the kettle before adding to the pan will also help your food cook more quickly
- Defrost your fridge or freezer once or twice a year and don’t hold the door open for extended periods of time – this will help use less energy to stay cold
4. Using your heating
- Check the temperature on the thermostat – between 18 and 21 degrees Celsius is fine for most people
- Check your heating times – if you have a boiler set the temperature 2 or 3 degrees lower, (or programme it to be off) when you’re out or asleep. If you heat your home with another type of heating, such as a heat pump, check with the installer before changing any settings
- Check the thermostatic radiator valves – Some have numbers on them. You can for example set each one to the lowest number that keeps the room comfortable. Set them to 3 or 4 for rooms you want warmer and 1 or 2 for rooms you want cooler
- Install a radiator reflector if your house isn’t well insulated. These are easy to install even in rented homes, and will make rooms feel warmer if you have radiators on external walls
- Close your curtains and blinds when it gets dark, as this helps keep the heat in at night. Keeping your curtains or blinds open when it’s light lets the sun warm the room
5. Exploring energy efficiency grants
- Spend some time checking in on the help available for paying for energy efficiency home improvements. This includes:
- The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme
- The Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS)
- The Warm Homes: Local Grant scheme (England only)
- Nest scheme (Wales only)
- The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS)
For more information call our energy advice helpline 01473 298638 or check our website for Everyday Energy Wins