Saving tips to help reduce your gas and electricity usage

1. Price comparison
To make sure you are paying the best price for your gas and electricity, compare your suppliers with other energy suppliers regularly and also consider other tariffs and payments methods that can offer considerable savings.
2. Droughts
Ensure windows are doors are properly sealed. Draughts will let heat escape meaning you will have heating set higher and on for longer, therefore burning more gas.
3. Turn down the thermostat
Turning down your gas central heating by one degree will save you a huge amount and you won’t notice the difference, heating shouldn’t be higher than 22 degrees.
4. Light bulbs
Use energy saving bulbs where possible. Good light is important for working and reading but everywhere else replace dead bulbs with these bulbs to cut your electricity bill.
5. Standby
Turn all appliances off, don’t keep them on standby. A television left on standby will consume around 60 per cent of the electricity as if it was left on. If you are really lazy then try one of the plugs you can buy that reduce energy to almost nil when activated.
6. Full load
When using the washing machine or dishwasher make sure it is full. If you really need to wash only a couple of clothes use a reduced time function if your washing machine has it or hand wash.
7. 30 degrees
Washing clothes at 30 degrees will provide a good wash for your clothes, a higher temperature isn’t necessary. You can even wash at 15 degrees, give a try.
8. Boiling water
When boiling a kettle only use water that you need, so if it is only a cup of tea only fill to the minimum level.
9. Young family
If you have a young children they won’t be concerned with energy usage so do monitor their gas and electricity usage closely and encourage then to turn off computers and game consoles when they aren’t being used.
10. Energy grants
Speak to your local energy advisory centre. The government offers grants and help for those wishing to install energy saving devices.