Follow the actions below for easy savings on your energy bill which don't involve much effort or inconvenience.
Turn your heating thermostat down in winter.
Reducing your room temperature by a couple of degrees Fahrenheit won't be noticeable, but it could save up to 10% from your heating bill. Close your curtains at dusk to stop heat escaping through the windows.
Houses lose a lot of heat through windows. Putting thermal linings in your curtains will also reduce heat loss. Turn off the lights when you leave a room.
We've acquired the habit of leaving all the lights on whilst energy has been dirt-cheap. But turning off unused lights, especially incandescent ones can save quite a bit. Defrost your fridge and freezer routinely to keep them running efficiently and cheaply.
Check that the door seals are working well if they frost up often. Use energy saving compact fluorescent bulbs.
These bulbs use about 75% less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer. Expect to save around $30 for every standard bulb you replace over the bulb's lifetime. Have a shower instead of a bath
You'll be just as clean, you'll save time and you'll use far less energy and water. Don't leave appliances on standby or on charge unnecessarily.
Appliances on standby still consume hefty amounts of electricity. On average a typical set of appliances on standby doing nothing can consume almost a quarter of what they would switched on. Some consume practically the same amount of electricity in standby mode as they do when in use. If practical, turn off appliances at the wall, or unplug them when they aren't being used. Over time, powering your microwave's clock can use more power than heating your food! A dripping hot water tap wastes enough hot water to fill half a bath in a week
So fix leaking taps and make sure they're fully turned off! Use the half-load or economy programme on your washing machine, tumble dryer or dishwasher.
If you're only putting them on for a partial load.
