Our Home Energy Saving Tips!

Prices are on the up!

We are all aware that energy prices are currently at record levels and are set to rise even further. With a big chunk of family budgets being spent on energy bills, it makes sense to look for ways to reduce the amount of energy you use, and domestic appliances are a good place to start.

That’s where we come in…

There are small changes you can make around the home that could help cut down your average electricity usage, as well as thinking about investing in newer energy efficient appliances.

Flick that switch!

Turning appliances off at the plug can save an average household £30 a year. By using plug sockets that can be turned on and off via your phone, you can make sure unused appliances are turned off, even when you’re away from home. You could also use timer plugs to schedule turning appliances on and off.

If you’re lucky enough to be going on holiday, take the time to go around the house and flick the switches off that don’t need to be on. Better yet, pull the plugs out completely. Just remember to plug them back in when you get home!

Taking the time to turn your TV plug off can save you money too, even if it’s awkwardly placed behind a TV stand, we promise this tip will save you money. Money that can be spent on a new, energy efficient TV!

Whistle while you work!

A properly installed and well-maintained appliance will always be the most efficient, as you can identify faults and issues before they become a bigger issue. Keep your large appliances regularly serviced for maximum efficiency if you don’t want to invest in more energy efficient models. It also never hurts to give your appliance a good clean, so get those gloves out, your favourite music on and scrub.

Washing at lower temperatures will reduce your energy usage, as can cutting down the number of wash cycles you run per week. So mix your loads and take full advantage of your washing machines capacity.

Out with the old and in with the new!

Throwing out a perfectly good appliance won’t save you much money, but when it is time to swap, going for one with a high energy-efficiency rating can be worth the investment. If you are running an appliance in your home which is more than 10 years old, then you could be using five times as much energy as running a modern energy-efficient model. If that’s not an excuse to upgrade, then I don’t know what is.

Since the fridge and freezer became a regular kitchen appliance in the 70s and 80s, they have been getting smaller and more energy-efficient. Of all the appliances in your kitchen, by far the greediest is the freezer. The fridge is not far behind, and simply by replacing these models with new brands, you can see an instant difference. You will notice a saving of at least 10% to 20% on electricity when you swap out your decades-old freezer.

Alternatives to the oven!

Microwaves often provide a much more energy efficient way of cooking food than in the oven. Unlike ovens, microwaves only heat your food and not the air-space inside.

Air fryers are much more energy-efficient than most convection ovens because they cook food much faster. Recent research has shown that the cost of using the oven to cook the same dish at the same temperature cost more than double than what the air fryer cost.

We have plenty of oven alternatives here so for those nights you don’t want to cook in the oven, make yourself a simple cheese toastie, a slow cooked stew or better yet, a yummy home baked cake.

I cooked, so you can wash up!

Using a dishwasher when it’s full is much better than hand washing dishes as it is more energy and water efficient. Once cleaning is done, leave the dishes in there to dry on their own for maximum efficiency. It will cause less arguments on who’s turn to wash up it is too… Bonus!

Rain rain go away!

We live in a country notorious for rain and unreliable weather, so hanging the laundry out in the sunshine is not always an option. Tumble dryers are pricey to run,

but the running costs reduce with newer energy efficient models. An overloaded dryer is prone to breaking or running into issues and could end up needing more frequent repairs. To keep your bills to a minimum, tumble dry a full but not overfull load. The placement of your tumble dryer can also impact its efficiency. When you place your dryer in a warm location in your home, it’ll require less energy to warm the air up to the necessary temperatures, therefore cutting your energy costs down.

If a tumble dryer is not an option in your home, then invest in a good clothes horse and dehumidifier. By turning the dehumidifier on in the room with your clothes horse it will help dry your clothes, now this will take longer than a tumble dryer, but could save you money.

If you have any energy saving tips, please send us an email on support@viewclickbuy.co.uk so we can share them with everyone!