Do not leave the oven on standby. Fill the kettle only with the water that you need. You must have heard these phrases a zillion times. However, most individuals tune them out, thinking that it would not make much difference.

Well, it indeed helps cut energy bills. Small initiatives help you save bit by bit and lead to massive savings.  Thus, the blog explains how you can reduce energy waste and boost your money.

Why does energy efficiency matter in the UK?

Energy consumption rose in the UK after previous long-term declines. Gas consumption increased by 4.1%. It indicates continuous reliance on heating and cooking fuels in most homes.

Despite this, long-term trends show significant improvement. The domestic electricity consumption is 19% less than in 2005, and gas consumption is 31% less than in the mid-2000s as homes become more energy-efficient.

What is the main source of energy wastage?

Beyond general consumption trends, behavioural and structural waste still drives unnecessary energy wastage. Here is how:

• Many homes lose heat through draughts, poor insulation and outdated building fabric
• Leaving appliances on standby for a long time consumes more energy
• Long showers and water heating are significant contributors to energy waste
• Old lighting and inefficient appliances that are still in use add cost every year.

Old appliances pose an additional risk and may lead to a short-circuit. Moreover, frequent breakdowns and poor performance contribute to carbon in the environment. Thus, if you see fumes more often, replace it with a new one.

You can either budget for the new appliance or get it replaced if the smoke is high. Do so on the very day without worrying about the cash availability.

Or else, it may lead to a massive electricity issue. You may get an individual loan to counter the needs. It is when your savings do not suffice. Check a no guarantor loan from a direct lender in the UK marketplace.  It helps you finance the cost of a new appliance and pay in small instalments later. It thus protects you from affecting other major appliances and ensures safety.

Practical ways to reduce energy wastage

According to Energy Saving Trust, a typical household may save £356 a year on bills by making simple changes to the way you use energy. Many of these will positively impact the environment. It thus eventually reduces carbon emissions.  Here are some strategies that might help you limit the energy wastage:

• Update heating and insulation

Heat loss through walls, floors and roofs is a major source of energy waste. You can take the following actions to reverse the impact:

• Draught-proof doors and windows
• Add and upgrade loft insulation
• Consider wall or cavity insulation schemes

Well-executed insulation packages reduce heating demand substantially and improve comfort. Moreover, many government schemes still offer support for insulating your homes. It is if you struggle to afford it.

2)      Ditch the Tumble Dryer

Tumble dryers are one of the most energy-intensive devices in the home.  You need to rethink your clothes drying habits if you want to save money. According to research, a Tumble dryer may cost anywhere between £33-£171/year to run.

However, most energy-efficient ones are costly.  According to the government’s Help for Household scheme, using a tumble dryer less may help you save £50/year. It is advisable to run it when it is fully loaded and avoid over-filling it.

Try to dry clothes outside if possible. Use the tumble dryer only in specific weather conditions or in an emergency. You can also try alternatives like heated clothes airers. These are cheaper than tumble dryers.

• Avoid heating empty rooms

One of the most wasteful things to do is insulate a room that you hardly use. It consumes energy and increases your bills. Instead, heat only the rooms that you spend over 6 hours.  It is not necessary or mandatory to insulate the whole house.

Alternatively, you don’t need to insulate if you just use one room for the day. Instead, a heater may help you approach a desirable or comfortable room temperature.  You can also turn off the radiators in the rooms that you hardly use.

Keep a minimum of things in the space that you want to insulate. It allows the heat to circulate efficiently.  You can also add radiator reflector panels behind the radiators. It pushes the heat back into the room, helping you save on energy bills.

The radiator reflect panels may cost anywhere from £30 to £350, depending on the radiator type, size, complexity and columns.

However, the costs may increase if you want to get it installed with the help of an expert. Moreover, you may need radiator reflect panels for each room that you want to keep warm. It also increases the costs. Check how much you can pay according to your savings.

Next, check alternative financing options by contacting a private money lender in the UK marketplace.  The person may help you save money by providing the best quote according to your affordability. The entity only provides cash that’s useful and affordable on your budget. It makes the deal easier for you.  You can thus retain and reduce the heat loss and control the electricity bill.

• Change the thermostat and boiler settings

It is ideal to turn the temperature of the thermostat down. If you struggle to do it, you may call an expert.

According to Les Roberts, energy bill expert at Bionic, “The ideal room temperature range lies between 18-21 degrees Celsius. To save on your energy bills, keep the range setting to the lowest. Turning down the thermostat by just 1 degree Celsius could reduce your heating bills just by as much as 10%.”

Moreover, reducing the flow rate on a combination of boilers to around 60 degrees Celsius can help cut energy bills. Staying warm enough is important for your health, especially in later ages and with a particular health condition. Hot water bottles and heated blankets are much more cost-effective than heaters.

Bottom line

Reducing household energy consumption may help you save money. You can check the insulation effectiveness and insulate major or most-used house portions. Change the thermostat and boiler settings to a lower temperature.

Check if the boiler and other appliances work well. If not, they may be consuming more power. Thus, replace it with an energy-efficient one. Also, avoid heating empty rooms. It may prove a sheer waste of energy.