Save Money on Your Energy Bills

Post on Jun 10th 2008

It is unlikely that you can have missed the news stories, which are cropping up with frightening regularity, about the huge increases in household gas and electricity bills. With similar price hikes predicted in the near future it is certain that if the previous price rises arent already hitting you hard then your utility bills could certainly be a source of great stress in the foreseeable future. It is never too early to look at ways of saving energy and bringing the cost of those bills down.

  • Turn lights off when you leave the room. It may not seem much, but it is the small acts like this which will add up and have an impact on your utility bills. If you leave lights on when you are away as a deterrent to potential burglars, consider investing in a timing device so that they are not left on constantly.

  • Replace your light fittings with energy saving bulbs. They use 75% less energy than a regular bulb which will save you on your electricity bill. Because they are so efficient they also have the benefit of lasting up to 12 times longer.

  • During the colder months, bear in mind that every degree you turn your thermostat down by will save you 10% on your energy bill. In a typical household thats a saving of around 40. Try wearing extra layers indoors if you are prone to feeling cold.

  • Look at the thermostat for your water heater as well. If the temperature is set to above 60 Celsius (around 140 Fahrenheit) then you may be wasting valuable energy.

  • Keep your refrigerator cool by keeping the door shut as much as possible. Leaving the door open for longer than necessary can mean your refrigerator has to work up to 20% harder to bring the temperature down to the correct level.

  • Unless your washing is particularly dirty, try washing it at just 30-40 Celsius. You may not notice a difference in how clean your clothes are and it will make you a sizeable saving over the course of a year.

  • When using the dishwasher, washing machine or tumble dryer wait until you have a full load before switching it on. These appliances use a lot of electricity so it is in your best interest to lessen the number of loads you put on during the week.

  • If you are making a cup of coffee, only boil as much water as you need. The more water in the kettle, the more energy it takes to boil.

  • Turn the television off if you are not watching it, rather than leaving it on stand-by. While your television is on stand-by it is still using 60% of the energy it would be if it was switched on.

  • Similarly, turn your computer off if it is not in use. It is estimated this can save the average household around 60 a year.

  • Insulate your attic and get double glazing. Up to 60% of energy is wasted due to poor insulation.

    • Using the simple measures above will not only lessen the impact of energy price hikes, you will be contributing to the conservation of the environment.

    Leanne has published several articles on ways to save money. http://www.savingmoney-makingmoney.co.uk/

    Induction Cooker - Why You Need An Induction Cooker Today
    What is an Induction Cooker?Induction cooker is a cooking appliance that uses the method of induction heating to cook your food. It is completely different from your convention stove as induction cooker does away the use of gas and instead uses electricity to do the cooking. A ferromagnetic or ferromagnetic coated pot is placed above an induction c...

    Money Management - How Organising Your Finances Can Reduce Stress
    Organization is frequently overlooked as a financial management tool. Being prepared and managing your time well can help you save money! you'll have time to shop around for the best prices you'll be able to take advantage of discounts you can use the extra time to play with your children or catch up with friends Where to start? First, establis...

    The Effects Of Interest Rate Hikes On You
    An increase in the interest rate by the Bank of England always scares people until they work out exactly what affect the increase will have on their lives. The people who will suffer the most will be those people who have taken out loans that have left them financially stretched before the interest rate increase occurred. The actual amount of the i...

    Save Money with a Budget
    Save Money with a BudgetSave money with a budget. If you are searching for ways to max out your finances and to save money, thus set up a budget that fits your needs. If you are uncertain how to save money with a budget, you can use free online resources that offer you tools in setting up budgets that work for you.Some of the programs give you pers...

    11 Tips to Problem Free Household Budgeting
    You can easily make changes to your monthly household budget but the important thing is to find places and things that you can do that are quick hits and will slow down the flow of money out of you household1. Keep a record book as well as your bankbookIt takes time and requires a lot of self-discipline. Start each month with the balance and enter ...

    Living Within Your Means–Bills
    In the last article on this subject, I wrote about groceries and how to do them cheaper so you come under budget each time.In this article, I will be speaking about the balance of your bills versus what you spend on actual living.But please accept these basic truths.Credit is a tool and if it is not used correctly, it hurts.Paying all your bills on...

    Why You Need an Emergency Fund
    Many Americans today don't have a savings account or emergency fund. I heard on the news on recently that the Commerce Department reported that Americans spend all the money they have and personal savings rates reached the lowest level since the Great Depression.Your emergency fund is your safety net, in case you get sick or lose your job you can ...

    Filed in Business And Personal Finance | No responses yet