How to save money on your electricity bill

It probably has not escaped your notice, but the energy companies have found themselves in a tricky situation recently! Many of us have been forced to swap energy company and most will have to suffer a much higher tariff this year as a consequence. It is more important than ever to make sure that you are being energy efficient at home. Most people know that improving the quality of the fabric of your building can help you save money in heating your home in the long term. However, the cost of these improvements upfront is often beyond the budgets of families who are already feeling the pinch.

When money is tight, it means we often have to change our lifestyle in order to make ends meet. This is sometimes more difficult than saving for large items like loft insulation! But the more we learn about the impact of our energy crisis on our environment, the more we as a nation are going to have to turn our minds to changing elements of our lifestyle.

So, here are our top recommendations for those who, like many, want to save money but are on a budget. Maybe not all of them are for you? But even a small change can reap rewards financially and ultimately support our nation’s climate goals.

1.      Get a smart meter installed

This one is pretty obvious, and consumers are increasingly aware of the benefits. With a smart meter, you will no longer have to manually input your meter readings, meaning your account is kept as up-to-date and bills will be as accurate as possible. If you are interested in having one installed please contact your energy supplier, it is a free service.

2.      Use your online account

Some energy companies charge extra if you request paper bills. So, go paperless and save some pennies.

3.      Buy green

Rather than replacing your appliances all in one go, which is expensive, make the decision to buy energy-efficient appliances whenever one breaks from this point on. Appliances with an A rating or above are the most energy-efficient.

4.      Dry natural

As a parent, I understand that sometimes you need a very fast turnaround on laundry. But, using the tumble dryer habitually throughout the year is costly. During clement weather, dry laundry outside. It takes a little bit more time and you have to build a routine into your day, but it’s worth it for the money you save.

5.      Set a timer when in the shower

Use a timer to ensure that you are not indulging too much in the shower on workdays. If you have a large family, you will be surprised at how much costs add up. Even a few minutes different will save you money.

6.      Replace your lightbulbs

An easy one to do, that costs very little, replace all your lightbulbs with energy-efficient LEDs.

7.      Use lamps, not ceiling lights

Ceiling lights, designed to light a whole room, normally use more bulbs than a simple lamp. In the evening, particularly if you are just relaxing in front of the TV, choose to light a room with a single bulb lamp rather than turning on your overhead lights.

8.      The obvious bits…

It is worth emphasising at this point, too, that making a habit of turning lights off throughout the house when not needed helps a lot. As does turning off appliances rather than putting them in power-saving mode.

We hope that our recommendations have been useful, and at least help you to reflect on how you are using energy in your home. More of us are going to have to change our living habits as the energy crisis starts to bite.

If you are interested in other ways to save money, for example, you want to replace lights with more energy-efficient ones then please give A Bathe Electrics a call. We look forward to hearing from you and helping you make the most out of your electrical installation.