It’s Big Energy Saving Week!

From 20th – 26th January, it’s Big Energy Saving Week; a national campaign dedicated to helping people cut their energy bills and save both money and the environment through simple, everyday actions.

Here are just four ways you can make your home more energy-efficient (information from research conducted by Citizens Advice):

1 – Running water

We know it sounds simple, but using a washing up bowl, rather than leaving your tap to run can help save you money.

The same goes in the bathroom; by spending one minute less in the shower each day, you could save £75 a year in energy and water bills!

Swapping out an inefficient showerhead for a more water-efficient one saves you another £70 per year off your gas bill and around £115 off water bills (based on a family of four).

Did you know? A running tap can waste more than 6 litres of water every minute and a dripping tap can waste more than 5,300 litres of water a year!

2 – Lights Out

Turn off your lights when you’re not using them; this will save you around £14 a year on your annual energy bills.

Replacing your bulbs is a good plan too; by swapping to energy-efficient LEDs where possible, you can save yourself £35 a year on average. LEDs use around 90% less energy than a traditional lightbulb and can last up to 30 years, depending on which one you buy and how you use it.

3 – Step away from the appliance

Cutting down on your washing by one load a week and only filling the kettle with the water you need could save you around £36 a year.

Switching your appliances off standby mode can save you £30 a year and remember not to leave your laptop/mobile devices charging needlessly!

4 – Feeling the heat

There are a few things you can do to save energy when it comes to your boiler and central heating.

If you have a timer set for your heating and hot water, make sure this only comes on when required. You can also install thermostatic radiator valves, a room thermostat and programmer to ensure that you’re only heating the rooms you need to; this will save you around £75 a year.

The thermostat should be set to the lowest comfortable temperature (usually between 18°C and 21°C) and by turning it down by 1 degree, you can save yourself around 10% on your energy bill. Be sure to make sure that your home is warm enough during cold weather though; cold homes can harm your health.

For another quick win, you can draught-proof your windows and doors to save £20 a year on your energy bill.

Booking in an annual boiler service can help too; this will help maintain the performance of your heating system and highlight any problems.

To find out more about our boiler with central heating cover and how our other types of cover are here to solve your home emergencies, including plumbing and drains and home appliances cover, contact our friendly team on 0330 09 48 301 or get a free quote online in minutes!