Energy Savings - All radiators on full blast

Do you need to have all of your radiators on, every time the boiler is turned on?

Turn off the radiators in the rooms not being used all the time, or at the very least turn the temperature down a degree or two. This will help to trim a bit off the bill for sure, for more energy savings.

More tips soon......

Energy Savings - Teenagers and light switches?

What is it about young people seeming to need to have every light on in the house. An obvious indicator here that I am no longer a young person, far from it indeed. When I was young, my parents who are no longer in this world, stressed the importance of switching off lights that were no longer needed. So leave a room, switch off a light. This is oh so more important in these days of concern over our carbon footprint.

More energy saving tips tomorrow......

Energy Savings - On your computer

If you are using your computer at home or the office, but really do have to have it ready to go, put it in hibernate mode. At least this will seriously cut down on your energy usage. If like me you have an external screen attached to the laptop, turn that off, until you return to the computer later. It all helps towards your energy savings.

More energy saving tips tomorrow.....

Energy Savings - Shut the car windows

If you keep your car windows open, it will cause a drag factor, thereby reducing your petrol consumption. A similar effect is caused by roof racks and luggage boxes on cars, and will significantly reduce your energy savings whilst driving.

More energy saving tips tomorrow.....

Energy Savings - On the road

Have you checked your tyre pressures lately, are you running on flat tyres. The wrong pressures in your tyres, will not just cause uneven wear and tear, or even damage the walls of the tyres, but will also greatly affect your fuel consumption. Keep them at the recommended pressures at all times for energy savings on the road.

Are you paying too much for household energy bills, have you checked out the "Which" reports, to see who they recommend?

More energy saving tips tomorrow.....

Energy Savings - Can also be made away from the house

Energy savings are not just an important function in the house.

When driving your car, do you accelerate needlessly. You are wasting energy in terms of the very expensive fuel, the tyres will have a much shorter life, and quite often you do not arrive at the destination much earlier.  This apart from the road safety angle. Time your gear changes, to be more efficient.

More energy saving tips tomorrow......

Energy Savings - Are your radiators efficient?

Is your poor old boiler working overtime, because you haven't bled the radiators. If the pump is just trying to push air round the system, it is not being very efficient. Bleed each one in turn, and then check that the boiler doesn't need the pressure turned up, because if you have let air out, then you have to put some water back in.

This will make your radiators warmer, so you may even be able to turn the temperature down too?

Maybe its time to have the boiler serviced?

See you tomorrow for some more energy saving tips.......

Energy Savings - Are your radiators covered?

Energy savings may be impaired because you have your radiators covered with clothes, trying to dry them out, because with the cold weather you can't put them on the clothes line. This is in effect insulating your radiators, thereby not warming your rooms. Chances are you might even have upped the temperature of the boiler to compensate, causing even higher bills.You need to put you clothes on airing racks, and not right in front of the radiators.

More tips on energy savings tomorrow......

Energy Savings - Loft Insulation

How much insulation have you presently got in your loft. My loft was re-insulated last winter, and it seems the criteria is that insulation should be a minimum of 10.5 inches, to give you the maximum energy savings.

See you tomorrow for some more tips on energy savings......

Energy Savings - Energy Monitors

Energy savings come into their own if you use an energy monitor. Mine is an Owl, there is a sender unit that fits around the mains cable at the fuse/circuit breaker box. The remote unit can then be taken around the house, allowing you to switch off devices one by one to see how your spend per hour in electricity is affected. The cost is displayed in pence per hour. Fascinating to see how much it costs for devices left in standby.
See you tomorrow.....for more energy saving tips.....

Energy Savings – wrap up against the cold

Wear an extra layer of clothing instead of turning up the heating, and maybe even turn the heating down a bit will give more energy savings.

No need for expensive mattress toppers, place a quilt over the mattress and under the sheet, makes the bed more comfortable and certainly warmer.

And why not cuddle up a bit more too.

See you tomorrow....for more energy saving tips.....

Energy Savings – Is it time to replace the old boiler?

Households with boilers over 15 years old are also advised to think about having them replaced it with a newer energy efficient model.

High efficiency condensing boilers can save a third on heating bills. Don't forget to apply for the £400 from the boiler scrappage scheme, so even more energy savings.you may be entitled to a £400 refund for boilers over 15 years old, visit http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Home-improvements-and-products/Heating-and-hot-water/Boiler-Scrappage-Scheme

Tomorrow energy monitors.....

Energy Savings – Turn the thermostat down 1C

Turning the thermostat down by 1C can cut more than 10% from the average central heating bill.

Of course putting on an extra layer of clothes, rather than turning the thermostat up when it gets really cold will be effective. How often do you see people complaining of the cold, while just wearing clothes like t-shirts.

Check that your water isn't too hot. The cylinder thermostat should not need to be set higher than 60°C/140°F, for more energy savings tomorrow Replace the old boiler......

Energy Savings – Reduce the temperature of your washing

Washing clothes at 30C as opposed to 40C, uses 40% less energy and is generally as efficient, according to the Energy Saving Trust.

Modern powders are designed to be more effective at lower temperatures.

Over-dependence on tumble dryers can also contribute to energy wastage.

Consumers are being encouraged to make sure they buy Energy Saving recommended models when buying new appliances such as washing machines and fridges.

When ever possible put the washing on the line, it gives them a good feeling too, and more energy savings.

Energy Savings – Turn off lights as you leave each room

UK households spend £1.9bn on electricity every year for lighting. According to the Energy Saving Trust there is no truth in the belief that turning lights on causes a surge that uses up more electricity.

"If you are going out of a room for half and hour, or even 10 minutes, turn the lights off," said Dr Paula Owen, of the Energy Saving Trust.

"It does not harm the electricity supply or the bulbs. There is no point in burning electricity for no reason."

If all UK households replaced one light bulb with an energy efficient one, the money saved could pay about 75,000 family fuel bills a year, lots of money & energy savings.

Tomorrows Energy Savings tips – Reduce the temper.............

Energy Savings – Unplug Chargers when not in use

Energy savings can also be made on chargers for devices such as mobile phones and MP3 players were unplugged when not in use, the UK could save enough electricity each year to power 115,000 homes.

Chargers are not huge energy consumers in their own right, but across the UK those left plugged in unnecessarily waste over £60m and are responsible for a quarter of a million tonnes of carbon dioxide every year.

If a charger feels warm when it is plugged in without being attached to a device it is still converting energy. I notice my Blackberry charger stays cold when not in use, but still best to unplug.

Energy Savings – Computers & Peripherals

It may not always be practical to turn a computer on-and-off if it is to be used throughout the day.
However, the Energy Saving Trust suggests turning the monitor off when not in use. Peripherals like printers and scanners should also be turned off when not in use.

Leaving unnecessary items on standby is said to cost each household an average of £37 a year, a handy boost to your energy savings.

Energy Savings - DVD’s players, HDD recorders etc.

Consumers looking at energy savings, can safely switch off most DVD players/recorders, hard disk recorders or video recorders purchased in recent years, according to the Energy Saving Trust.

They should not need to retune the devices when they are switched back on or have to reset date & time as the machines usually retain their settings.

Manufacturers do recommend that some satellite TV receivers be left in standby when not in use so they can receive updates.

In the UK further savings may be achieved.

Energy Savings - How much does your TV cost in standby

It seems that traditional cathode ray tube (CRT) televisions use about 100 watts of power when in use and about two watts on standby. Whereas LCD and plasma screens are higher users of energy, with the largest models consuming up to 400 watts when in use and about four watts on standby. There is no reason to leave them on, so switch off at the socket to make more energy savings.

Energy Savings - Shut out the cold.

One of the simplest ways to make energy savings is to close your curtains at dusk to stop the heat escaping through the windows. Check for draughts around windows and doors. If you don't have double glazing, fit secondary glazing, there is an option which is a form of cling film. Apparently this is easy to fit.

Don't scald your hands, or burn your pocket

Is your water too hot? Your cylinder thermostat should be set at 60°C/140°F.

Help save the planet - Turn the central heating boiler down a few degrees

It is much more efficient to save energy by turning your central heating down a few degrees, rather than turning the boiler off, then on again. More is wasted because of the energy taken by the boiler to reach operating temperature from cold.