10 Ways to save money on your energy bills this Christmas

How can you save energy and money at home? Here at Pimlico, we have 10 incredible tips that can help you reduce your energy bills this upcoming Christmas. It’s no secret that energy costs have risen and have been a pressing concern for everybody who is looking to stay warm and minimise costs as much as possible. Read on below to find out more:

No. 1: Use draught excluders and seals

What typically makes your home colder during the winter months isn’t simply just the reduced temperature we experience during the season, but rather chilly drafts that enter through the tiny gaps around your home.

As such, we recommend utilising draught excluders and seals to further help insulate your home. This is accomplished by placing these excluders and seals in gaps where cold air can enter and warm air can escape, such as around your doors and windows, ensuring maximum energy efficiency and preventing any unnecessary heat loss.

No. 2: Be smart with appliances

When energy and bills are a concern, there are a few things you can do to help reduce your usage each month and save money with your appliances. Being smart with your appliances means adapting your usage in ways that can help you use them more effectively and efficiently. Here are some tips to help:

• Use your washing machine on a 30-degree cycle instead of higher temperatures. If you are worried about germs and bacteria surviving, you can find detergents that work with lower-temperature washes.
• Reduce your use of tumble dryers and use a drying rack where possible or outside in warmer weather.
• Don’t overfill your kettle. Many of us do fill the kettle too much, so only boil the amount you need. Making tea or coffee? Add water to your kettle using the mugs you use to measure out the water.
• Only run your dishwasher when it’s full to reduce water usage. Reducing dishwasher use by one a week could save you £17 a year!

Sometimes tips like these will tell you to cut out using some appliances completely, but every little change does help, and you can implement this over time, you don’t have to stop using your dishwasher immediately, for example. Some people do rely on these appliances, so we suggest that you do what you can elsewhere to save energy and money.

No. 3: Put up blackout curtains

Blackout curtains are an excellent choice for those looking for some extra privacy and greater energy efficiency. Much like the aforementioned draught excluders and seals, blackout curtains are very good at retaining the warm air within your home.

During the summer, blackout curtains are great at reflecting the heat away from your home, but they can also offer the opposite effect during the winter. This means that whilst you have your room heated, these curtains can help prevent unnecessary heat loss, effectively insulating your home.

No. 4: Turn off unnecessary lights

Whilst this may be obvious, it can be argued that this is often an overlooked measure when it comes to saving money on your energy bills. As energy bills have risen, consciously being aware of your energy consumption is a must.

Leaving unused lights on, such as hallway lights, empty rooms or the kitchen (when not in use) can steadily increase the energy consumption of your home, leading to greater costs. As such, being more vigilant about what lights stay on can make an incredible difference in your energy bills.

No. 5: Stop leaving things on standby – Turn them off

Again, another obvious one, however much like the previous tip – this energy-saving measure is also often overlooked. This often applies to commonly used electronic applications that we take for granted, such as the television, desktop computers and even video game consoles.

Rather than leaving these devices on standby mode, we recommend going the extra effort and shutting them down completely. If electronic devices are left on standby, they can still consume electricity, passively increasing your energy bill, even when you are not using them. Turning them off at the plug is a sure-fire way to ensure you save money.

No. 6: Consider candlelight

Whilst some may scoff at this suggestion, it is undeniable that candlelight is both comforting and can be an incredible at energy saving. Whilst we do not suggest completely jumping from all electric lights to just candle lights, we do suggest considering utilising them in times when the need for light is minimal.

Candle lights not only require zero electricity, but they also help create an extremely cosy atmosphere for your home. Perfect for those who want to relax in comfort with minimal lighting, and ideal for those sitting around the TV watching a movie with a bit of seasonal mood lighting. Whatever your reason, this practice is perfect when it comes to helping you save money on your energy bill.

No. 7: Only heat the room you’re in

Heating only the room you might reside in initially sounds rather limiting, however, you must consider that heating your entire home is not only wasteful but also impractical. It is likely you may spend the majority of your time in one room at home, as opposed to being all over the place, so why waste energy and money heating the spaces you’re not occupying?

We suggest turning off the majority of your radiators, excluding the one in the room you’re currently residing in. You can then switch off and switch on radiators if you move from one room into another, much like you would do with your lights. Don’t have a radiator installed in your room? Consider utilising a portable electric heater, ensuring you can stay warm without any waste.

No. 8: Install LED lightbulbs

Compared to most common incandescent lightbulbs, LED bulbs are much more energy efficient. This is because LED bulbs utilise diode lights, whereas a typical lightbulb utilises filament lights, which not only emit light but also heat – using much more energy than necessary.

Replacing all your electronic lights with LED bulbs can prove to be an effective measure when it comes to reducing your energy bills. In the UK, lighting accounts for 15% of a typical household’s bill. If you switch to LED over halogen bulbs, you could save around £2-£3 per year for each bulb you switch!

LED bulbs are a great option as they do not compromise the level of light you may be previously used to, allowing for a fantastic level of illumination at a fraction of the cost. You can also cut your carbon emissions drastically by switching bulbs. If you replace all bulbs in your home, you could save around 63kg of CO2 emissions!

No. 9: Take shorter showers

For those used to having a bath or a nice long shower, it may be worth cutting your time in the bathroom a little bit shorter. For many, showers and baths can be a nice and relaxing experience as you wash yourself whilst reflecting on the day that has just passed. However, long showers and baths clearly use a lot of hot water.

Instead, we recommend being a bit more conscientious when it comes to the duration of your shower. For many, it doesn’t take long to thoroughly clean yourself in under a few minutes – so you’re certainly not sacrificing your personal hygiene. Forgoing those few extra minutes that you’d normally spend conjuring shower thoughts, can really help reduce your energy bill costs in the long run.

No. 10: Consider smart meters

As mentioned in some of our previous tips, being actively conscious and vigilant of your current energy consumption is key to reducing your energy bill costs. As such, at Pimlico we highly recommend utilising smart meters.

Many energy providers offer the option to have a smart meter installed, which helps you actively monitor your electric and gas consumption. Monitoring this has become so easy that you can even do this through an app on your phone when you’re on the go. This can help adjust how you approach utilising your appliances, encouraging a more energy-efficient lifestyle.

We hope these 10 tips have helped you realise how you can save energy, electricity and money for this upcoming Christmas. As one of the largest independent maintenance companies in London, we are passionate about ensuring that people like you are able to enjoy this Christmas in comfort, without having to break the bank.

To find out more about Pimlico Plumbers, give us a call, or email us at [email protected]. We look forward to hearing from you!