Eco Tips

Energy saving in the home

Reducing our carbon footprint in the home is essentially about reducing the amount of energy we use – whether that is for lighting, cooking a meal or having a wash. Here are some tips.

• Swop light bulbs for for those with a low energy rating. Currently the most efficient ones use LED technology. See https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/advice/lighting/

• Turn off lights when they are not needed.

• If you have an emersion heater, make sure it is well insulated. 

• Have a shower rather than a bath. Limit the length of your shower time especially if it is a high pressure shower – a 9 minute pressure shower uses more energy than a bath!

• Instead of a daily shower, wash with a flannel. We are seldom as dirty as we might think!

• Dishwashers are meant to be efficient but are not always the most ecological way of washing up. A dishwasher uses 1KWh for a 70-100 minute programme. Heating 2 litres of water to fill a washing up uses 0.2KW.

• Boil only as much water as you need when making hot drinks.

• When boiling with a pan on a stove use a lid to keep the heat in (except when cooking pasta as the water will boil over).

• Limit how many pans you need to cook a meal. Try and reuse a hot plates whilst they are still hot.

• Turn off the hot plate (if electric) before the cooking time is over so as to make good use of the heat in the hot plate.

• If you are using the oven, plan to cook several things at once to make full use of the energy you are consuming.

• Use a microwave for steaming vegetables, stewing fruit, making porridge/ custard etc.

• Run your washing machine on its coldest setting and choose the shortest programme time.  

• Only run the washing machine when it is full.

• Don’t wash clothes until they need it: ie they smell sweaty, have a tide mark or spots. We have grown used to the idea of washing everything all the time!

• Hang washing outside to dry. Ideally wash things in the morning to allow plenty of drying time, especially in the winter.

• When it’s raining, hang wet washing inside on a clothes dryer. 

• Many kitchen appliances are labour saving but doing things by hand is good for arm muscles – and arm muscles can be applied for different  purposes obviating the need for lots of small appliances.

• Similarly in the garden, manual appliances such as lawn mowers and brooms are good for exercise and fitness.

• Turn off appliances when not in use as they will still be drawing a small amount of electricity. 

• If you have solar panels choose to run electrical appliances when the sun is shining. The electricity will power these directly without any loss via the distribution system. 

• Don’t buy new appliances until you need them. Do some research, which are ecological; which energy efficient; which have a long life; which are easily repaired if they break down? Check out Ethical Consumer’s advice: https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/ 

• Consider buying second hand.

• If you will only need an appliance for occasional use, consider borrowing one – eg via  neighbourhood app.

• For more tips see https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/hub/quick-tips-to-save-energy/