Rising costs have us all in a bit of a flap lately. On top of that, we are more conscious of how much energy we use and its effect on the environment.

So not only are we all looking for ways to reduce energy but also save money while we’re at it. With small changes in building good energy habits, we can quickly and effectively change our household energy consumption and do our bit to protect the environment.

Luckily, we have compiled a list of 10 guaranteed ways to get started with reducing energy at home.

  1. Don’t just close your laptop. Instead, shut it down completely at night. With many of us still working from home, our computers are left on standby for our convenience, but leaving them on routinely can be a significant energy drain.
  2. Switch the bulbs. LED light bulbs are the most energy-efficient as they use a whopping 75% less electricity and can amazingly last 25 times longer than standard light bulbs. On the subject of lights, make an effort to use as much natural light as possible.
  3. Ensure your heating cylinder is appropriately insulated to keep the heat in your water.
  4. Unplug everything. Electronics have a nasty habit of sucking energy even when in standby mode so unplug the TV, the printer, and even switch the wi-fi off.
  5. The same goes for the handy charger plugged into the wall. An unused charger can still pull small amounts of energy. The easiest way to recognise this is by touching the plug. If it feels warm, then it is guzzling energy. So when you’re not using it, take it out.
  6. Ensure that the dishwasher and washing machine have a full load when washing the dishes or doing the laundry. Avoid half loads and unnecessary cycles.
  7. And while you’re at it, turn the dial down. Run a 30-degree clothes wash and a 50-degree cycle on the dishwasher. The lower temperatures mean less energy is used to heat the water.
  8. "Turn off the light" and "close the door" are two very recognisable phrases from the 80s, along with "turn the immersion off". When you leave a room, knock the light off, and close the door to keep the heat in. Still two very useful cost-saving ploys!
  9. Use solar light, use timers on lights, and switch to rechargeable batteries.
  10. Keep the fridge door closed, avoid overfilling the kettle, and choose A+ rated appliances.

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