Climate change is an issue that’s very relevant in today’s world. There’s lots of easy changes we can make to the way we use energy and water at home that all add up to reducing our carbon emissions. Here are some of our top tips for saving energy in the home.
Avoid wasting energy by timing your heating to go off 30 minutes before you leave the house.
Stop heat escaping through your windows during the evening or even if you’re out during the day.
Set your thermostat to 20-22oC (anything lower is a bonus) to make a big dent in your home’s emissions.
If your home gets too hot, don’t waste heat and energy by opening doors and windows. Instead, turn the heating off and remove any extra layers of clothing.
If you’re leaving the house for days at a time, make sure to turn off the heating and unimportant electricals at the plug to save energy.
Rather than use an electric blanket to make your bed nice and cosy, invest in a hot water bottle.
Save energy by wrapping up warm in the house. Hoodies, socks and slippers all help to keep you snug.
Only use an electric heater when it is needed. They can be expensive and carbon-intensive.
Being smart when cooking
Save energy by using a toaster rather than a grill to make toast.
Save energy by putting a lid on your saucepan. They’ll heat a lot quicker, so you’ll eat a lot sooner!
After cooking, leave the oven door open and let the excess heat circulate around the kitchen.
Save tons of water and energy by filling up the kettle using a cup of water for each brew you’re making.
These use a lot less energy than cooking in the oven or on the hob. Bonus = they cook a lot quicker too!
Save energy + time when boiling water in a pan by using a kettle, saving the hob from all the work.
Appliances around the home
Unplug your devices once they’re at 100%. Electric is still used even when devices are fully charged.
The fuller your freezer is, the less energy is needed to keep it cool.
It can take 3 energy-intensive minutes for a fridge to cool down for each minute it’s open.
Reducing your screen brightness to 70% can save up to 20% of the energy your device uses.
Shopping for groceries
We spend billions on imported flowers, causing a huge carbon footprint as they’re flown in. Grow your own instead.
Save money and reduce emissions by buying your everyday items in bulk. Why not share with your housemates?
Stop wasting money on single-use plastics. Invest in reusable bags and bottles to help eliminate waste.
Using water in the home
When brushing your teeth, don’t leave the tap running.
Showers take energy to heat the water. Invest in a low-flow shower head to save water AND energy.
Aim for 5 minutes and save over double the volume of water used in a standard bath.
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