Become energy efficient with your Chesham Electricians
If you’re looking for ways to become energy-efficient in your home, there are several things you can put in place now to be ahead of the game in the future. These additions may also increase the value of your home if you plan to sell up.
Solar Power
Whilst you may baulk at the initial investment of installing solar panels on your roof, the benefits could see you getting a good return on your investment as well as lowering your electricity bills. According to the Energy Saving Trust, you could cut your electricity bills by between 15-25%. You could even make money by selling surplus electricity back to your supplier! Around 12 panels should produce enough power for a family of four.
Energy-saving appliances
Do you know the efficiency of your existing appliances? If you are trying to become more energy-efficient, this may be the first place to start. Take a look at your machine before purchasing and look out for the efficiency rating. A or A+++ is the most efficient of appliances, and these are the appliances you want to install for a more energy-efficient home. Don’t forget that appliances need to be disposed of carefully to avoid ending up in a landfill site. Check if you can dispose of your old appliance with the store you brought the new one from or find a local recycling centre.
Install a smart meter
Whilst a smart meter won’t control your energy bills for you, it does make the user much more aware of the cost of electricity in the home. Smart meters can help you see the significant impact that just a few small changes could make. Whether that’s turning off your appliances, making sure the lights are off or opting for air-drying your clothes rather than using a tumble dryer, your smart meter will make you an energy-saving expert.
Don’t leave your devices on standby
We don’t often think of our appliances being on standby as many are on 24 hours a day. But this can be a costly exercise that is relatively easy to avoid. Leaving your appliances on standby could be costing you around £40.00 per year. Why not look at a standby saver to help save you money? A standby saver can turn all your standby appliances off in one go, so you don’t have to worry about it!
Lower your washing temperature
Washing your clothes at a lower temperature will not only lower your CO2 emissions but could make your clothes last longer. By dropping your washing temperature from 60 degrees to 30 degrees, you will be saving up to 60% in energy. This is because it takes more energy to heat the water to a higher temperature. So simply turning down the dial will save your energy bill and the environment!
Energy-efficient lightbulbs
Switching to energy-saving bulbs can help you save money and reduce your carbon footprint. For every 60-watt bulb in the house, you can save up to £3.00 per year. In the coming years, we’re going to see a massive increase in the number of energy-efficient lighting options for the home. Today, LED bulbs can produce around the same light as a traditional 60-watt bulb but use much less energy. Technology is moving forward quickly, and we’ll see even more significant savings in just a few years.
2022 has had us facing big energy price rises
Throughout 2022, we have been faced with rising energy prices that have affected both homes and businesses across the UK. Earlier in the year, BES Electrical gave you some top tips to improve the energy efficiency of your home to try and tackle those continually rising costs.
Improving insulation
Making sure your walls, roof and floors are insulated efficiently will help to reduce the cost of your rising energy prices. Many homes in the UK lose a lot of their heat through walls and roofs, so insulating these elements will help to keep your heat in and the cold out! The loft is a great place to start, along with insulated hot water pipes.
Upgrade to energy-efficient appliances
If it’s time you upgraded some of your larger appliances, we recommend switching to an energy-efficient choice. A relatively low-cost way of saving energy, the more efficient your devices, the less power they will need to run. To find out how efficient your appliance is, take a look at the label and compare it to other appliances.
Generate your electricity
Installing a renewable technology system at home can sound a little daunting, but the benefits far outweigh the initial investment. Solar panels are a great way to reduce your reliance on fossil fuels, and if you are generating more electricity than you need, you could even be paid for the excess energy that goes back into the grid.
Take a look at the heating controls
Stop using more heating than you need. Take control of heating your home by installing a heating control. Paying attention to your controls and only heating the rooms you need when you need them could save you a considerable amount on your energy bills.
Keep your home safe with Chesham electricians
Alongside saving you money, unplugging your electrical appliances will also protect your home and reduce the likelihood of electrical fires. In June, BES Electrical explained why you should be unplugging those items before you leave your home.
Old electrical appliances, plugs and cables can be hazardous. Just because there’s no flame doesn’t mean there’s not a fire risk. Check to see if your appliances are safe. Make sure you have all the safety equipment you need before using them. If you think something may be unsafe, contact an electrician immediately.
Unplugging your appliances doesn’t just save money. It can also reduce the risk of electrical fires because when an appliance isn’t plugged in, there’s less chance it will get damaged by surges. If power surges occur while an appliance is plugged in, it could start a fire. An appliance might not necessarily need to be plugged in to function correctly. For example, if you’re using a microwave oven, you don’t need to plug it in to cook. But, if you leave it plugged in, you’ll increase the risk of damage. You can also prevent fires by unplugging your appliances.
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Merry Christmas from all at BES Electrical
It is clear that this year has been a real challenge for most of us. Between rising energy prices and entering a cost of living crisis, we are all probably glad to see the back of 2023! Throughout this time, BES Electrical has been proud to continue supporting its customers with electrical-related challenges as your local Chesham electricians. We would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your continued support and wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy new year!
