Tons of houses across the UK struggle with their monthly electricity bill and it feels like it is increasing by the month. Approximately 15 trillion watts of power are being used across the globe at any given moment while the amount of energy used in the United States doubles every 20 years. Making simple practices tradition in your home could reduce your carbon footprint while also saving you a few bucks.
- Pick better bulbs- Traditional bulbs consumer a lot of electricity and there have been better options available for years so not using them is simply shooting up your costs. It is hardly an investment with CFLs and LEDs costing barely anything but saving anywhere from 30% to 80% of the energy a traditional bulb is using.
- Appliances- Air conditioners, washing machines and refrigerators all have better options that consume less energy. More brands are becoming eco-friendly and consumers are left with a list of options to choose from depending on the budget and preference. LG and Bosch are both great brands with plenty of eco-friendly options you can choose from. These appliances tend to cost more in the beginning but have far cheaper operating costs. They tend to be at least 15% cheaper when it comes to paying for the operating costs.
- Smart strips- The biggest waste of energy by far is when appliances are left to do nothing but stand in a corner while also eating into your bank account. The energy that is used when these appliances are left on sleep mode can be utilized for something more useful by using power strips. 70% of the power that these appliances consume is actually consumed when they are switched off so having smart boards that will automatically cut power to these appliances when they are not in use can save you up to £150 a month depending on the size of your house and your average electricity bill.
- Thermostat- Heating can account for as much as 28% of your bill during the winter and going above 20°C on your thermostat adds the amount of energy you use by quite a bit. You can even consider using a programmable thermostat that will either reduce or switch of heating at certain timings. This will give you exactly what any other thermostat will but you are also saving energy and money. There are tons of options out there and you can set it the way that suits you best. It makes for a far better experience as well.