Electricity, electrical products and services affect all of us. They’re important in our homes, in our businesses and in our everyday lives. They are a necessary part of life, but they can also end up costing you a great deal if you’re not using them effectively. Luckily, there are a number of steps which you can take to improve your energy efficiency and make your electricity go further for you. The options are varied and you’re bound to find something on our page which will help you out. Start off by reading through some of our top tips to get an idea of money-saving measures that you can easily adopt:
- Review your energy supplier on an annual basis. Rates and tariffs change constantly, so what might have been a good deal a year ago may not be any longer. Shop around using price comparison websites to ensure that you’re taking advantage of the right options for you.
- If you spot a cheaper rate for new customers, speak to your energy supplier directly. Their main priority will be attracting new customers, but as an existing one you deserve to be incentivised to stay. Whilst you may not be offered discounts automatically, if you speak to the customer service department there’s usually a deal to be done.
- Pay attention to energy labels. These will inform you how energy efficient a product is. Not all products will have one but many larger electrical appliances will, and more are being introduced over time. You’ll find energy labels on products such as refrigerators, washing machines, ovens, dishwashers, air conditioners and water heaters.
- Never, ever try to do anything to your electrical wiring yourself. This can be highly dangerous and could even prove fatal. You’re likely to do more harm than good and the situation will have to be rectified by a professional anyway, so you’ll be saving yourself time and money by asking someone qualified to complete the job in the first place.
- Switch off electrical products at the plug when not in use. This will stop them using the inefficient standby mode and will help to prevent electrical fires or other issues.
- Consider solar power. This will allow you to generate some of the power needed in your building yourself. Solar panels can be costly to install but the benefits are certainly worthwhile – you’ll see a reduction in your electricity bills, or you may even be able to go completely off-grid. You’ll also be making a big difference to the environment.
- Upgrade your old appliances. New kitchen and home appliances are far more energy efficient and can help to save you money in the long run. Newer products will also be far more reliable so you won’t incur any maintenance costs.
- Replace old light bulbs with low-energy light bulbs. Any bulbs which you buy now must be low energy by law, but if you still have old bulbs in your home you could save £7 a year per bulb by replacing them sooner rather than later.