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Tips to reduce your energy usage
With energy prices rising and the cost of living creeping higher you can make changes around your home that could really help. You don’t have to work out how to ask your landlord for solar panels.
Take a look at our room specific tips below.
Simple changes to save energy
Let’s start with the very simple. If you’re studying or working from home, move your desk or chair to the window. The natural light is better for your mood and is a perfect place to stare into space while coming up with those lightbulb moments (without the lightbulb).
While LED lightbulbs might cost a bit more to buy, they’ll save you money in the long term by lasting a lot longer than incandescent or halogen ones. Using them in your home could save you around £65 a year on electricity, according to Energy Saving Trust (June 2023).
1. Don’t blast your heating
Lower your thermostat a degree to two. You probably won’t notice a difference, and you’ll feel good know you’re doing your bit waste less energy.
2. Recycle, reuse, donate
It’s more than just trying to remember to put things in the right bin. Think about the clothes you won’t wear or books you won’t read again - if you can’t reuse what you are throwing away, could you sell them on to someone who would? Or if selling on things seems like a bit of an effort why not donate them?
3. Sharing is caring
Take turns to cook meals for each other in the flat. This’ll help cut down on the energy you use as only one person is cooking in the kitchen that night. Or batch cook so you don’t have to use the kitchen for as long the rest of the week.
4. Don’t overcharge
Don’t hog the plug sockets. When your device is fully charged - remove it. That means you won’t be wasting extra energy and your flatmate who’s constantly at 7% can finally charge up. Or charge up when you’re out? Win win.
The lowdown on landlords
Unless they have an exemption, landlords can only let out properties to new tenants that have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of E or higher. That's because of something called the Domestic Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES).
If you’re landlord is not able to share it with you, it might be a sign that this might not be the place. Our simple EPC certificate guide will show you how EPCs work.
Flat-hunting, energy saving checklist
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Look for signs of damp. When viewing a property, keep your eyes peeled for the tell-tale signs of a damp – smell, mould and condensation. A damp property is harder to heat and could have a significant impact on your wellbeing.
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Energy-efficient appliances. Appliances have a rating from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient). The more efficient the appliance, the less it will cost you to run (unless you forget to turn it off).
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Gas or electric? Check if the house is heated with gas or electricity or both, and ask the current tenants (if possible) how they find the heating. Heating is important to avoid problems of damp and keeping things comfortable.
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Insulated windows, walls and roof. Good double glazing will help make a flat more energy-efficient, and could make it easier and cheaper to heat. Also check the EPC certificate or ask the landlord what insulation there is in the property.
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Water tanks, pipes and radiators. Make sure these are well insulated, it will help reduce the amount of heat lost and could save you money on your energy bills.
Has this article inspired you to take action?
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