02/11/2016
18 Winter Energy Saving Tips
With the cold winter weather fast approaching, get our top winter energy saving tips on how you can reduce your energy bills.
By being smarter about how we use energy can help reduce your annuals bills. Heating and hot water account for 84% of your bills so focus on those first. Even small changes can make a difference.
Top Winter Energy Saving Tips
1. Boilers account for 55% of your annual heating bills, so an efficient boiler can make a significant difference to your wallet. In fact, according to the SEAI by replacing your old boiler with a high-efficiency boiler will cut your home fuel bills by 25%. New boilers available today have efficiencies greater than 90%. Not only are they safer, more environmentally friendly, but they’re also much cheaper to run.
2. If you have a new boiler, get it serviced annually to ensure it’s operating efficiently and safely. According to the SEAI, simply by servicing your boiler annually can save you up to €150 per year. Not only will you save money, and help the environment by reducing CO2 emissions, an annual service will ensure your boiler is working according to the manufacturers specifications, thereby prolonging its life and reducing the risks of leaks and faults.
3. Turn the heating in living areas to 20C – this can save you up to 20%. The temperature in hallways and bedrooms should be cooler – ideally 15-18C.
4. Insulate the attic to help prevent heat escaping up through the top of your property.
5. If your hot water is being heated by the central-heating and your hot-water cylinder has a thermostat, set the thermostat to 65 °C. Ensure your immersion thermostat is working correctly—a qualified electrician can check this for you.
6. Prioritise use of the shower over a bath. A typical shower uses only 20% of the energy of a full bath
7. Never leave a hot tap running unnecessarily.
8. Ensure your hot-water cylinder is properly lagged. A lagging jacket will keep the water hotter for longer to help limit heat loss.
9. Avoid drying clothes directly on your radiators as it lowers the room temperature, which means the boiler will need to work harder.
10. Use thermostatic valves to adjust heat from radiators. If there are rooms that are rarely or seldom used, lower the temperature so the space is not unnecessarily heated.
11. Draught proof your front door (including the letter box) to help prevent cold air rushing into your home. Go shopping for draft excluder and letter flap.
12. Stop chimney drafts. If your fireplace is not being used, pick up chimney balloon or chimney snug to block drafts and keep the heat in.
13. Install heavy curtains and make sure you close them at night, this again acts as a barrier to prevent heat loss out of the home.
14. Remember appliances on standby can use up to 20% of the energy that they would use if on, so ensure they are fully switched off, e.g., TVs, PCs, DVDs, VCRs, printers, games consoles, satellite boxes/players/recorders, mobile phone chargers, kitchen appliances etc.
15. If your washing machine, dishwasher or dryer has an economy button/reduced time–temperature, then use it whenever appropriate.
16. Aim to keep your fridge temperature settings between 2–3°C and the freezer at -15°C.
17. Don’t let frost build up in the freezer as this increases energy consumption. Defrost the inside of your fridge and freezer at least every 6 months.
18. Get a thicker duvet for the winter. One hot water bottle (boiling one full kettle) roughly costs the same as an electric blanket switched on for 3.5 hours. So the thicker the duvet, the better!
Get in touch for more information: http://www.accessoil.ie or call 01 882-8236.
