Households across Scotland felt the crippling effects of rising energy bills as they soared to a record high.
Scottish homeowners felt financial strains after paying up to £300 more on their energy bills in 2017 compared to the previous year.
Now as we progress into a new year, homeowners are looking for ways on how they can reduce their energy bills and save some extra pennies.
With the late nights and rising temperatures, summer is the perfect opportunity to cut costs throughout your home.
You’d be surprised how much money you could save by cutting out a few things around the house.
This is where we come in.
We’ve taken the liberty of creating a short list of 10 ways you can reduce your energy bill this summer.
Switch Off and Unplug Appliances
One of the simplest ways to save money on your energy bill is to switch off and unplug any appliances you are not using.
Before you leave the house in the morning or head to bed at night, make sure you have turned off the power to all appliances that do not need to be on – including televisions, laptops, kettles, toasters etc.
Even on standby or not in use, these appliances consume a considerable amount of energy.
Also avoid keeping your mobile phone connected to a charger overnight when you go to sleep. Not only will this save you huge amounts of your energy bill, it will also reduce the likelihood of electrical dangers occurring.
Turn Off Lights
It may seem trivial, but switching off your lights when you leave a room can significantly reduce your energy bills.
It doesn’t just need to be when you leave a room either.
If you’re home during the day, the sunlight will brighten up your room without the need for any additional lighting.
Take advantage of the natural lighting whenever you can and only turn on the lights in your home when it begins to get too dark to see.
Before leaving the house or going to bed, make sure to turn off all lights in your house – including any front porch or back yard lighting.
Energy Saving Light Bulbs
Replace your current light bulbs with energy saving light bulbs can save you considerable money on your energy bill.
In comparison to a standard bulb which loses 80% of their energy to heat, LED light bulbs only lose 20%.
LED light bulbs can also last up to 10 times longer than your standard halogen bulbs, therefore saving you money in the long-run.
Experts have also suggested that switching to LED lighting can save you over £240 a year in energy costs.
It’s also worth noting that LED light bulbs do not contain any harmful chemicals so if you wish to do your part for the environment too, then LED light bulbs are a great step forward in reducing your carbon footprint.
Install Dimmer Light Switches
Adjust the amount of light you need throughout your home by installing dimmer light switches.
Dimmable light switches enable you to control and set just how much light you need or think is appropriate in a room.
Insulate Your Home
Okay you may be think this is one is a little odd. I mean, insulation, in summer?
Stay with us on this. Everyone knows that in the winter, a home requires insulation to avoid the warm air escaping.
However, many people do not realise that the same rule applies with cool air in the Summer.
Avoid Using the Oven and Cook Less
Warm evenings are a fantastic opportunity to dust off the barbecue which has been neglected in your shed for the past six months.
Instead of turning on the oven which saps your energy, fire up the barbecue and sit back and relax.
Close Blinds and Curtains
When the sun radiates through your windows, it can quickly begin heating up your home.
Avoid turning on the air conditioning by closing your blind and curtains. Closing the blinds and curtains will prevent the sun from shining through your windows and heating up your home.
Hang Your Laundry Outside
Instead of drying off your clothes in a dryer which uses up huge amounts of energy, consider opting for a more natural process by air-drying.
If you have a washing line, hang your washing outside. The late sunsets and warm evenings are a great alternative to your dryer which guzzles your energy.
Open the Windows
If you can, avoid the temptation to turn on the air conditioning.
Instead of this, try opening the windows and let some cool air make its way around your home.
If you plan on leaving your home and want to leave the windows open, be sure to keep them open on the security locks to prevent any intruders entering your home.
Consider Installing Solar Panels
Solar panels may seem more hassle than they are worth, but in fact they are a great long-term solution to saving money.
Although the initial installation may seem costly, solar panels are a fantastic solution to protecting the environment and the money in your wallet.
Sunlight is free, so running your home on sunlight energy can severely reduce your energy bills.
The Bottom Line
Money can be saved in the simplest of areas when you know where to make them. Making just a few cuts can drastically reduce your energy use and put those extra pennies towards something more useful. Don’t stress over your energy bill this summer, instead just find ways of cutting out those minor sources of energy use – it all adds up!
Though many of these steps can be carried out yourself, you may require the help of a fully-qualified electrician to help install energy saving LED light bulbs or dimmer light switches. It is never too early to get in touch with us at Keith Gunn Electrical Solutions to discuss how we can help in saving you money on your energy bill.
1 Rodney Street, Edinburgh, EH7 4EN
0131 225 3205
0131 225 3205
