Energy Efficiency Tips To Cut Your Household BillSummary: This collection of energy efficient tips has been prepared for TotallyInsulated by one of Europe's leading energy saving journalists, Susanna Ala-Kurikka. You can do lots around the house to cut your energy bills and contribute to a cleaner environment. Here are a number of simple energy efficiency tips to help you make the necessary changes to your daily habits. The choices you make when buying household appliances can be a key factor in determining how much energy your household consumes. As new, more complex consumer electronics products become more popular, it makes sense to factor energy efficiency into your purchase decisions. The EU's energy label is the best guideline in shops. The colour-coded A-G scheme ranks household appliances such as light bulbs, refrigerators and washing machines in terms of their energy use. Perhaps the most visible EU development to steer consumers towards energy savings is the current phase-out of inefficient incandescent light bulbs by the end of 2012 . Conventional light bulbs, which have changed little since Thomas Edison commercialised them in 1879, will gradually disappear from the shelves in favour of less energy-guzzling alternatives, such as improved incandescent bulbs with halogen technology or compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). Improving the design of your house, on the other hand, can significantly reduce the amount of heating required. Draught proofing, insulating hot water tanks, installing double glazing, replacing old boilers, fixing leaky taps and fitting loft or cavity wall installation can shave off a significant share of your energy bill. 15% of household heat is lost through the roof, so installing roof insulation is one of the most cost-effective ways of improving energy efficiency. The upfront cost of making energy efficiency improvements can often deter such investment, but they will pay off in the long term. Household lighting is a prime example. CFLs, while more expensive to buy than traditional light bulbs, use as little as a fifth of the electricity and last 6-10 times longer. The European Commission estimates that an average household could save between €25 and €50 a year on their electricity bill by switching from conventional light bulbs to CFLs, even after taking into account the higher purchase price. In addition, simple behavioural changes can add up to large savings. Always switching off lights in empty rooms, switching appliances off standby , not charging mobile phones or laptops for longer than necessary, closing curtains at night to prevent heat loss, and turning down the thermostat are just some examples. The UK’s Energy Saving Trust estimates that reducing room temperature by less than 1°C slashes heating bills by 10% and saves £55 per year, while Friends of the Earth estimates that appliances still use 70% of their usual energy on standby. Every Briton uses around 150 litres of water per day, much of which is wasted, yet 30% of the average household’s energy bill goes on heating water, according to the Trust. Taking showers instead of baths reduces water consumption by 30%, says the Bathroom Manufacturers Association (BMA). To read more about related topics, please follow these links:
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