How to Save Energy in Your Household This Christmas
Christmas can be an expensive time of year, however, by following these energy-saving tips you are sure to save a few pounds! Below are 7 tips to help you to reduce the amount of energy you are using, the money you are wasting and excess CO2 you are emitting.
Turn the thermostat down
£9.27 million is spent daily heating homes in the UK throughout December. The general rule of thumb is that you can save around 3% on your heating bill for every degree you turn your thermostat down. This could mean substantial savings over the Christmas period. What’s better, is that Christmas is a time for wearing those hideous jumpers you keep hidden in your drawers, so instead of turning the thermostat up, put on your cosy Christmas jumper.
Position your decorations
Be careful to avoid blocking your radiators this festive season. Keep your decorations away from your heaters in order to maximise the amount of heat given out. By doing this the room will heat up quicker and make you less likely to rush to turn the thermostat up.
Swap to LED lights
The UK spends roughly £1.9 million lighting up Christmas trees across December. However, Christmas lights can be energy zapping. Making the switch to LED lights will cost nearly six times less to run. LED lights will save you around 80% of electrical power than your standard lights. Not only this, but they also last longer.
Turn the lights off
It’s not uncommon for houses to be lit up like Christmas trees during the festive season. It’s important to remember to turn off all lights before going to bed, even your hanging lights outside the house. Leaving them on overnight could be costing you at least an additional £20. If you are forgetful, try using a timer switch so that they automatically turn off overnight.
The Oven
To prevent wasting excess energy, plan to cook multiple things in your oven at once. This will allow you to be more efficient. If it’s possible try to roast your vegetables in the same tray, as not only will it save energy, but it will also create less time spent on washing up. You can also do the same for your vegetables being boiled by keeping them all in one pan.
Ditch the electronics
151 million hours is spent on technology across the UK on the 25th. Keep Christmas traditional this year and instead of rushing to try your new gadgets and devices, play some board games. Doing this will ensure you are spending quality time with your loved ones.
Switch it off
Christmas can be hectic and it’s easy to forget what’s left where. Make sure that you are turning off all chargers overnight and when there is nothing plugged into them. Even chargers plugged in without being connected to a device consume 26 watts of energy. As well as these electronics left on standby contribute to 10-15% of the yearly household energy bill so ensure you are also turning it off at the switch and not just the remote!
Conclusion
The total cost of energy used across the UK on Christmas day alone is £41,600,000. To ensure you keep on top of your energy bills this Christmas and are making a difference to lessen this value then follow the handy energy saving tips. Think of the money that you could be saving; all that money can be put towards gifts for your family and friends.
This Christmas think about the planet and try to be less wasteful of our natural resources. Remember, we only have one. So, let’s all give a gift back to the earth and remember to use less stuff!
0 Comments