The effects of global warming have led many to sit up and seriously think about their energy consumption. Over the last two years, Great Britain has seen a marked decrease in the amount of electricity it consumes.
This is due to the many energy-saving hacks citizens are attempting to decrease their carbon footprint and be kinder to the environment. Your carbon footprint is determined by how much greenhouse gases are generated by your activity.
Statistics reveal that 259 510 GWh of electricity was used in 2020. The country experienced a sharp decline in usage between 2019 and 2020. This is comparable to 2005, which also saw a marked decline in electricity consumption.
This guide will provide you with the best energy-saving hacks to save you money and lower the amount of CO2 you emit into the environment. The average carbon footprint of a UK citizen is 10 tonnes of CO2 per person each year, and that figure is 50% of the global median.
8 Energy Saving Hacks
1. Turn off the Lights
You should aim to switch off the lights in rooms in your house when you are not occupying certain spaces. Make it a habit to switch off lights every time you leave a room. In no time, it will become second nature and save you hundreds of pounds in the long run.
2. Switch Your PC off
Our computers and laptops consume a huge amount of energy. Data indicates that, on average, a computer is turned on and off more than 40,000 times in its lifespan. You should also ditch your computer’s screensaver and always shut down your machine once you are done using it.
3. New Light Technology
It’s a fact that LED lights are more energy efficient than incandescent bulbs. You should try to replace all the traditional light bulbs in your home with LED lights. LED lights come with many benefits. They work better in colder climates and are very reliable. They are also more compact than normal light bulbs and have a longer lifespan.
4. Passive Energy Drain
We are all guilty of not unplugging appliances and devices from wall sockets after using them. Energy experts advise people to unplug TVs, microwaves, printers, and scanners as they tend to consume small amounts of energy. Close to 98% of Brits admit to leaving their TV sets on at the plug while completing other tasks. If they unplugged their TVs after they are done, it could save them close to £30 each year.
5. Switch off Your Power Strip
Power strips are great when opting to fire up multiple devices simultaneously. However, when they are kept on, they passively use up a small amount of electricity. You should aim to switch the power strip off at the socket. Switching the power strip off will disconnect all the devices being charged by it.
6. Insulate Your Home
Correctly insulating your home also helps to reduce energy consumption. Sealing up cracks and holes in walls and ceilings will help to keep your home warmer during the winter months. This will decrease your electricity bill as you won’t be using heaters that often. To learn how to save energy during the summer months, visit https://www.utilitybidder.co.uk/
7. Dishwashers and Dryers
Energy consumption is generally higher during the day. A great tip is to run your dishwasher, washing machine, and tumble dryer at night after peak consumption times. Peak times are usually between 4 pm and 6 pm; running appliances during off-peak hours can result in cheaper rates.
8. Cooking Tips
When warming a meal, make use of the microwave instead of your stove. Stoves generally zap more energy than household microwaves. Resist the urge to peek into your oven while you are cooking. Opening and closing the door allows for about 2% of the heat to escape leading to more electricity being used.
To save energy, put your oven off 5 minutes before your meal is done. The oven is still hot, and your food will remain cooking after you switch the appliance off.
Final Thoughts
Over the last decade, there has been a global shift in the way we view energy and energy consumption. By following our tips above, you can save some money on your energy bills and help save the planet too!
