Wednesday 29 February 2012

10 ways to save on electricity and heating



As boilers go into overdrive and gas demand is predicted to hit record levels this winter, many will be worried about soaring bills. Here's how to beat the winter freeze and get the most out of your boiler and electrical appliances.

Efficient TVs
TVs such as the Samsung UE46C6505 have sensors that adjust the screen's backlighting depending on the light level in the room, cutting power use by 30%-50%.

Insulation
Up to half of the heat in your home disappears through the roof and walls. Installing 250mm of insulation in your loft is a relatively simple job, could cost as little as £250 and can cut your bills by £100 a year. Visit the Which? guide to buying loft insulation.

Best Buy bulbs
At £4.99, Philips Tornado Turbo Energy Saver 20W is the cheapest energy saving bulb, according to Which?. It gets started quickly, and comes in bayonet and screw fittings.

Switch now
You could save hundreds of pounds on your energy bills by switching your supplier. Compare deals on price comparison sites like Confused.com, moneysupermarket.com and Which? Switch.

Energy check
Want to save on heating but not sure where to start? Carry out a free home energy check on the Energy Saving Trust website. Its online tool claims it can save you as much as £250 a year.

Boilers
If you're looking for a new gas combi boiler at a great price, you might want to consider the Potterton Gold C24HE. A Which? Best Buy Boiler at only £800 – a saving of £150 on a similar-performing Best Buy.

Monitors
Energy monitors show you how much electricity you use in real time. They can help you cut energy wastage and save you money. The cheapest Which? Best Buy is the Efergy Elite (£35).

Lower bills
Reduce your bills by paying by direct debit, managing them online and getting a 'dual fuel tariff' (where your gas and electricity come from the same supplier). Sending your supplier accurate meter readings can also cut your bills.

Boiler servicing
You should get your boiler serviced regularly. The latest Which? survey of servicing contracts found that Worcester Bosch was best. But contracts can be dear. You may be better off paying for one-off repairs.

Standby
Don't leave your electricals on standby. If you turn off DVD players, set-top boxes and computers, you could save up to £40 a year.

2 comments:

  1. Thanks for posting this info on save on electricity, quite interesting actually. For that we need to Compare Electric Prices, currently I am using services from www.publicutilitybrokers.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks for posting this type of information after reading this blog I know different easy steps to save the electricity at home. This blog is very helpful for us.
    Ways To Save Electricity

    ReplyDelete