Energy Saving Tips for Winter

Winter can be a very expensive time of year. As well as Christmas taking its toll on people’s bank accounts, the colder months can lead to an increase in energy usage in our homes, which means a more gradual, but nevertheless significant impact on our finances. However, with a little bit of savvy, you can save a lot of money. In this article, the team at Airway will show you some top energy saving tips for winter so you can cut back on your energy spending without any hassle.

A matter of degrees

Believe it or not, turning your heating down by just one degree can save you a considerable sum of money – as much as £75 off your annual heating bill, according to the Energy Saving Trust.

Wear more layers

Blankets, jumpers, fleeces – these are simple and effective ways to keep you warm without having to increase the heat on your thermostat. Doubling up on layers can help even more, or utilise any thermal wear you may have.

Insulation

Insulation is a no-brainer when it comes to saving money on your energy bills. According to the Energy Saving Trust, cavity wall insulation can save you between £70 and £250 a year on your heating, as long as your home is eligible for it. Homes built after the 1920s but before the last 20 years are likely to have empty cavity walls, which means they’re perfect for insulation.

Smart heating

Becoming more and more commonplace in our homes, smart heating systems aren’t just a gimmick – they really can save you money. Smart thermostats, for example, can learn about your usage habits, turning the heat down or up depending on whether you’re at home, for example. What’s more, they can be operated remotely – if you’re heading home after work, you can use the app to turn it on ready for when you return. Or if you head out and forget to turn the heating off, you can do so easily whilst on your commute (not if you’re driving, though).

Avoiding the worst

This is more of a ‘just in case’ tip, but if you leave the area for an extended period of time – on holiday, for example – it might be best to leave the heating on a very low setting whilst you’re away. This might sound counterintuitive, but keeping your heating running will prevent your pipes from freezing in sub-zero temperatures, and frozen pipes can lead to very costly repairs.

A new boiler

Modern boilers are significantly more energy-efficient than older ones, so much so that homeowners with old boilers are advised to purchase a brand new one. The initial outlay for the boiler may be large, but its efficiency will save a much larger sum over the years.

Don’t use standby

When you’ve finished watching TV for the evening, it can be tempting, almost habit, to just press the red button on the remote and leave it at that. However, that only puts the TV into standby mode – it certainly uses less power than leaving it on, of course, but more energy can be saved by turning it off completely at the wall. Finished a Christmas movie binge? Turn that TV off at the wall before you start on the board games.

LED lighting

LED light bulbs were designed with efficiency in mind. With a common lifespan of 50,000 hours, these bulbs would last for 11 years if you were to have the lights on for 12 hours a day. Using LED bulbs can save you around £35 a year on your bills, and if you take care to switch off the lights when you’re not using them, you could save an additional £15 per year. This is also pertinent to Christmas time, where homes are adorned with festive lights. When purchasing the year’s decorations, opt for LED versions to save money without compromising on your festive spirit.

As you can see, there are a number of ways to save money on your energy bills during the winter without impacting your lifestyle. There’s no need for drastic changes, and any expense incurred in making alterations to your energy usage will be paid back with interest by the money saved on your bills.

Airway Group are proud to provide the highest quality air conditioning and electrical services for domestic and commercial customers alike. For more information about the work we do, please get in touch with us today.