The Big Energy Saving week is a great way to learn and share easy ways to save energy, money, and the environment!
Big Energy Saving Week is a national campaign that runs yearly between 18– 24 January. The aim of the week is to help people cut their electricity bills. This is particularly important in 2022 due to the impact of the pandemic which has meant that we have stayed at home more these last couple of years and are under greater financial pressures. So, what can we do to save energy, money and the environment?
1. Switch energy supplier or tariff
If you are a homeowner or you are renting, this is a great place to start. Exploring other options for energy suppliers or tariffs is a relatively simple process that could be the most beneficial suggestion on this list. Citizens Advice has a free gas and electricity price comparison tool that you can use to see the best deal in your local area. The only information you’ll need is your postcode, the name of your current supplier and tariff, and your annual energy consumption (which you’ll be able to find on your latest energy bill).
Don’t worry if you aren’t in control of your energy though, you can tell your family about this handy tool and have conversations with them about ways to save money, energy and the environment using the below tips to help!
2. Turn off unnecessary lights
Switching off your unused lights is a great way to save energy. As well as switching off the main lights in rooms that you’re not using, consider using location-specific lights (eg. a lamp or spotlights) rather than the main lights. This helps to save electricity as you are only using light in the areas you need rather than lighting up the whole room.
3. Take a shower instead of a bath
Keep bathing in the tub as a special treat and get into the habit of taking a shower instead. This saves both water and electricity, and is a quicker way to get squeaky clean! Try to have short showers too by setting a timer for 5 minutes. If you don’t think you can stick to a short shower, turn off the tap when not using it, for example when conditioning your hair, to save a bit of extra energy and cash.
4. Turn of water when brushing your teeth
Similarly, turn off the water from the sink tap when you are brushing your teeth or shaving. Keeping the water running for 2 minutes is such a waste when you only need a small amount of water anyway.
5. Unplug unused electronics
It’s easy to forget to unplug your electronics when you aren’t using them, but this makes a huge impact on energy consumption. If you’re not using your microwave, toaster, kettle, radio, TV, printer, record player etc – unplug it! It only takes a few seconds to put the plug back in the socket when you need it next. Don’t forget to flick the wall switch off too!
6. Lower your thermostat
Instead of putting your heating on full blast in the winter months, try to lower the temperature on the thermostat and wrap up warm instead. Wearing a dressing gown, woolly sock and using a hot water bottle and blanket can work wonders and is really cosy too! Similarly, in summer, try to open your windows and close your blinds/curtains to keep your home cool rather than using air-conditioning systems and fans.
7. Ditch the tumble-drier
In Wales, we are lucky that we have quite a bit of wind so hanging your clothes out to dry is a great option. Understandably, this method won’t work during the unfair number of rainy days that we have in Cardiff. When it’s raining, try to dry your clothes using a clothes horse or using the radiators if you have them on. Just remember not to use your heating if not necessary – the warm air in the house will dry the clothes without them actually being hung on the radiator.