33 ways you can be energy smart #BritishGasSmartMeters

Do you waste energy in your home? Many of us have a few bad energy habits and most of these habits we do without even thinking about them. We leave things plugged in, lights on, fill the kettle right up before we boil it; so many other little actions that become bad habits around the home.

These might only use a small amount of energy each, but they all add up and they can result in an unexpected rise in your energy bills. Which we can all do without!  

It can be really hard to keep track of the energy we’re using and to keep on top of the ways we could save energy around the home. So here are some ideas for you.

Here are 33 ways you can save energy around the home;

• • Turn your taps off properly.
  • Switch your microwave off at the wall.
  • Keep your fridge and freezer defrosted regularly, so they stay frost-free and efficient.
  • Pop a lid on a pan when you’re cooking, so it heats up quicker – using less energy.

• • When cooking anything in water, use just enough to cover what you’re cooking.

• • Use the kettle to boil cooking water, as it will boil quicker in the kettle than it will in the pan.

• • Don’t turn the flame up so much that the flames go up the side on the pan. That will be wasted heat/energy!

• • Use a steamer so you can cook different vegetables on one ring.
  • Don’t keep your fridge door open longer than you have to.

• • Cook using your microwave instead of your oven, as it cooks quicker so is more efficient.

• • Be quick opening and closing your oven door while food is cooking. Don’t let the heat escape.

• Turn the oven off a couple of minutes earlier as the food inside will continue to cook. 
• Dry your clothes outside instead of using the tumble dryer.
• Set your fridge’s temperature to around 3°C to 5°C.
• Keep the dust off the condenser coils at the back of your fridge, as it uses more energy when they’re dirty.
• Keep your fridge and freezer away from cookers or direct sunlight.
• Upgrade an old fridge-freezer for a newer energy efficient model. 
• Use the economy setting on your washing machine whenever you can.
• Don’t put furniture in front of radiators as they will absorb the heat.
• Don’t dry clothes on the radiators, as the boiler will have to use much more energy. 
• Keep the filters clean in your tumble dryer.
• Use ecoballs in the tumble dryer as they help the clothes dry quicker. 
• Use your central heating timer to turn heating on and off.
• Use thermal curtains during the winter to trap in the heat.
• Insulate your immersion tank to keep your water hot for longer.
• For properties with high ceilings, placing a shelf just above the radiator helps to deflect the heat into the centre of the room rather than it drifting straight up to the ceiling. 
• Use a draught excluder.
• Install cavity wall insulation. 
• Install double glazing to stop the heat escaping.
• Get a hot water cylinder jacket.
• Replace boilers over 15 years old. 
• Use energy saving light bulbs. 
• Make sure all your electrical appliances are turned off at the plug when you’re not using them. 

How many of these energy savers do you currently do? If you want to be more in control of your energy there’s a new type of gas and electricity meters that can help. British Gas Smart Meters make monitoring your energy usage so much easier. This technology monitors, in real-time, the energy being used and automatically sends meter readings to British Gas, so there are no more estimated bills. 

The real-time monitoring allows you to see exactly how much energy you’re using. So you can see the areas where you can make energy savings. 

Sadly, we haven’t got a Smart Meter. However, there’s no doubt that having one would keep us on the straight and narrow. I certainly can be a little wasteful with our home energy and my husband is always following me around turning off lights!  

The best bit about all of this?!

Do you think you could be more frugal with your home gas and electric? Would a Smart Meter help you?

Disclosure: This post is in conjunction with British Gas® but all thoughts are my own.