Quick wins

Heating

1. Turn your thermostat down to a comfortable level

2. Use your thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) to make each room comfortable, or to isolate un-used rooms.

3. Turn flow temperatures down

Your boiler temperatures are generally set on the control panel at the front. Some are turned up to the max, but there is a ‘sweet spot’ (generally marked by a dot) where the dial should be. This is around 60 degrees centigrade or between the 3^rd and 4^th dot on the radiator dial temperature control.

Showers

1. Use showers connected to your Domestic Hot Water (DHW) supply rather than electric showers

If you have an electric shower, this is probably the device in your house that has the highest power consumption, they are normally around 10kW, so a 20 minute shower costs around £1 (at electricity price of 35p/kWh). For comparison, if you had a shower fed from a hot water tank that was heated with an oil or gas boiler, a 20 minute shower would cost around 30p.

2. Take shorter showers

With costs for electric showers being so high it is worth changing habits to have shorter shower or at least only using the shower for wetting and rinsing.

3. Fit a water saving shower head.

If you are on a water meter or have a DHW shower then fitting a ‘pulse’ shower head can reduce water consumption and the associated energy costs of heating it. Pulse showers feel warmer than other ‘aerating’ water-saving shower heads. Note that you can do the same with electric showers but these need specialist heads.

Domestic Hot Water (DHW)

1. If you have a tank make sure the tank is well insulated (if you have a combi boiler, you won’t have one).

Note that if you have a PV system you can divert the electrical energy from your panels into the immersion heater on your tank to used it as energy storage. The device needed is called a PV diverter. Please ensure that you seek advice before purchasing.

2. Hot water pipe lagging

Use lagging to slow heat loss from your boiler / DHW tank to your taps. This gives you hotter water for washing and bathing.

3. Turn flow temperatures down

Your boiler temperatures are generally set on the control panel at the front. Some are turned up to the max, but there is a ‘sweet spot’ (generally marked by a dot) where the dial should be. This is around the 80% mark, or around 60 degrees centigrade.

Lighting

1. Switch off un-used lights

2. Change any incandescent or halogen bulbs over to LED bulbs (even if they don’t need replacing)

3. Change fluorescent (energy saving CFL) bulbs over to LED bulbs when they need replacing

Laundry

1. Dry your washing outside on a line if at all possible

2. If drying inside during the heating months, ensure room is well ventilated to reduce risk of condensation

Kettles

1. Fill your kettle with the amount of water that you need rather than filling it to the top

2. If you boil too much, how about making a vacuum flask of tea / coffee for later?

Cooking

1. Always put a lid on pots and pans

2. Use your extractor fan to remove moisture and reduce condensation risks

3. Plan use of the oven to bake several things at once or at least consecutively

Curtains and blinds

1. Close curtains and blinds at night during the heating season

Appliances

1. Turn off un-essential appliances at the socket (don’t switch off routers, wi-fi, fridges and freezers)

Draught proofing

1. Draught proofing around doors and windows not only saves money it makes your home more comfortable

2. Don’t forget your loft hatch. It is really important to stop warm moist air from entering the loft space, so make sure that you draught proof around the loft hatch and why not insulate the access hatch at the same time?

3. Remember that ventilation is important to maintain, even though draughts are not welcome, so DON’T tape up trickle vents in windows, or seal off extractors in bathrooms, kitchens and toilets, these are important to keep the air healthy in your home by reducing the risk of damp and mould formation.