HomeMoversPack 2020

16
SAVVY SAVING
Energy saving tips
Moving home is an expensive time,
so it’s only natural you’ll want to
do everything you can to recoup on
some of that spending; and bills are
a great place to start. There are many
things you can do to reduce how
much energy you use and how much
you’re spending.
Electrical appliances are one of the
biggest costs towards your energy
bills. This includes white goods and
kitchen appliances such as tumble
dryers, washing machines, fridges,
freezers, ovens, hobs and kettles. But
buying an energy efficient appliance is
a great way to save energy and cut your
running costs.
We’ve put together a guide to show
you how energy efficiency ratings work
for various types of appliances, as well
as the small changes you can make to
your home and what you’ll save in the
long run.
Washing & Drying
The average UK household runs the washing
machine four times a week. If you’re a family
with a baby or young children, you probably
use it even more. That increases your energy
costs and can also add to your water bills.
It’s not just the washing that adds up.
Tumble drying clothes can also use a lot of
electricity, especially if your machine isn’t
energy efficient and needs to run for longer.
Tips for smart usage:
• Always try to put a full load into your
washing machine or tumble dryer, and
use economy programmes on your
washing machine for small loads or
washing that isn’t very dirty.
• Wash at 30°C. Modern washing
powders and detergents work just as
well at lower temperatures.
• A washing machine with a delay to
start the programme could lower your
energy use and save you money.
• If the weather is good, hanging clothes
outside is a great alternative to the
tumble dryer. It uses less energy than
a tumble dryer and you’ll need to do
less ironing.
• You can use a clothes rack to dry your
clothes indoors.
• Don’t hang your clothes over a
radiator – it causes condensation and
uses more energy in heating.
• Make sure your tumble dryer works
efficiently by checking the filters are
fluff-free.