We all need to reduce our energy consumption, especially now that fuel prices are increasing and the government's austerity measures are taking effect. Here are a few energy efficiency tips to help you reduce your central heating bills straight away.
1. Turn your thermostat down- Reducing your room temperature by just 1°C could cut your central heating bills by up to 10% typically saving around £55 per year. Now that the weather is improving, ask yourself if you could reduce it by more than 1°C?
2. Heat only when you need it- If possible set your heating and hot water to come on only when you need it. This will vary over the seasons so you should change your time settings at least 4 times a year (spring, summer, autumn and winter).
3. Reduce your water temperature- If you need to mix cold water with hot water to get your bath temperature right, it's likely that your cylinder thermostat is set to too high. Ideally your thermostat should be set at 60°C/140°F, so it's important to check it's not set higher.
4. Don't obstruct your radiators- If you place furniture or other objects in front of your radiators, they can absorb the heat and therefore reduce the radiator's efficiency. Where possible, try to make sure your radiators have space around them for the heat to go into the air rather than nearby objects.
5. Bleed your radiators regularly- Bleeding radiators removes any unwanted air which obstructs the flow of hot water from the system making it less efficient. It can be done quite easily with a little care and attention (although make sure your central heating system is switched off at the time).
6. Insulate your hot water cylinder - Insulate your hot water tank by using a 'British Standard' hot water cylinder jacket - this will cut heat loss by up to 75% and save around £35 each year. Tank jackets can be can be purchased from your local DIY store and typically cost less than £10. They can be fitted relatively easily, but make sure the system is turned off first.
7. Insulate your pipes - Installing primary pipe work insulation could save you around £10 a year. Again, fitting insulation to pipes is relatively easy if the pipes are accessible.
