With Big Energy Saving Week 2020 now underway, leading boiler manufacturer Worcester Bosch wants to help homeowners across the country look at ways of reducing how much energy they are using and make energy bills more affordable all year long.
The Energy Saving Trust estimates that, in a typical UK household, more than half the money spent on fuel bills goes towards providing heating and hot water. Therefore, having an efficient and cost-effective heating system is vital.
As the national campaign begins to help people cut their energy bills and get the financial support they are entitled to, Worcester Bosch shares its top five tips for energy saving:
TIP 1: Take control of your heating
Installing a room thermostat, a programmer and thermostatic radiator valves (which allow you to control the temperature of each room individually) could save you up to 10% per year. If you already have a full set of controls, turning down your room thermostat by just one degree could equally save you 10% over the year, and you’d barely notice the difference.
Martyn Bridges, Director of Technical Communication and Product Management at Worcester Bosch, provides useful context: “If you’re wondering about the most efficient way to heat your home, it’s best to tailor it to your lifestyle. That may mean keeping your heating on a low setting throughout the day to maintain the same temperature if you’re in the house. If you’re out at work, only turn it on or up when needed – perhaps 30 minutes or so before you return home.”
TIP 2: Stop heat escaping
If you’ve got radiators against outside walls, heat can be escaping. It’s worth placing foil behind the radiators in order to reflect the heat back into the room and there is purpose made foil available with an insulating layer attached that you’ll need to use for this. It’s also worth pulling any furniture slightly away from radiators as this helps to improve the circulation of air and make the radiator more efficient.
Martyn Bridges adds: “As well as avoiding heat escaping, it’s also important to allow natural heat in. Ensure you open any curtains on the south side of the house during the day, as this will increase the solar gain into the house. At night, ensure they’re all closed properly to keep out the cold.”
TIP 3: Ensure you’re bathing efficiently
If you’re going to have a bath, fill it a little way short of the level that you require with hot water first and then add cold water after. This way you aren’t likely to be using excessive hot water to “warm up” a quantity of cold water, you are simply adding the minimum amount of cold water to achieve the desired temperature and overall be more energy efficient. Remember to always take care around small children.
TIP 4: Be careful in the kitchen
Steps can also be taken to save energy in the kitchen. Martyn Bridges explains: “Our recent research found that 67% of Brits like to tackle the washing up by hand at least once a day, but we fear that many may simply be washing dirty dishes under a running tap. The Energy Saving Trust estimates that using a bowl to wash up instead could save you up to £25 a year.
“Additionally, take care to only fill the kettle with the amount of water you require, to avoid the cost of re-boiling and re-filling unnecessarily.”
TIP 5: Get savvy with smart controls
Smart heating controls are the latest innovation to help you control your heating and understand your energy usage. They allow you to control your heating remotely from your mobile, which means you can manage the temperature of your home from wherever you are, at whatever time of day.
Martyn explains: “A room thermostat monitors the air temperature and enables you to set the level you want. If the room temperature drops below this level, the thermostat switches your boiler on. The setting we recommend is around 21°C for comfort when at home, but this should be programmed to a lower setting of say 17°C when not at home, in order to save energy and costs.
“A smart thermostat such as the Bosch EasyControl allows you to keep your home at the optimal temperature from wherever you are, whether that be the sofa, your bed, or out at work.”
For more information on how to save energy through your heating and hot water: https://www.worcester-bosch.co.uk/support/energy-saving-tips.