Perhaps you already have your New Years’ Resolutions in check and ready to pounce on come the first of January, but perhaps we could persuade you to consider energy efficiency as the most important New Years’ Resolution you will make this year. To help you get the New Year off to the most energy efficient start, we have 19 ideas for energy efficient new years’ resolutions for you to try.
1. Get to know you thermostat: turning your thermostat down by just one degree centigrade can save you 2% on your energy bills.
2. Carry out a home energy audit: look at the energy efficiency of your own home, or get in the experts from Home Energy Scotland to carry out an audit;
3. Make the switch to LED lighting: LED lighting can use as much as 80% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs;
4. Choose energy efficient appliances: if you need to purchase a new appliance, make the commitment to choose A rated energy efficient appliances wherever possible;
5. Switch off your appliances: it doesn’t matter how energy efficient they are if you leave them switched on! Turn your appliances off, or better yet, turn them off at the wall;
6. Turn off the lights: ensure you are only using lights in the rooms that you are in for easy energy savings;
7. Grab a copy of our Home Energy Hacks guide;
8. Keep your freezer full to ensure it runs more efficiently: it can also help you reduce food waste;
9. Warm your body, not the room; make sure you are well wrapped up at home before turning the heating up;
10. Make a commitment to tackling draughts: draughtproofing your home will really help with thermal comfort;
11. Invest in energy saving secondary glazing: InvisiTherm ® can reduce your energy bills by 22.5%;
12. Make the switch to a renewable energy provider;
13. Use your day off to batch cook meals for throughout the week: not only will it save you money (and keep that freezer full!) it will also reduce energy usage;
14. Reduce the amount of prepackaged foods you purchase: not only is fresh healthier, but you will also be choosing foods with a lower carbon footprint;
15. Wash clothes at a lower temperature: washing at 30 degrees instead of 40 will get your clothes just as clean while using a third less energy;
16. Invest in insulation: insulating your loft can save around £200 per year;
17. Invest in Thermostatic Radiator Valves: they could save you £150 per year;
18. Check the temperature of your hot water: if it’s too hot, then turn the boiler down to save energy;
19. Turn off radiators in rooms that aren’t being used: although ensure the room is not so cold that it ends up damp.
Cocoon Window Insulation is a trading style of Glaze and Save Ltd