Spring & Summer Energy Tips

It may be a bit bleak at the moment, but as we saw last week the summer in Scotland can be warm and sunny! You may think Winter is the only time to think about energy saving, but cutting down on your heating isn’t the only way to reduce your energy bills. In this blog I hope to give you a few tips on how to keep your energy bills down over the summer, so you can treat yourself to the odd ice lolly or two!

People tend to think that you can only save energy inside the house, but that is not the case, you can also save energy outside the house.

Saving Energy inside the House

• Install a programmable thermostat – This could come in handy if you have air conditioning (and its ever so hot you want to use it), as you can use the thermostat to switch the air con off at night when the weather is at its coolest. Ceiling fans also use less energy than air conditioners and furnaces.
• Open windows – It costs nothing to open windows so can save you money and energy. Consider opening your windows in the evening and during the night to allow cooler air to come in.
• Correct clothing – Wearing comfortable, lightweight clothing during the hot weather, could help reduce your bills (if you use air conditioning).
• Turn the lights off – Leaving the lights off for as long as possible can save you money on your energy bill. Opening your curtains to let the natural sunlight get in can make a huge difference.
• Don’t overfill your fridge – While it is important to keep your fridge full it is also important not to overfill it. The cool air needs some room to circulate. If it doesn’t have the room then it will work harder which means using more electricity. For more information on how to save energy in the kitchen, read my Energy Use in the Kitchen blog.
• Ditch the tumble dryer – Tumble dryers take up a lot of room on your energy bill. During the summer why not hang your clothes outside if you can.
• Have a salad – Instead of using the cooker to make something for dinner on a hot day it might be an idea to make a nice notorious salad.
• Switch to LED lights – This one is not just for summer but can be a great way to make a saving on your bills. Read more information on LED’s and the misconceptions surrounding them.
• Don’t leave computers on standby – Desktop or laptop devices generate a lot of heat when on standby which means they are using much more energy.
• Unplug instead of leaving on standby – Unplugging your electrical appliances may only save a small amount of energy, but when you unplug all your items around the house then you can save a significant amount of money.
• Start draught-proofing – When the weather is nice is a great time to start draught-proofing and get your house ready for the Winter!

Saving Energy outside your House

• Plant a shade tree – Shade trees can improve the temperature control of your house. They will block the sunlight from entering your house via the windows. They will also make your house more energy efficient and bring down the amount of energy needed to cool your house.
• Use hand tools in the garden – The power tools you use in the garden during the summer tend to take up a lot of energy. Switching to a push lawnmower and using a rake instead of a leaf blower, for example, could make a difference.
• Compost your food and garden leftovers – Making compost reduces energy use and also creates a rich fertilizer for use in the garden. Read more on composting at home.
• Use the BBQ – Instead of staying in your kitchen why not go outside and cook your food on the BBQ!
• Security lights – If you have security lights then you can switch them to motion-sensor lights. Motion-sensor lights only come on when needed which reduces greatly the amount of energy they use.
• Collect Rainfall – Its Scotland after all! It is a good idea to put buckets out to collect the rainfall then use that water to water your plants.
• Spend more time outside – Take advantage of the sun while we have it. Spend as much time outside as you can then you are cutting down the energy you would use if you stayed indoors.

For more tips and advice on reducing your energy use, and for advice tailored to your home, book a free home energy visit through Cosy Kingdom.

References

Facts taken from Direct Energy, Eon Energy, USwitch, The Greenage and Style at Home