Summer Green Energy Tips

It has been an excellent summer so far and, with the weather looking to stay like it is or get even warmer, then it is important to keep in mind the amount of energy you use. In this blog, I hope to give you a few tips on how to keep your energy bills down so you can treat yourself to the odd ice lolly or two over the summer.

Hang your washing outside

When you do the washing take advantage of the nice weather outside and hang your washing out on the clothing line (if you can). You can save lots of energy by not using your radiators or tumble dryer during the summer months.

Install a programmable thermostat

This could come in handy if you have air conditioning in your house, as you can use the thermostat to switch the air con off at night when the temperature is coolest.

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 room then it will work harder which means using more electricity.

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 on the benefits of LEDs.

Unplug

Unplugging your electrical appliances may only save a small amount of energy, but, added together, unplugging all your items can save a significant amount of money.

Make your own ice lollies!

Time for those ice lollies I mentioned earlier. Probably the most fun tip in this blog. Instead of going out and buying ice lollies for the warm weather ,why not get creative and make your  own. Here are some ideas on how to make your own ice lollies from BBC Good Food. This is a great way to use up leftover food too.

Use hand tools in the garden

Garden power tools tend to use a lot of energy. Switching to a push lawnmower and using a rake instead of a leaf blower, for example, could make a difference.

Don’t leave computers on standby

Desktop or laptop devices generate a lot of heat when on standby which means they are using more energy.

Opening windows

It costs nothing to open windows, but not using a fan or air conditioning can save you money and energy.

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.

Collect Rainfall

We haven’t had much rainfall this summer so far, but when it does come 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!