Most people in the UK have learned one thing from the last years of recession, and that is money doesn’t grow on trees. Pennies have to be saved and one of the many ways that it can be done is to discover ways to save money on electricity.  Saving electricity waste is a positive move in many ways, not just be reducing costs it also reduces environment damage, something that we should all be very aware of these days.

One of the reasons that prevents people from saving energy is that they have never really kept proper records of how much they use on an annual basis, and how their usage compares with the national average. For example, the average family of four in the UK will use around £2, 800 of electricity each year, which translates into 280 Kws annually at £10 pence per Kw.  Based on that ballpark figure, an average family should be able to assess how that is doing in terms of efficient electricity consumption. If they are using less, then keep it up. However, if they are using more, then it is time to discover where that excess use has gone, and what needs to be done to reduce it.

The next stage in ascertaining where the wastage is coming from is by taking a look at the average family electricity breakdown in percentages. The list below gives a fairly good idea.

Heating and Cooling  the home : 40%
Heating Water  : 12%
Lighting : 12%
Computers and Electronics : 10%
Appliances : 10%
Refrigeration : 8%
Other : 8%

However there is not a lot to be done about comparing and then reducing  your personal usage per category  as the electric companies, at least up to this point in time, cannot provide breakdowns in costs.

All that can be done is look at areas where wastage appears to be rife. Lights left burning, televisions, washing machines, dryers, electric toothbrushes and anything that seems to be being operated needlessly. All is fair in love and war, and the war against electricity wastage needs to be won. For the sake of the environment as well as your bank account. 

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Tags: British Gas, Electricty, energy costs, Fuel Bills, Saving electricity

When it comes to fridges and freezers the best idea is to take the long term view. That old fridge that you have been keeping around for so long and that you don’t want to change due to some misplaced sense of loyalty will probably be costing you a fortune. It may have a value of sorts, but the smart move would let someone else enjoy it, and treat you to a new and eco-friendly model that will use close to a third less of the energy of the existing bomber and returns its investment in a few years. 

Not many people are aware of this but fridges and freezers guzzle close to a fifth of the total energy consumption of an average household, so energy efficiency around the fridge and freezer is something that has to be looked at very closely. If you, like many other UK householder, step back in horror when your electricity bill arrives,  then  the time may well have come to take the necessary measures to ensure that your electricity outgoings do not give you a shock, but instead  contained within natural boundaries.

If that means doing away with your existing clunker, it is something that should be considered very seriously.  If you have changed you fridge/freezer within the last few years, and your bills are still high, then you may need to look at the problem from another angle entirely.  Many people make the mistake of buying a fridge that is too big for their demands. Obviously the larger the fridge the larger the energy consumed and a half empty fridge will find it more difficult to cool the items contained within and use more energy. 

Placing your fridge in the proper spot is also a very worthwhile idea.  For example, if your fridge is situated adjacent to a washing machine, dryer, dishwasher and especially and oven, the heat generating from these appliances will demand a lot more of the fridge to keep cool, pushing up energy consumption and costs.  A fridge that is exposed to the sun’s ray will also struggle to refrigerate its contents. If it all possible it would be best to place the family fridge in cool dry and secluded spot in your kitchen is ideal.

Keeping a constant eye on your fridge’s temperature will save a lot of energy. Remember that tweaking up the thermostat by a degree or so can make a major long term difference in costs. Each fridge/freezer has its own demands and it is a good idea to learn exactly which temperature levels it is most efficient at.  

Regular defrosting of the freezer compartment will reduce the build-up of frost around the coils in your unit, reducing the pressure on the compressor to achieve the colder temperatures. Keeping your freezer frost-free is really important and a key factor in keeping refrigeration costs under control.

Tags: dishwasher, dryer, energy costs, Energy Efficiency, freezer, fridge, washing machine

All of us need to maintain our bodies at a certain temperature, with the elderly, the infirm and the very young being especially vulnerable.

If there is one thing that the UK public has realised in the last few weeks is that winters are getting fiercer, and in order to get through them at a level of comfort, efforts and investments have to be made to the home. Not only is it important to install and maintain a heating system that will provide enough heat in the home to get through that period, it is also equally important to ensure that the heat that is generated is retained.

That’s why proper insulation is very important, as it helps to preserve the heat generated by a heating system. Insulating a home need not be a backbreaking expense but, like many other similar applications, it is better if the installation is put in while a property is being built.  Older properties tend not to have original insulation, and it may need to be added later, at more expense and considerable upheaval. However, when it comes to issues of health, then expense should be less of a consideration. As far as finance is concerned, a decent insulation system will return its investment, but it will be over a reasonably long term.

Insulation comes in many forms. These include fibrous insulation, foam insulation, insulated panels and even straw panels that are designed to aid proper insulation techniques. In the meantime, alternatives to conventional fibreglass, cellulose, and mineral wool are in a state of constant development and are slowly finding their way onto the market.

People are inclined to devalue the importance of proper insulation, as it represents the classic case of “out of sight, out of mind”, and that’s why the UK government is constantly mounting campaigns to stress the importance of properly insulating the home, as well as providing wide-ranging benefits for those who do. For example, UK residents who are in receipt of benefits may also be entitled to a grant of up to £3,500 for home insulation, through a government-backed scheme known as the Warm Front.

 For More information visit http://britishgasboilers.co.uk/gas-and-electricity.htm

Tags: British Gas, Energy Bills, energy costs, Energy Efficiency Advice, Heating and Hot Water, heating bills, insulation

The freezing weather of December and January has left a very large number of UK homeowners with sleepless nights.  With heating systems running around the clock, they are living in fear of when the next round of utility bills bounces on their doormat.   A recent survey has confirmed that around forty percent of the UK population are having serious problems facing the prospect of their gas and/or electricity bills being so high for this period and that they will be unable to meet them. Expectations are that the average energy bills for the two-month period will rise by at least a third.

This question is, in such an unprecedented situation where millions of UK householders are faced with such a problem, what can the authorities and the major energy suppliers do to ease the burdens?

British Gas has already announced that they will be willing to advise customers on issues such as how to extend their payment terms, as well as being able to contact the Citizens Advice Bureau for further guidance. 

According to a British Gas spokesperson any help that will be offered will be determined on an individual basis, with the elderly and the vulnerable liable to receive extra help, both from British Gas as well as  the UK government.

Currently UK residents who are entitled to a pension credit or other benefits are entitled to a £25 cold weather payment towards their energy bills, with the only condition that have been seven consecutive days with the temperature forecast or recorded to be running on or below freezing point.  With temperatures reaching minus 20° C in parts of Scotland, and with most of the UK enduring sub-zero temperatures for close to three weeks, it will be interesting to discover if the UK government will find a way to increase that subsidy.

For the future, consumers are advised to visit British Gas’ website to learn more about improving energy efficiency in the home.  Pensioners are also entitled to receive a winter fuel payment to help towards keeping warm. This can be between £125 and £400, depending on their situation.

For more information on heating bills visit http://www.britishgasboilers.co.uk/gas-and-electricity.htm

Tags: British Gas, Energy Bills, energy costs, Energy Efficiency Advice, Heating and Hot Water, heating bills

Thermostats have been around for a long time, but the programmable version is fairly new on the scene. And what an asset it has turned out to be in the battle to reduce energy costs. Before the programmable thermostat era, we were more dependent on our memory or self-discipline to remember to switch the thermostat on or off, in order to reduce our heating bills. The truth was that many heating systems or water heaters would run on for hours because the owner could not be bothered getting up from a warm bed or comfy armchair to switch them off, or simply forgot about this important task. After all, they had nothing for comparison on how much a programmable thermostat could save them, so they were remained unaware. However since this simple but highly effective energy saving tool has hit the market, comparisons are being made, and the fact is that a programmable thermostat will represent a total return on investment in just a matter of weeks!

With a programmable thermostat, it is now possible to create either a heating or even a cooling schedule that can be automatically turned on or off to suit the average family’s daily needs. With just a few moments of thought and planning it is now possible to pre-program the functions of water heaters, central heating systems and even air-conditioning units to switch on or off whenever the timing suits you.

Think about it: You are on your way home from a long day’s work or pleasure. As you ease through the traffic, with the rain beating down on your windshield, you daydream about opening the front door of your warm and welcoming home, having a hot bath and an early night. With a programmable thermostat all that awaits you.

If we already moving into the world of plausible fantasy, let’s take it a step or two further. In the not-too-distant future it will be possible to install programmable thermostats that can be activated from a distance. In other words, if your plans change and you wish to alter your thermostat accordingly, you will be able to do so by sending a message through your mobile phone. And while it may be a bit too much for most people to take in, this innovation is already in common use in the US. So as we enter deep into the digital age, it’s comforting to know that the trusty thermostat has not been left behind.

Article sourced from www.britishgasboilers.co.uk/

Tags: air-conditioning units, Boiler, Boiler Replacement, British Gas, central heating systems, Combination Boiler, Condensing Boiler, energy costs, heating systems, Home Electricals and Computers, programmable thermostat, thermostat, water heaters