Easy ways to save energy

You can switch most household appliances off at the plug without it upsetting their programming but if you're not sure, their manuals should give you more information. You can also buy smart plugs which can help you do this quickly and easily.

A lot of heat escapes through draughts around doors, windows, floors and roofs. You can save money and keep the heat in by draught-proofing in the right places. In some cases, you can do this yourself.

You don't need every light on in every room all of the time. Remembering to switch off lights and using them only when you need to will save you a pretty penny. You can save even more by ensuring all your lights use energy efficient LED bulbs.

You can set your washing machine to wash at 30 degrees instead of higher temperatures - this will save you money as less energy is used to heat water. Also, make sure the drum is full to get the best value and reduce the number of washes you need to do.

When it comes to drying your clothes, Scotland's weather isn't always the best, but if you can dry clothes outside - or otherwise on drying racks in a well-ventilated room - you'll save money and energy compared to putting it in a tumble dryer.

Reducing the amount of time you spend in the shower saves money. If your whole household does this, the savings really do add up. You can even get shower timers to help you with this.

Also, showers are much more efficient than baths and, whilst we may like a long soak, a quick rejuvenating shower saves water, energy and money.

We spend a lot of important time in the kitchen and cooking, heating and washing all cost money and use energy. Making a few small changes can add up to big savings. When boiling a kettle, make sure you only use the water you need. You could fit an aereator to your kitchen taps to let you still wash and rinse but with less water waste. And making sure you fill your dishwasher before runnng it can help you save too.

Insulating water tanks, pipes and radiators are a quick and easy way to save money on your bills. If you have a hot water cylinder, you can get whole insulation jackets for these to help you save even more.

To find out more quick tips specific to your own needs, get in touch with us.