Reduce Your Heating & Hot Water Bills
Remember, a home with high moisture levels is harder to heat so taking measures to reduce moisture from cooking, cleaning or washing clothes is a simple way to save on energy bills.
Useful info-
How to prevent condensation
How to ensure ventilation in your home
Reduce Oil and Gas Heating Costs
- Set Your Timeclock
Set your heating to come only for the period you need it.
Set your timeclock to start your heating 30 minutes before you expect to need it.
Set your timeclock to shut off 30 minutes before bedtime.
- Adjust Your Thermostat Down
Set your thermostat between 18-21°C. Every degree you increase the temperature costs 10% more.
During your ‘timeclock on’ period the thermostat will switch your boiler off and on automatically to keep your home to the temperature setting. This reduces boiler run time and energy costs.
- Use Your Thermostatic Radiator Valves (TRV)
TRVs are used on radiators in rooms outside of the room where your thermostat is.
Each symbol on a TRV is a room temperature setting: 0=Off, *=7°C, 1=10°C, 2=15°C, 3=20°C, 4=25°C or 5=30°C.
Higher TRV settings do not increase the temperature of your radiators. The temperature setting is used to turn your radiator off when the room achieves the desired room temperature.
Set your TRVs around 3 to match the 18-21°C temperature setting on your thermostat.
When your TRV has achieved the temperature it shuts the radiator off which reduces energy.
Choice heating controls guide
More detailed information from the Energy Saving Trust
Or watch this short video.
Reduce Electric Storage Heater Costs
- How do they work?
Electric storage heaters charge up heat at night time from the electric grid when it is cheaper.
They release heat slowly through the day and night based on the settings selected.
When the charged heat from the previous night is used the heaters stop producing heat.
- What the controls mean
Input – Controls how much heat you store during the night period.
Output – Controls how much fast the heat gets let out the next day.
- Setting the Input & Output Controls
Settings depend on what you are comfortable with, what the weather is like and when you will be home.
A general guide to Electric Storage Heaters.
More detailed information from the Energy Saving Trust.
Or watch this 2 Minute Explanation Video.
General Tips to Reduce Heating Costs and Risk of Damp – Any Fuel Type
- Keep windows and doors shut if practical to do so when using your heating.
- Dry clothes outside where possible. When not possible, do so in a well ventilated space.
- If drying clothes inside use a drying rack, move the rack to a room that is not in use such as the bathroom and open windows to allow moisture to escape.
- Close windows as soon as possible to do so after drying clothes.
- Avoid blocking radiators with curtains or furniture.
- Open curtains during the day time as sun light can provide free heat energy.
- Close curtains at dusk to keep heat gained from the sun inside your home.
- Use other draft proofing measures such as inexpensive draft excluders.
- Installing reflective panels behind radiators can help reflect heat away from walls.
General Tips to Reduce Hot Water Costs and Risk of Damp
- If you have a hot water cylinder set the thermostat to 60-65°C.
- As showers use less hot water than baths, showering is cheaper than baths.
- Be conscious of how long you are using the shower as more time costs more money.
- Replacing an inefficient shower head with a water efficient one will reduce hot water usage.
- Remember that bathing and showering increase moisture. Open windows afterwards to release moisture and remember to close the window later when the bathroom air is dry.
- Turn off the tap while putting on soap whilst washing hands.
- Using a washing up basin rather than running a tap for washing dishes reduces water usage.
- Consider cooking options that reduce the amount of dirty dishes such as ‘one pot meals’.
- Remember cooking increases moisture levels in the home. Use extraction fans or open windows to allow moisture to escape during cooking periods. Once moisture has escaped ensure to close windows to retain heat.
Reducing Your Electricity Bills
Always turn off your lights when you do not need them.
- When replacing light bulbs purchase A rated LED which use much less energy.
- When purchasing appliances look at the energy rating and consider A rated appliances.
- More information about energy efficiency labelling.
- Avoid leaving appliances on standby as the appliance will still be using electricity.
- Do not leave phone or laptop chargers plugged in when not in use.
- Charge your mobile devices during the day and switch chargers off when done.
- When using a kettle only boil as much as you need.
- Descale your kettle regularly if in a hard water area.
- Consider meals and recipes that reduce cooking time.
- If using a hob for cooking cover pots where able to do so.
- Select the correct hob size to suit the size of pot being used.
- Reheat food using a microwave rather than your hob or oven.
- Increase the temperature settings on your fridge to 4°C and freezer to -18°C.
- When washing clothes reduce the temperature to eco mode / 30°C.
- Ensure you have a full load when using a washing machine or dishwasher.
- Avoid using a tumble dryer where possible. If practical dry clothes outside and if drying clothes inside do so in a well ventilated space.
- Electric heaters such as fan heaters are high energy users and are a less efficient way to heat a room. Avoid using these where possible.
- If purchasing a portable electric heater an oil filled electric radiator is the most efficient.
For further energy saving advice call NI Energy Helpline.
Or contact our Sustainability & Energy Team: energy@choice-housing.orgor by phone: 0300 111 2211.
Free home energy training can be access with National Energy Action.
