Save money by buying home applicance utilities

Utilities

Only buy home appliances that have been certified as energy efficient, they may cost more to start with but you’ll save over time on running costs.

Replace your old light bulbs with energy efficient light bulbs, they last longer and save you money.

Lower the thermostat and burn less fuel. If there are rooms that you don’t really use in your home, turn off the radiator then close the door. If you live in a 2 storey house, you can turn the thermostat down even further upstairs because heat rises.

Buy oil when it’s cheap. As we all know, the price of oil is very erratic. If you can, buy your home heating oil when the price is low.

Insulate your home. Install more insulation in your attic, replace old curtain liners with new insulating curtain liners and seal any draughts. If you have a big enough budget, I’d highly advise installing double or even triple glazed windows. These are very efficient means of insulating your home, saving you money on heating costs. They also boost the value of a property significantly.

Turn off lights. If you aren’t in the room, turn the light off. There’s no point in being charged for light that you don’t use. Simple as that.

Switch off electrical devices. Televisions, DVD players and computers all have standby modes that mean they still consume electricity while on standby. Turn them off at the wall and you’ll shave up to 10% off your electricity bills. This is such a good way to conserve energy that the UK government is bringing in legislation that will make it compulsorary for all new applicances to not have a standby mode.

Think about some form of micro-generation. You can buy small wind turbines and solar panels for your home that can generate enough electricity to provide for 30% of your energy needs. In some countries there are government grants to help homeowners start micro-generation.

You can save a lot of money on your water bills. Always shower rather than bathing, and spend as little time in the shower as possible. Install new low-flow toilets that use less water. Reduce your use of the water heater. Install a rain-catcher (otherwise known as a barrel) and use the runoff water from your roof to water the garden.

Shop around for a different supplier. In the US and UK the energy market is free and open, so find the cheapest provider and switch.

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