Phil Spencer has been encouraging the people of Great Britain to help create a cleaner, greener, smarter Britain by getting a smart meter installed.

Phil has some tips to make your home greener

Phil has some tips to make your home greener

Now, as one of the undisputed experts when it comes to all things property, who better for us to ask for tips for running an energy efficient home.

Here are Phil Spencer and Smart Energy GB’s top tips:

  • It’s a mundane task that we all put off, but getting your boiler regularly serviced and updated can save you a lot of money. What’s more, it’s much less likely to give up the ghost on the coldest day of the year so far.
  • If your supplies are running a bit low before the weekly food shop, use bottles of tap water to keep the fridge full as it takes up far less energy to keep a full fridge cool than an empty one
  • .A smart meter, which can be installed for no extra cost, can help you to see when you’re spending money on heating – so you can ensure it’s only on when you need it to be
  • Make sure you use the right sized pan and cooker ring for the amount of food that you are cooking. Using a big cooker ring for a small pan is very energy inefficient, and vice versa.
  • Consider letting your clothes air dry. Tumble dryers use up vast amounts of energy and if you’ve already got the heating on, then it will actually help wet clothes dry faster.
  • Having a long hot shower is always tempting on a cold night, but modern high-power showers can actually use as much water in five minutes as it takes to fill a bath. Consider installing an energy efficient shower head to save on both your water and heating bill.
  • Replace regular light bulbs with energy saving light bulbs - it’s simple but effective. Over an energy saving LED lightbulb’s lifetime, it could cut up to £240 from your energy bills1.
  • Ask your energy supplier for a smart meter, which will help you see exactly how much you’re spending on energy and it will act as a prompt to turn off items which you’re not actively using, such as the lights in an empty room.
  • It might not be the most glamorous job but remember to vacuum the refrigerator coils. Any dirt, debris or pet hair caught in the coils can make the appliance very inefficient.
  • It pays to be more conscious of the temperature you wash your clothes at – heating the water takes up 90% of energy when washing clothes2.  It’s really only dried-on muddy sports kits that need to be washed at very high temperatures.
  • Cook wisely and try not to use lots of different cooking equipment. So, if you’re making a stew in the oven, why not do a jacket potato and roasted veg? Or if you’re boiling a pan of pasta, put your veggies in a steamer above.

To see how these energy-saving hacks make a difference to your energy bills, ask your supplier for a smart meter. These handy devices, which cost you nothing extra to have installed, allow you to see how much energy you’re using in pounds and pence in real time.

To create a cosy home, while avoiding wasting energy in your home and avoiding a shock bill.

  • Curtains are a surprisingly good way to insulate your room. Make sure you remember to close curtains at night, to help prevent the warm inside air from escaping. On a single glazed window, this can save up to 20% of the heat normally lost3. You can even clip a thicker fabric onto the back, to double them up while they are closed.
  • If DIY is on the agenda and you’re repainting a room, consider using satin or semi-gloss paint on your walls as they reflect the heat better.
  • Consider putting down rugs in rooms that aren’t carpeted. Not only does this insulate the room, but it also prevents noise from travelling – great for when you want a lie in or to watch a film in peace!
  • Use a smart meter to monitor how much energy you’re using – because if you’re generally in control of what you’re spending on energy, then you can feel guilt-free when you turn the thermostat up a degree or two for unexpected chillier nights
  • Or, if you fancy a bit of a room change that will make you a bit warmer, move your bed so that it isn’t against an exterior wall (even if you just leave a small gap between the bed and the wall).
  • Don’t let money slip through the cracks. Whilst sealing doors and windows might be obvious, don’t forget the less obvious places where gaps can let your heat escape, such as where pipes go into the walls, particularly around sinks and toilets.  Insulation is essentially your home’s winter jacket - make sure all of your walls and your loft are insulated or upgrade your current insulation.
  • A nifty tip is putting sheets of tin foil down the back of your radiator – this helps to reflect the heat back into the room, keeping you warm and toasty.

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