Top hints to save money on your fuel bills

Written by Cllrs Tessa Ward & Chris Wise and published in local newsletter on Fri 14th Apr 2006

The latest round of electricity and gas price hikes has been concentrating our minds on ways that we could be saving money on our fuel bills as well as helping to combat global warming.

The Vale Energy Team have come up with some simple but effective tips for saving money on your bills. These are:

• Turn your room thermostat down by 1 degree C if you are too hot.

• Upgrading your heating controls can cut your energy costs by up to 17%.

• Make sure your not water is not scalding. Six degreesC (140 degreesF) is adequate for most cylinders.

• Use low energy light bulbs. If every UK house installed three low-energy light bulbs, enough energy would be saved in a year to supply all street lighting in the country.

• Switch off any lights that aren't needed.

• Close your curtains at night to keep the heat in.

• Wait until you have a full load before using your washing machine. Try to use it on a low temperature programme.

• Use energy efficient appliances.

• Don't overfill the kettle when making a cuppa. Boil only the water you require.

• Turn your television off at the switch on the set. Don't use the remote control.

• Fit reflective foil behind your radiators.

• Fix any dripping hot water taps.

• Install cavity wall insulation in your home where possible.

• When your boiler needs replacing, a new condensing boiler can save up to 32% on your bill.

For more details about any of these price and energy saving tips contact the Vale Energy Team on 0800 592 865 email: vet.whitehorsedc.gov.uk