Energy saving tips for Tenants

With the current energy crisis we appreciate saving energy might feel a little out of your hands if you’re renting your home however there is still plenty of easy, free or low-cost ways to improve the energy efficiency of your rented home, lowering your energy bills and reducing your impact on the environment.

So, what can you do?

Switching off your plug sockets when appliances are not in use could save you up to £65 off your annual energy bill. Even items such as your TV when turned off by the remote or left on standby will be using energy, by switching them off directly at the plug you can reduce that its energy consumption

Turn off lights when you leave the room, even for a very short amount of time can all add up. Using energy saving bulbs where possible is also a very simple way to reduce your energy consumption and save yourself up to £25 per year.

By mindful of using your heating at the bare minimum and note that the recommended minimum indoor temperature is at least 18℃, going lower than this unfortunately can lead to surfaces being colder which is how condensation happens and in turn mould/mildew development

Ensure furniture is moved away from in front of the radiators as it will be blocking and absorbing heat, moving will also help air circulation.

By turning down your heating by just even one degree it can help save between £80 and £100 annually off your energy bill. Remember that it is important to keep a good balance between warmth, humidification and ventilation so by keeping your heating on even at a very low temperature to regulate your homes temperature will help to avoid damp/mildew forming

You may even want to consider using rugs on hard flooring. Rugs help insulate your home in the winter, keeping more of that much-needed warm air inside where it belongs. 

Draughts can appear in all sorts of places from windows to post-boxes, look in to ways to draught proof your property - a really simple fix is by using draft excluders on every door to ensure you keep the cold out and the heat in

Keep your freezer frost free - By defrosting your freezer regularly not only will you increase how much you can store in your freezer it will also run more efficiently. 

Setting your freezers temperature too high or too low can cause excess ice to form and build up quickly. To prevent ice from building up it is a very good idea to check your freezers thermometer. The temperature of your freezer should be set to -18℃

Washing and drying clothing can have a huge impact on the amount of energy you use and your bills each month.

Keep on top of maintaining your washing machine or washer dryer. Fluff can build up in filters, meaning your machine has to work harder, so give it a regular clean. Dryers use large amounts of electricity, so try to avoid using yours unless necessary and dry clothing outside whenever possible instead hang them on a clothes horse, open a window and close the door instead. Never dry clothes on radiators.