19 easy energy-saving tips for your home

MoneyHub asked our community in the sustainable energy fields to tell us their energy-efficient hacks and tips within our homes and what renewable energy sources we could switch to.

With energy prices soaring, now is a perfect time to consider being more energy-efficient within our homes.

Adopting energy-efficient practices can help homeowners save up to hundreds of pounds on their annual energy bills.

Our options range from simple switching off room lights to investing in solar panels. We will also provide actionable money-saving tips for homeowners to reduce their energy bills.

Understanding energy efficiency

Energy efficiency is about using technology and practices to reduce the amount of energy needed to power our homes, businesses, and industries. It’s like doing the same job but using less energy. Energy efficiency can be achieved by using energy-efficient appliances, lighting, and heating systems and making small changes in our daily habits.

Why is this important?

For starters, energy efficiency can significantly lower your energy bills, helping you save money. Optimising your heating and cooling systems, such as sealing air leaks and adjusting thermostat settings, can further reduce your energy consumption and costs. It also means you’re using less energy, which reduces your carbon footprint and helps protect the environment. So, by embracing energy efficiency, you’re not only doing your wallet a favour but also contributing to a more sustainable future.

How to save energy within your home? Easy & inexpensive ones first.

1. Turn off every light once leaving a room

An essential habit to develop and foster is to make sure that you always turn, leaving a room. Remembering to do this will save a good portion of your monthly electricity costs — especially as electricity prices begin to skyrocket. Another tip is to install motion detector lights that turn on and off when motion is detected or off when not. Furthermore, motion detector lights are also a good deterrent against unwanted visitors.

2. Unplugging unused devices

It is vital to unplug devices when not in use. Do not leave appliances on standby but rather unplug them and save your electricity bill and the planet.

3. Using LED lights

Several homes use smart LED lights as they look stylish and affordable and are more efficient than halogen bulbs. Replacing your lighting with low-energy LED lights will use 90% less energy and last 10–20 times longer, reducing the need to replace them so frequently.

4. Keep your thermostat at lower temperatures

Keeping your thermostat at lower temperatures, around 17 degrees celsius, can make a big difference in your heating and cooling costs and save your energy costs. Adjusting the boiler flow temperature to around 55-60 degrees can further enhance energy efficiency and reduce costs. Using a smart programmable thermostat is even better.

5. Cooking with the lid of the pan on

A relatively easy everyday energy-saving tip is cooking with the lid of the pan left on. By doing this, those doing the cooking will lessen the cooking time and reduce water usage.

6. Shut windows during the winter

Now, this tip seems obvious, but the concern is that it is very wasteful if you have the heating on, whether in winter or any season. Optimising the use of central heating by adjusting boiler settings and managing radiator usage can enhance efficiency and reduce energy bills. If you leave the heating on, the hot air will escape from the window, thus losing energy and money.

7. Washing clothes at lower temperatures

Washing your clothes at cooler temperatures can help reduce energy consumption, and ensuring you have a full load will save more water and electricity.

8. Reduce your water usage

Some easy tips for reducing your water consumption are taking shorter showers, using only the required amount of water while cooking, and turning off running taps when not using, even if only for seconds.

9. Use smart automated devices

Installing and using smart automated devices lowers energy bills because smart automation systems detect when devices are no longer being used and switch off the power supply. Humans may forget, but smart devices do not. Plus, they are an excellent way to increase the value of your home.

10. Using smart meters

Similar to smart devices, smart meters monitor how much energy you are consuming, allowing homeowners to track what they use and where so they can actually reduce their consumption.

11. Using more solar-powered devices

A solar-powered device can be powered by solar energy. These solar-powered devices are convenient since you don’t need to replace the batteries or have wires running through your home. These days, you can use a solar-powered device in and outside your home. Making these small shifts and using more solar-powered devices can go a long way and lower maintenance and replacement costs.

12. Switching to more energy-efficient appliances

Washer-dryers and refrigerators are two of the most energy-intensive appliances within a home. Defrosting your fridge freezer regularly can prevent excessive energy consumption. Replacing dilapidated or outdated models with better efficient models can reduce electricity usage by half, once again reducing electricity bills. Another energy-saving tip is to install heat pumps to reduce electricity consumption.

13. Install double glazing

Double glazing your windows and doors is an ideal solution for a modern sustainable home as it can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from heating and cooling, reducing your carbon footprint and lowering your energy bills.

14. Insulate your walls, lofts, and hot water tanks

Insulating your walls, lofts, and hot water tank can reduce your energy bills and help lower your energy consumption. This is a worthwhile investment for those who have older homes and are less energy-efficient.

Insulating your home can save up to hundreds of euros on your annual energy bills.

15. Energy landscaping

Smart landscaping design can make your home energy efficient in heating and cooling, increase your energy score, look great, and add beauty to your home, all while saving energy. For example, in some cases, air conditioning may be necessary for hotter climates, but strategically placing trees in the gardens can cause shading to help provide some comfort from direct sunlight, thus reducing the need to have the AC on all the time.

16. Switch off standby

Switching off appliances on standby can save you significant energy and money. Switching off appliances on standby can save you up to tens of euros on your energy bills a year. This is because many appliances, such as TVs and computers, continue to draw power even when they are turned off but still plugged in. Switching them off at the plug can eliminate this standby power consumption and save energy.

Consider using a standby saver to make turning off appliances on standby easier. A standby saver is a device that allows you to turn off all your appliances at once, eliminating standby power consumption. You can also check the instructions for any appliances you aren’t sure about, as some may need to be left plugged in to function correctly.

17. Heat the right places at the right times

Heating the right places at the right times can help you save energy and money on heating bills. To ensure that the heat can reach the room, make sure your radiators aren’t covered or blocked by furniture. You can also fit radiator reflector panels to help reflect heat back into the room.

Additionally, turning down the radiators in rooms you aren’t using can help conserve energy and make further savings. You can also set the timer on your central heating to ensure your property is only heated when needed. Heating the right places at the right times can save you energy and money on your heating bills.

18. Develop energy-saving habits

Developing energy-saving habits can help you save energy and money on your bills. Minor changes to your daily habits can significantly affect your energy consumption. For example, turning off lights when you leave a room, using energy-efficient light bulbs, and unplugging appliances when not in use can all help.

You can also habitually check your energy bills regularly to see where you can make savings. By identifying areas where you can make changes, you can develop energy-saving habits that will help you save money on your energy bills. Additionally, you can make energy-saving a family affair by involving your family members in your energy-saving efforts. By working together, you can develop energy-saving habits that will benefit your home and the environment.

19. Switch to a cheaper energy supplier

Estonia’s electricity market opened on 1 January 2013, intending to create competition between electricity producers and suppliers. For consumers, this means an opportunity to choose the most suitable electricity supplier, irrespective of which company provides network services. The network service contract is entered into with a network operator of the respective region.

The website of Estonia’s principal network operator, Elering, provides more information about the open electricity market. All consumers with a network connection and have entered into a network contract with a network operator can choose an electricity supplier. If you are the owner or administrator of an immovable property, you can select and change your electricity supplier.

Compare energy suppliers here.

Assessing your energy usage

Tracking your energy consumption

Keeping an eye on your energy consumption is key to spot where you might be wasting energy and figuring out how to save more. Here are some practical ways to track your energy usage:

• Read your energy meter regularly: Make it a habit to check your energy meter. This will give you a clear idea of how much energy you use over time.
• Use a smart meter: Smart meters are fantastic tools that provide real-time data on your energy consumption. They can help you see exactly when and where you use the most energy.
• Analyse your energy bills: Examine your bills closely to identify patterns or trends. This can help you pinpoint times when your energy usage spikes.
• Conduct an energy audit: An energy audit is a thorough way to assess your energy usage. It involves checking your home for energy-wasting appliances and practices and can provide valuable insights into how you can save energy.

Conducting an Energy Audit

An energy audit is a comprehensive way to evaluate your energy usage and find areas for improvement.

Here’s what an energy audit typically involves:

• Inspecting your home: This involves a detailed inspection of your home to identify appliances and practices that are wasting energy.
• Analysing your energy bills: By looking at your energy bills, you can spot patterns and trends that indicate where you might be using more energy than necessary.
• Using specialised equipment: Tools like thermal cameras can detect heat loss and other energy inefficiencies in your home.
• Providing recommendations: After the audit, you’ll receive suggestions for energy-saving improvements and upgrades, such as better insulation, more efficient appliances, or changes in your daily habits.

Conducting an energy audit can help you identify ways to save energy, lower your energy bills, and make your home more comfortable and efficient. It’s a smart step towards reducing energy consumption and minimising carbon footprint.

Why reducing energy usage in your home helps our planet’s sustainability

Energy efficiency means using less energy, needing less electricity generation, and emitting less CO2 and other pollutants. Forus provides guidelines for energy audits, heating practices, and recommendations for appliances like televisions to help consumers make informed choices.

Regardless of the methods homeowners use to make their homes more efficient, any reduction in energy consumed directly reduces a home’s energy-related carbon emissions. Living in energy-efficient houses puts individuals into a more favourable position by having lower heating and electricity bills, staying more comfortable and safe during unexpected blackouts, increasing the house’s resale value, and ultimately bringing benefits to one’s health.

These homes benefit their owners and the environment by decreasing greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere and improving human health and the environment.