Anyone looking for a way to cut their energy bills as prices rocket in April can take advantage of new data provided by electrical retailer Currys - as well as some useful hacks. From Apri l1 the cost of electricity and gas will go up by 54% - up to around £700 a year extra on top of the average bills.
Currys has set out which appliances use the most electricity, so you can target how to reduce bills effectively. The retailer says washing machines, dishwashers and similar appliances account for 25% of your total electrical use. TVs and games consoles use 19% of your electricity - and just turning them off instead of putting them on stand could save you £40 a year.
Cooking appliances, ovens, microwaves and kettles take up another 19% of your bill and fridges and freezers use 16%, Lights add another 16%. To help customers across the nation save some pennies on the tech they’re using at-home and working from home, Currys have shared their six top tips for helping tech-lovers bring down their bills.
The hacks include finding one setting on your dishwashers and washing machines that can reduce electricity and water bills.
Go green this winter season by being ‘eco’
Most washing machines, washer dryers and dishwashers have an eco-setting, which will help you save energy and money, with minimal effort. A lot of people don’t realise their appliances have this function so it’s always worth checking the front of your machine. By switching a dishwater onto an eco-setting, it can save the water use by 20-40% for each clean.
Heat pumps on washer dryers are also another feature to look out for when thinking about upgrading your appliances. These help to ensure the drying process is gentler on clothes while keeping running costs down, so you don’t have to worry about running up a hefty electric bill.
If the eco function isn’t available or you have an older model, there are still ways that you can save both energy and pennies. Washing at a lower temperature of 30 degrees rather than having the temperature unnecessarily high is far more friendly on the environment as well as your wallet. Another small tip is to get into the habit of turning things off or onto ‘standby’ instead of letting them run.
Always check energy efficient labels
When upgrading or trading your tech in, be sure to check the energy labels. By choosing products in the best available energy class, Brits can achieve substantial savings on electricity bills - up to £145 a year, when compared to bills using older models.
At purchase, energy efficiency information should be clearly displayed and will cover everything from water consumption to eco programmes. Shoppers can ask our experts in-store or online via the ShopLive service for further tech jargon busting.
Purchase the correct size tech appliances
It’s not always about the biggest, most popular product, but rather what caters to your needs. For example, having a smaller washing machine for a smaller household can help save water, which in turn, can help save both money and effect on the environment. “In the past 12 months we’ve noticed an increase in the numbers of customer who’re looking to save money and protect the environment. But interestingly, when they speak to one of our in-store or ShopLive tech experts, they’re often surprised to find that it’s not always the biggest, most popular products that are best suited to their needs and living spaces.” Notes Matt Manning, Group Carbon and Environment Manager at Currys Plc.
This rise in numbers showcases that it is key when purchasing these types of big-ticket items that you do your research and speak to a real-life tech expert where possible beforehand.
Install smart heating controllers to beat the ever-growing bill
Investing in a smart heater or thermostat such as the HIVE Activeheating MultiZone Thermostat or Google Nest Thermostat can help Brits easily control the heating in their homes, and are a great, simple way to start saving on bills, as they only turn on when needed.
Switch to LED bulbs
On dark winter evenings, being conservative with lighting can be difficult however, simple swaps, such as replacing standard bulbs with LED alternatives means you will only be using a fraction of the energy of a normal bulb. Lights can then be left on as needed in the home, without the worry of a high electricity bill.
LED lights can help reduce the average person’s carbon dioxide emissions by up to 40kg a year - the equivalent to driving a car 40 miles. Plus, consumers can save up to £9 per bulb per year.
Stay smart with smart plugs
Ditch the traditional switch and think about using smart plugs instead. Paired with an app, many smart plugs come with features that make lowering your energy consumption a piece of cake, such as automatic switch off. Some smart plugs also allow users to input their electricity supplier’s prices into their respective apps, so usage can be monitored in real time – great for busy households with lots of gadgets on the go at any one time.
