Practical Energy-Saving Electrical Tips For UK Households
With the ongoing rising energy costs, becoming energy efficient has never been more important. Many households across the UK are struggling to make ends meet or finding that their homes now cost a lot more to run. As we have such a heavy reliance on electricity and electrical appliances, it may seem impossible to find ways to reduce energy outgoings.
However, it is possible to make your home more energy efficient. SCV Electrical is an electrical contractor that provides domestic services to homeowners and has first-hand experience with energy-saving initiatives. We understand what it takes to keep your home afloat and powered, but we understand that this may be too expensive for a lot of people nowadays.
Using our experience and industry insights, we are sharing 10 practical energy-saving electrical tips to help you save money, reduce your environmental impact and keep your home powered.
1) Switch To LED Lightbulbs
One of the easiest, yet highly effective, energy-saving electrical tips is to switch all bulbs to LED.
LED lights use up to 80% less energy than incandescent bulbs, but provide just as reliable and bright lighting across your home or garden. Whether used for internal lights, emergency lighting or security lights, LED bulbs are widely available and a great alternative to help you save energy.
As well as using less energy than incandescent bulbs, LED lights last much longer than traditional options. They need to be replaced less frequently, helping you save money over time and reducing waste.
For most homeowners, replacing lights with LED bulbs is a simple task and one that can be done alone. However, additional work may be needed to replace your whole home lighting system, and we can help. We can recommend, install and upgrade lighting systems to ensure they are energy-saving.
2) Install A Smart Thermostat
Smart thermostats are a great way to save energy at home without the effort, as they do all the work for you. They can be programmed to suit your routine and, over time, will learn your patterns so you don’t have to worry about using too much energy or coming home to a cold house.
With the ever-changing weather across the UK, smart thermostats are not just one of the best energy-saving electrical tips, but also make your home more comfortable and safe. They easily allow you to adjust and program the temperature in every room throughout the home, ensuring each family member is comfortable.
You no longer have to worry about the changing temperatures or the sudden onslaught of brisk winter mornings, as the smart thermostat will adjust accordingly. With these easy programmes, you can rest assured that you are only using energy when needed and for maximum effect.
3) Motion Sensors And Dimmer Lights
Lighting is one of the primary causes of high energy bills, as it is often easily forgotten or left on for too long. This is why incorporating both motion sensor lighting and dimmer switches across your home is one of the best energy-saving electrical tips, and can be applied to every room.
Motion sensor lights are ideal for common areas, such as hallways and even bathrooms, as they will trigger based on occupancy. This way you can easily make your way around the home at night or on dark afternoons without worrying about leaving a light on, which will waste energy and run up your bills.
While motion sensor lights may not be ideal for every room in the home, dimmer switches are and can be a highly effective method to save energy. Dimmer switches allow you to control the brightness level of lights, whether lamps or the main lighting, in any room. Not only does this ensure you are never wasting energy, as you only have the illumination you need, but you can easily set the mood for every evening and create a cosy living environment.
4) Unplug Devices Or Use Smart Plugs
While you may already consider yourself an energy-conscious homeowner, you may be wasting a lot of it simply by leaving your appliances plugged in too long. Standby appliances can drain power and cause your energy bills to spike, even if they are not in use.
Simply switching them off by the power button is not enough, as leaving them plugged into the wall causes energy to still drain. As this is not being used, you are wasting both essential resources and your own money by leaving things plugged in. Ensuring you unplug your appliances, especially home entertainment such as televisions, whenever they are not in use, can reduce your energy output.
If you are forgetful or busy, smart plugs can do this for you. Smart plugs can be programmed with timers that will automatically cut off power to standby appliances, taking the guesswork out of things.
5) Regular Electrical Inspections
Electrical testing is an essential service as it ensures that your home is safe and efficient. It is recommended to get your home electricals serviced every five to ten years, but this can be done more frequently if you are concerned about energy output. It is a good idea to get electrical testing and inspections done more frequently if you also own an older property, as rewiring may be needed for your safety.
Inspections are performed by professional electricians, such as our team, and will cover all areas of your home. From appliances to the main central wiring system, your home will be assessed for efficiency and safety. We can highlight any issues that may be present across your home, as well as provide recommendations and upgrades to necessary areas.
Without these professional inspections, you may not be aware of the ways your home wastes energy and therefore continue to face rising energy bills. With upgrades, rewiring and frequently testing, you can rest assured your home is operating efficiently.
6) Make Use Of Natural Light
As we have mentioned, home lighting can be a major energy drain as it is frequently misused. One of the most effective, yet underrated, energy-saving electrical tips involves rearranging your home or specific rooms to make better use of natural light.
This is certainly easier during the lighter seasons, but relying on natural light as much as possible reduces the need for lighting and electrical outputs. Rearranging the rooms so that seating, tables, and other areas are more in direct line with windows allows you to prolong the use of natural light across the home.
Likewise, replacing blinds with lighter shades and getting the windows cleaned regularly can brighten up your home, welcoming in more light, so there is less of a need for artificial light.
Reducing how often you turn on the lights can help you save energy and money, as power is being used less often across the home.
7) Upgrade To Energy-Efficient Appliances
It makes sense for homeowners to fill their properties with affordable appliances when they first move in, but these are often not the best in terms of energy usage. As time goes on, consider upgrading your appliances and investing in energy-efficient models to reduce energy usage and save money.
The initial investment of energy-efficient appliances may be large, but this will lead to long-term savings and drastically reduce the energy output of your home, even as you continue your usual routine.
For maximum energy-saving, replace your larger appliances first, such as fridges, cookers, and washing machines. These appliances are used daily and can run up large energy bills without you realising, so replacing them with newer, energy-efficient models will make such a difference over time.
Look for new models and those with an A-rating for energy efficiency to experience maximum savings. Consider replacing the larger and most-used appliances first, as these will have the greatest impact on your energy output. Once these have been replaced, you can work your way around the home to replace smaller appliances and devices with more efficient models.
8) Maintain Appliances Regularly
Simple electrical maintenance of appliances and devices can contribute to their energy efficiency, especially when done regularly. For example, defrosting the fridge and freezer every couple of months can make such a difference to your energy bill, as you will find that less output is needed for the same benefits.
Similarly effective tasks include cleaning the coils of your fridge, replacing fuses, and annual inspections of boilers or HVAC systems. Keeping your appliances and energy systems in the best condition will ensure they are working efficiently and can play a role in your energy usage.
With inspections and testing, you can ensure that central systems or individual appliances are working efficiently and are still in line with current regulations. Ongoing maintenance and housework surrounding main appliances, such as the fridge, can enhance usability and ensure energy is not being wasted simply through taking better care of the devices you use.
9) Consider Solar-Powered Lights For Outdoors
Whether you want to adorn your garden with ambient lighting or simply want to keep your home safe at night, solar-powered lighting is a great option for outdoor areas. These are free to use, as they get energy from natural sunlight during the day and will automatically turn on when it gets dark.
Instead of wasting energy powering a large security light, solar-powered lights can be just as effective and will be powered by a renewable resource.
Save your energy for the devices you need and allow the sun to do the work for you with outdoor lighting. Solar-powered lights come in many forms, from main security lighting to twinkle and decorative garden lights. You can keep your outdoor space illuminated and safe without having to pay for it by replacing lighting with solar-powered options.
10) Book An Energy Efficient Audit With SCV Electrical
As professional domestic electricians, SCV Electrical can perform audits and testing of all systems across your home. Not only do we test for safety and compliance, but we can also help you with your energy-saving goals by testing for efficiency.
It can be difficult to know where energy is being wasted and what you can do to reduce both your bills and impact on the planet. With our specialised service, we can highlight the main areas of concern across your home and offer upgrades, recommendations or provide rewiring for better energy-saving.
Our certified electricians operate across London and Winchester and are ready to test your home. Allow us to direct you towards energy-saving solutions and ensure your home is safe at all times.
Conclusion
There are various ways you can save energy at home to reduce bills and your impact on the planet. These are some of the best energy-saving electrical tips that can be applied to all premises, such as replacing lighting, upgrading appliances, and ensuring frequent testing.
For more specific recommendations and support regarding your unique needs, our electricians are here to help.
Contact Us Today
Reach out to the team today to learn more about our services or request a consultation.
