3 Little Tips To Help You Through The Winter

The autumn and winter months can send the average power bill skyrocketing due to increased heating costs and more time spent inside using electronic devices. This is a common reason people start looking for tips to help you through the winter.

It can also be more difficult to keep up your eco friendly habits, such as using your car less and walking more often, due to adverse weather.

However, we’ve got three little tips to help you through the winter that mightn’t have crossed your mind, which can help you keep costs down – and your eco-friendly credentials up – during this time.

It’s all about appliances

Wherever possible, use eco friendly products and appliances. From your kettle and fridge to your handheld devices, there are more environmentally friendly options out there.

For big-ticket items such as freezers and washing machines, look for models with a more energy efficient star rating. Then alter your practices to make these machines even more efficient, such as by altering your fridge’s thermostat so it doesn’t have to work so hard, and only washing clothes on a cold cycle.

When it comes to your laptop, television or computer, rather than operating on full brightness and power, use the controls to switch to a power-saver or eco-friendly mode.

Think about your lighting

Come winter, you’ll likely be spending more time inside with the lights on. This is something that easily goes by unnoticed – but even a small increase in lighting use can have a big effect on your bill.

That’s why winter’s a great time to make sure you’re using energy efficient lighting. Replace old incandescent lights with compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) or light emitting diodes (LEDs). The cost of replacing these will soon be offset by savings on your power bill.

Consider solar-powered lighting for your outdoor areas, too.

Check your windows

Did you know windows can let up to 40 per cent of your home’s warmth escape during the winter? That means your heater will have to work harder to keep your home warm, which is costly for you – and for the environment.

Rather than amping up the heating, try to fix the problem at its root cause. Fill any gaps, invest in double glazing or try insulating curtains or blinds to keep the heat locked in.

You’ll feel the difference in no time at all!