Heaters
- When buying heaters, make sure that they are the right size for the rooms they are to heat, and that they have thermostatic controls.
- Remember that electric heaters other than storage heaters consume electricity at the most expensive charge rate.
- Use a space or portable heater instead of the central heating, if only one room needs heating.
- Choose heaters with thermostat controls and timers.
Central Heating
- Turn off the heating overnight and when you are out during the day.
- Turn off the heating if you are going to be out of the house for more than a day.
- Proper control and regular maintenance of your heating system can reduce fuel consumption by 10–20%.
- If you have gas heating, turn off pilot lights during the warmer months.
- Heat bedroom areas to less than 18°C.
- 20°C is an ideal room temperature. Turning down thermostats by 1°C can reduce annual space heating energy consumption by 10% with an equivalent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
Heat loss
- Open fires are wasteful of energy with more than 70% of the energy going up the chimney.
- If the radiator is mounted below a window, a projecting window-board or shelf above the radiator will direct warm air into the room, reducing heat loss through the window.
- Close doors to separate heated from unheated areas of your home, and minimise the area you are heating.
Hot water heating
- Use the timer on immersion heaters. This should supply you with enough hot water as and when you need.
- Heating hot water account for 64% of energy consumption in the home; you should be thrifty in its use.
- 90% of the energy consumption of washing machines goes on heating the water. Wash clothes whenever possible in cold or cool water.
