Saving Energy
The following are some examples of how you can save energy around your home: 
- Switch off lights when you leave a room.
- Only boil as much water as you need when making drinks.
- Half-load programmes on washing machines, tumble dryers and dishwashers use more than half the water and electricity of a full load. Wait until you have a full load before using these machines.
- If you are able, use a washing line to dry your clothes. Tumble dryers are very expensive.
- Don’t leave the tap running while you brush your teeth. This can waste up to five litres of water every minute.
- A dripping tap can waste as much as four litres of water every day. Please report tap faults to us as soon as possible.
- When you can, always use energy-saving light bulbs.
- Use a bowl to wash vegetables. This uses less water than rinsing them under the tap. You can use the water that is left to water house plants.
- Keep a jug or bottle of water in the fridge instead of running the tap until the water is cold.
- Do not run hot water taps unnecessarily.
- Switch off appliances such as stereos, televisions and computers if no one is using them and don’t leave them on standby. Leaving these appliances on standby uses electricity and therefore costs you money.
- Plasma TV’s use more electricity and cost more to run than LCD TV’s.
- A five minute shower uses about a third of the water of a bath, but remember that power showers can use more water than a bath in five minutes.
- Alter room thermostat to reduce heating temperature before opening windows.
- Ensure all windows and external doors are properly closed.
- If your heating is on now, ask your support worker to check the times the heating comes on and goes off. If the heating is on for long periods, this costs you money. Reducing the length of time your boiler is on will save energy and your money.
- What is the temperature in your house? Houses warm up gradually and retain heat for long periods. The ideal temperature is 21 degrees celsius in a living room where you may sit to watch television or read. In a bedroom it is less and around 18 degrees celsius is usual. In most cases the temperature thermostat, often found in the hallway, can be turned down and should not be set above 21 degrees. If you are cold, tell your support worker and we will send an engineer to check if there is a fault.
- Ask your carer to help you save energy, after all it is your money that is being spent.
