Five Simple Ways to Save Energy

Student-Utilities-Five-Simple-Ways-to-Save-Energy

5 Simple Ways to Save Energy

One of the biggest expenses of student living is unfortunately not the good stuff; food, fun and frolicking are occasional and erratic pocket drainers, whereas utility bills are inevitable, regular, and easy to lose sight of. As a result many students lose control of the cost of utilities, and it’s easy to forget how much it costs to run a house, particularly if you’ve never done it before. Fortunately, with a few prudent tips, it’s easy to save money on your bills without sacrificing your social life. Here are 5 simple ways to save energy.

One

Keep Your Eye on the Thermostat


Unfortunately it’s the time of year when days are starting to get shorter, meaning autumn is here, and winter isn’t too far off. In terms of your utilities bills, this means running the heating a lot more, which can get expensive. Make sure you set your thermostat to no higher than 20 degrees, and layer up with extra clothes. According to a government study, every degree over 20 can add 10% to your heating bill, so it’s well worth keeping an eye on that thermostat.

Two

Wash Clothes in Cold Water


Unless you spend a lot of time in the great outdoors during the winter, or your degree involves something unspeakable, how dirty can your clothes possibly get? Washing on shorter cycles and using colder water can save you a lot in the long run, without your clothes being any less clean. It’s a no brainer.

Three

Turn Off your Plugs at Night


It’s an old one, but turning off your plugs overnight will save electricity. Particularly in student homes, where you and your housemates will each be running laptops, phones and other devices, standby electricity wastage can be high. By turning off chargers and even your internet router overnight, you’ll be surprised how much you can save.

Four

Cook Smarter


Did you know that microwaves are more energy efficient than ovens? Obviously you should probably avoid living off microwave meals, but cooking food quickly means less energy used. When using the hob make sure you put lids on your pans to speed up cooking time, and if you do use the oven, keep the door open after cooking to warm your house up with the residual heat. It all helps.

Five

Go Out!


Spend your time at a friend’s house, work in the library, visit your local pub and/or café – if you’re not at home you’re not using your utilities, so go out and enjoy yourself knowing you’re actually saving money in the long run! It’s a flawless plan.

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