Energy Advice 

• Always use the right sized pot or pan for the job. Pots with lids are best and use the correct hob ring for each.
• Pre-boil the water in a kettle before adding it to your pan.
• Keep the oven door shut as much as possible. Make sure the glass door is clean so you can see what's going on without opening the door.
• Let warm food cool down before putting it in the fridge.

• Most clothes don't need washed after every wear. Try airing them between wears instead.
• Spin clothes on the machine's highest spin cycle before tumble drying. This will help reduce the time needed in the dryer.
• Washing clothes at 30 degrees could save around 57%of the energy used each year.
• Wait until you have a full load before putting on a wash.

• Fit draught excluders around the front door and over the letter box. These don't have to be expensive, in fact you can make one out of an old pair of joggers.
• Putting a curtain over the front door can also help keep the draughts out.
• Get into the habit of closing all internal doors to help build up heat quicker.

• A quick shower uses less energy than a bath.
• Invest in a shower timer to help you see how much time you spend in the shower. Afterall, shorter showers useless energy.
• Don't leave the taps running continuously while your brush your teeth, shave or wash your face.
• If you have a hot water tank, set your programmer to best match the times of day when you use hot water. This will avoid heating water when you don't need to.

• Almost one third of energy loss is through your windows. Using heavy (or lined) curtains can help to reduce this.
• In the winter, close your curtains at dusk to help keep the heat in. Likewise, in the summer, keep curtains closed in rooms you aren't using to help keep them cool.

• Replace all of your bulbs with LED equivalents. This can help you save around 69% of your annual lighting costs -around £40 a year.
• It seems obvious but the most common-sense solution to reducing your lighting costs is to turn them off when you're not using them.
• Use automatic timers to turn your lights on as it gets dark outside and to turn off at the same time you go to bed.
• Place lamps in the corners of your rooms. This allows the light to bounce off of two wall surfaces and reduce the number of lamps needed.

• Try to avoid leaving your TV, games consoles and kitchen appliances like toasters and kettles, plugged in and switched on when you're not using them.
• Don't leave your phone plugged into charge all night long. It should only need a few hours to full charge.
• Be proactive in checking the wattage of an electric appliance - the higher the wattage, the more it will cost to run.

Boilers

• Always check the pressure gauge on combi boilers. Is it settling between 1 and 2? If not, the pressure is either low or high. This means the boiler has to use more energy than it needs to for the water and heating.
• Don't switch a combi boiler off at the wall, always leave it on standby.
• Use your programmer (or timer) for your heating and hot water.
• Use it to your advantage so they can be ready for you as and when needed, rather than using the 'boost' function.
• During the winter, set the heating to switch off a short while before going to bed, that way it won't stay on too long after going to bed. Also set the heating to come on a little while before you wake up in the morning.

Bills

• If you have a billing cycle and a non-smart meter, try to provide your supplier with meter readings at least once a month. This helps to ensure accurate bills and to avoid the risk of over or under-estimated bills.
• Be aware that Fixed Rate or Fixed Price tariffs mean that the unit prices for gas and electricity are fixed, not the direct debit or bill amount.
• It's important to compare available tariffs to make sure you’re getting the best deal for your energy.

Using your heating efficient can also help reduce your energy usage.  If you are unsure how to use your heating system, please contact the repairs team for more information. 

Switching energy supplier could also help you get a better deal on your bills.  You can contact USwitch (0800 049 9722) to find out if you could make any savings.