MAKING UTILITY SAVINGS – KPA TOP TIPS Curtains All curtains and blinds go some way to preventing heat escaping but it’s worth going one step further and investing in full length, thermal curtains, which will really help Turn your thermostat down to keep the heat This is a simple one. For each degree you cut inside. They can the thermostat, expect to cut bills by about look stylish and, 4%. are like a duvet for your winThe World Health Organisation says that 18 dows! degrees is enough for healthy adults and, as a landlord, you are required to provide temShorter peratures of at least 18 degrees in sleeping showers rooms and 21 degrees (centigrade) in living Cutting just a rooms, (when the outside temperature falls minute off your below zero). However, we all know properties shower time which feel like “hot houses.” Having those could save £75 conversations with your tenants, could be very a year in energy worthwhile. bills, and a further £105 a year in water bills if you have a Turning off the heating versus leaving it on? meter – £180 a year for an average A common debate is whether it is cheaper to four-person household. leave the heating on low all day, rather than just turning it on when you need it. The Some even go as far as to turn the water off Energy Saving Trust is adamant that you to lather and back on to rinse, there is also should only have your heating on when the famed Wim Hof cold shower method – required, otherwise you are paying for heating but this is a bit of a stretch for us personally! that you are not using. Even if you turn your thermostat down, your boiler will keep firing A fuller washing machine and banish the up and using energy. tumble dryer Try to do one fewer load of washing a week and make sure you fill up the machine each time. No more washing just one or two items of clothing. Cutting energy costs and making savings, wherever possible, is on everyone’s minds at the moment. Here are some simple and cost-effective methods that you can adopt right now. Remember all those small savings soon add up!
The savings aren’t huge, around £10 a year for modern machines, but can be much more with old ones. You could also try doing your washing on a colder setting. Also, tumble dryers use a lot of energy. The Energy Saving Trust calculate that you could save £40 a year if you never use it. If you are going to use it, use a lower (or eco if available) setting, partially dry clothes where Become a draught detective possible and remove all lint from the filter Finding those draughty spots in the house can and empty self-condensing dryers regularly. make a big difference. Draught-proofing can Try drying your clothes on an airer, but make cut 2% off energy bills. An un-noticed sure to leave a window open, as this could draughty spot can often be the loft hatch, if contribute to condensation, which in turn this is an issue in your property, then you can could lead to mould. buy some effective and inexpensive rolls of draught excluders that are really simple to fit to the sides of loft hatches. 32
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