Smarter Energy Hints and Tips

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Smarter energy hints and tips

Smarter Energy: Energy saving tips to help reduce your energy use

Small steps make a big difference, like choosing SSE Airtricity for cleaner, renewable energy† . Here are more small changes that can make a big difference to your CO₂ emissions and your energy bills. A great saving for you. A great saving for the environment.

Kitchen Tips

Use pans that can divide into sections so you can cook several items at once.
Cook food in big batches then refrigerate or freeze your leftovers. Reheat your food in the microwave.
Try to keep opening of the oven door to a minimum while cooking and remove extra shelves or tins that absorb heat which should be used for cooking.

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Smart Hints and Tips: Kitchen Tips

Refrigerator Tips

Defrost your fridge or freezer regularly. Ice should never be more than a quarter of an inch (6mm) thick around the ice box. Check for gaps in door seals that could let warm air in.
When buying a new fridge or freezer, check the energy label and buy the most energy efficient appliance possible. It will cost less to run.

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Smarter Energy: Refrigerator Tips

Bathroom Tips

Showers generally use 20% less energy than baths.
Set your hot water thermostat to 60-65˚C.
Lag your hot water pipes where you can and if your hot water cylinder is poorly insulated fit an insulating jacket.

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Smart Hints and Tips: Bathroom Tips

Laundry Tips

Run your washing machine full load whenever possible.
If you can, use cold water washing powder and the cold water setting on your washing machines.
Tumble dryers are big energy guzzlers, so dry clothes on a clothes horse or washing line.

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Smart Hints & Tips: Laundry Tips

Lighting Tips

Always turn the lights off when you leave the room even if it’s only for a few minutes.
Position your furniture so you make the most of natural light i.e. if you work from home position your desk near the window. Use daylight instead of switching on lights until you need to.
Replace failed incandescent lamps with energy-efficient compact fluorescents and LED lighting.
Use timers or motion sensors on outdoor security lighting so they run only when required.

Smart Hints & Tips: Lighting tips

Electronic Tips

In general, for the same size screen and from the same manufacturer the most energy-efficient HD TV’s are LED type followed by LCD and then Plasma.
Use a home energy monitoring device to help you monitor and manage your energy consumption.
Switch off your appliances at night time and at times when they are not in use for more than an hour

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Smart Hints & Tips: Electronic tips

Energy Efficiency Tips

Energy efficiency labels give each appliance an energy-efficient rating on a scale from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient). Before you buy a new appliance, check its rating.
Get your gas boiler serviced annually, not only will it be safer, but your boiler will be more reliable and run more efficiently.

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Smart Hints & Tips: Energy efficiency tips

Heating System Tips

Turning your heating thermostat down by 1˚C to 20 ˚C. In halls and bedrooms ideally, thermostats should be set between 15˚ and 18˚C.
Use time clocks and automated controls to ensure the heating systems are only on when needed.
Ideally turned on 30 minutes before you need it and turned off 30 minutes before you no longer need it. With central heating systems use zone controls where necessary and fit thermostatic radiator valves to all radiators to turn off or down in rooms that are not used a lot.

Smart Hints & Tips: Heating system tips

Green Home Upgrades

Ensure your house is well insulated with double or triple glazing windows, loft and external wall insulation and reduce air loss by fitting draft stripping to doors, windows and radiator pipe work entry and exit areas.^
The SSE Airtricity Green Home Upgrade team offers a simple solution for creating your dream green home. We provide services ranging from insulation to heat pumps, and new windows and doors, solar panels and EV Chargers. To learn more visit our Green Home Upgrade hub here.

^courtesy of seai.ie. For more information visit seai.ie.

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Smart Hints and Tips: Generation Green Home Upgrade Tips