Seven tips for seasonal energy saving

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, but it’s often a time of excess too. Here are Finn Geotherm’s top seven tips for saving energy this festive season:

1) Lights
No Christmas tree is complete without being decked out in lights but opt for LED lights as they use 90% less energy than conventional ones. Turn off your tree lights when you go to bed and set any outdoor lights on timers too so they aren’t left on all night.

2) At work
When you finish work for the festive period, turn off the lights, as well as all computers and monitors. You can also switch off less obvious energy wasters such as the fridge and microwave if they aren’t going to be needed.

3) Turn off your TV
According to the Energy Saving Trust, 53% of people admit to leaving the TV on as background noise. Try to switch off the TV if no-one’s watching it.

4) A+++ appliances
If you’re planning to replace any white goods in the January sales, make sure you choose the most energy-efficient models. Opt for appliances with A+++ ratings (the lowest will be F or G). According to the Energy Saving Trust, an A+++ fridge freezer can save £250 and 640kg of CO2 over its lifetime, compared to a less-efficient model.

5) On standby
Switch off anything which is left on standby such as TVs and DVD players as these all use electricity. It is thought that roughly 15% of all domestic electricity used is for standby functions.

Also, don’t leave any devices plugged in and charging after the battery is full. A fully charged phone uses two watts and a phone that is charging uses three watts so there is not much difference.

6) Talking turkey
When it comes to cooking your Christmas dinner, keep the oven door closed as much as possible to retain the heat. Roast all the vegetables in the same tray to reduce oven time (and washing up too!). The same can be done with boiled or steamed vegetables – cook your sprouts and carrots in one pan on the hob.

7) Season’s heating
During big family gatherings, the house can get really warm with a crowd of people inside. Turn down the thermostat or adjust your radiators in advance. Don’t forget the best way to save money on your heating and hot water all year round is by switching to an energy efficient ground or air source heat pump!

Season’s greetings from all at Finn Geotherm

20th December 2019