It’s a common misconception that “going green” is a difficult and expensive process. In reality, with the right knowledge and support, you can drastically reduce your electricity bill and improve energy efficiency, all while helping to save the environment. Check out these 10 ways you can go green with electricity!
1. Go solar
Solar or photovoltaic systems are becoming more popular among homeowners and businesses as effective sources of renewable energy. No longer just available to large buildings, these systems are more affordable than you may think and can be extremely beneficial in the long run.
Green electricity is much more accessible than it used to be as it continues to make waves in the UK’s renewable energy revolution.
2. Insulate Your Home Properly
Turning the heating up or putting on the kettle for hot drinks because your house is cold? Maybe it’s time to take a look at how much energy wastage stems from bad insulation!
Ensuring your home or building is properly insulated is one of the easiest options for reducing your electricity usage. Sealing up windows and cracks where draughts can slip in, is one of the cheapest options out there and can be easily DIY’d.
3. Switch To Energy Efficient Light Bulbs
Energy efficient light bulbs have come a long way from when they were first introduced. However, there are still plenty of standard bulbs still hanging around.
Light bulbs can waste a huge amount of energy so it’s worth making the switch. In fact, only 10% of the energy used by a traditional light bulb is converted into light. The rest is lost as heat. Shocking, right?
LED lights can also be a great energy-efficient alternative. In comparison, LED lights convert 90% of the energy into light.
4. Choose Energy Efficient Appliances
One huge benefit of modern appliances is that most of them are already as energy efficient as they can be. Many companies are now producing appliances specifically designed to reduce electricity consumption. This can be helpful if you’re looking to replace older white goods or appliances, investing in the new technology can save you money in the long run.
How do you spot appliances that are environmentally friendly? Easy! There’s a logo you can look out for to signify that it is energy star certified. The energy star system is backed by the government to help consumers choose energy efficient appliances with the help of unbiased information.
5. Recycle Your Electronics
If you’re having a clear-out, don’t just chuck away your electronics or keep them in a drawer for the next 10 years (we’re all guilty of it). If they still work or can be repaired, you can easily resell or donate, but did you know a lot of manufacturers have their own recycling scheme?
If your electronics are beyond repair, you can use these schemes to send manufacturers your old electronics and they’ll ensure they’re disposed of or re-used where possible. Believe it or not, almost all electronics with batteries or plugs can be recycled.
6. Wash Less
Dishwashers and washing machines are the main culprit of high electricity bills, and most people use them without much thought. Do you really need to use them as often as you do now?
Putting on a wash with only a half-load in uses the same amount of electricity as if you’d filled it to its full capacity. So, here’s your excuse to do less washing for the good of the environment.
7. Savvy suppliers
A lot of people are scared of switching suppliers because they think it won’t be worth the mammoth amount of paperwork, but what if we told you that these days you can find the best deals and switch suppliers with little to no disruption?
There are even new and up and coming energy suppliers that are focusing on providing green energy at a good price. Switching to a green energy supplier will see you join the ranks of some of the largest corporations in the world who have also ditched fossil fuels.
8. Unplug
Behaviour changes as little as unplugging devices when you finish using them may seem insignificant, but they can actually save you up to 5–10% on your electricity bill.
Some appliances will have a ‘standby usage’ score to help demonstrate how much energy they can use while on standby. The higher the score, the more energy they waste. This can have a noticeable effect on bills, especially in the workplace!
9. Smart Meters
Before you pick a new supplier or make any big changes it makes sense to take a look at how much energy you’re using currently. Installing a smart meter can help you see exactly where your energy is coming from and can support you as you make small changes to your habits.
Having a full, transparent view of how much energy you use as well as the ability to monitor where surges come from can be a wake up call. If you’re not sure how much energy you’re wasting or you’re not sure where to start on your journey to being more green, a smart meter might just be the perfect tool.
10. Energy Audit
Some companies offer energy audits to assess your current energy usage and place to optimise your usage or appliances. This way you get a totally unbiased report on how you use electricity alongside potential solutions and recommendations to cut your usage or improve efficiency.
A lot of the time, we simply don’t know how much electricity we consume which can make it even harder to reduce our usage. Over the past few years, the UK has successfully reduced its energy consumption, but we’ve still got a long way to go.
Business Energy Efficiency
As a local business owner, you can improve your energy efficiency by taking some simple steps. Follow the steps listed above to achieve better business energy efficiency.
Finally, educate your employees on the importance of energy efficiency and encourage them to turn off lights and unplug equipment when not in use. By taking these simple steps, you can reduce your energy consumption, lower your monthly energy bills, and do your part in preserving the environment.
We hope you’ve been inspired to go green. Got any tips of your own? Let us know!
Get in touch with our team for expert advice and for help with your next project. You can also view our previous projects here.
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