In today’s economic climate, soaring energy bills are a significant concern for households across the UK. For tenants, this can mean a substantial portion of their monthly income is dedicated to keeping their homes warm and powered. At ResiSure, we understand the importance of a comfortable and affordable living environment. Our advanced technological solutions empower landlords and property managers to gain valuable insights into property performance, including utility expenditure, ultimately contributing to a higher quality of life for tenants.
Here, we’ll delve into practical strategies and tips on how to reduce energy bills and how to save energy in your home, year-round. Whether you’re a tenant looking for immediate savings or a landlord aiming to improve the energy efficiency of your properties, the information below will provide valuable guidance.
Understanding Your Energy Consumption
Before you can effectively reduce your energy bills, it’s crucial to understand where your energy is actually being used. The average UK household spends around £1,849 per year on energy. However, this figure can vary significantly depending on the size of your home, your usage habits, and the efficiency of your appliances, with low EPC homes being more likely to use more energy.
Taking the time to monitor your energy consumption can reveal surprising insights. Keep an eye on your smart meter readings if you have one, or regularly check your traditional meter. Many energy providers also offer online portals or apps that allow you to track your usage patterns over time. This awareness is the first step towards identifying areas where you can make changes and understand how to save energy.
STAT: 86% of those with a smart meter say they’ve altered their behaviour in their households to save on energy.
Practical Tips for Tenants
Making small adjustments to your daily routine can lead to substantial savings on your energy bills, especially if you understand where your energy expenditure is highest. Here are some actionable tips on how to save energy at home:
- Be Smart with Heating: Heating typically accounts for the largest portion of your energy bill. Reduce your thermostat by just one degree and you could save around £145 per year on your heating costs. Consider using a programmable thermostat to heat your home only when needed.
- Insulate Effectively: Ensure your home is well-insulated. Close curtains and blinds at night to retain heat and open them during the day to benefit from natural sunlight. If you notice drafts around windows and doors, use draught excluders or sealant to prevent heat loss. Energy providers such as Octopus will send you a thermal camera to help you locate these areas.
- Switch Off Standby: Many electronic devices continue to consume energy even when they are switched off but plugged in. This “phantom load” can add up over time. Make a habit of completely switching off appliances at the wall when they are not in use.
- Use Energy-Efficient Lighting: Replace traditional incandescent light bulbs with energy-efficient LED bulbs. LEDs use significantly less energy and last much longer, resulting in long-term cost savings.
- Be Water Wise: Heating water for showers, baths, and washing dishes is another significant energy consumer. Take shorter showers, wash clothes at lower temperatures, and only boil the amount of water you need in your kettle.
- Optimise Your Appliances: Ensure your appliances are running efficiently. Regularly defrost your freezer, as ice buildup can reduce its efficiency. When using your washing machine or dishwasher, wait until you have a full load rather than wasting energy on just a few items.
- Unplug Unused Chargers: Phone chargers, laptop chargers, and other adapters continue to draw power even when they are not connected to a device. Unplug them when they are not in use.
These simple yet effective strategies demonstrate how to save energy at home without requiring significant investment – small changes over a long period of time can have a huge impact!
The Role of Landlords and Property Managers
While tenants play a crucial role in managing their energy consumption, landlords and property managers also have a significant responsibility in creating energy-efficient homes for their residents. Investing in energy efficient upgrades can not only reduce tenants’ bills but also enhance the attractiveness and value of your property.
Some key measures landlords can consider include:
- Improving Insulation: Upgrading loft, wall, and floor insulation can significantly reduce heat loss and lower heating costs for tenants.
- Installing Energy-Efficient Windows and Doors: Replacing old, draughty windows and doors with double or triple-glazed alternatives can make a substantial difference in energy efficiency.
- Upgrading Heating Systems: Installing modern, energy-efficient boilers and heating controls can lead to significant savings over time.
- Providing Smart Meters: Installing smart meters allows tenants to monitor their energy consumption in real-time, empowering them to make informed decisions about their usage.
- Investing in Renewable Energy: Exploring options like solar panels can provide a sustainable and cost-effective source of energy for the property while also adding an average price boost of over £30,000 to your property.
While the tips mentioned above can provide immediate savings, considering long-term investments can lead to even greater reductions in energy bills and a more sustainable future. These investments might include installing solar panels, investing in battery storage, or implementing heat pumps. While these investments may require a larger upfront cost, the long-term savings and environmental benefits can be substantial.
Leveraging Technology for Energy Savings
Reducing your energy bills is not only beneficial for your wallet but also contributes to a more sustainable future. By implementing the practical tips outlined in this blog post, tenants can take control of their energy consumption and significantly lower their monthly expenses. Landlords and property managers also have a crucial role to play by investing in energy-efficient upgrades and leveraging technology to gain valuable insights into property performance.
At ResiSure, we provide the technology to empower landlords and property managers with the data they need to create better living environments for their tenants. Our platform gathers real-time property data, including utility expenditure. This allows providers to:
- Identify Properties with High Energy Consumption: By monitoring utility data, landlords can pinpoint properties where energy consumption is significantly higher than average, indicating potential issues like poor insulation or inefficient appliances.
- Track the Impact of Energy-Efficient Upgrades: After implementing energy-saving measures, ResiSure’s platform can track the resulting changes in utility expenditure, providing valuable insights into the effectiveness of these upgrades.
- Communicate Effectively with Tenants: Sharing data on energy consumption can foster transparency and encourage tenants to adopt energy-saving habits.
- Proactively Address Potential Issues: Monitoring data on damp, mould, and humidity can also indirectly contribute to energy savings, as these issues can impact the efficiency of heating and ventilation systems.
By utilising the insights provided by ResiSure, landlords and property managers can make data-driven decisions to improve the energy efficiency of their properties, ultimately benefiting their tenants through lower energy bills.
Want to learn more about how ResiSure can help you reduce energy bills and improve living standards for your tenants? Contact us today to find out more about how our innovative technology can save you time, stress and money when it comes to managing your properties.