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Did you know we had Earth Day last week? A day where we should all stop and take the time out to see just how we can help the planet.
No one’s asking the earth from us [pun totally intended] however one way of which we can do just that is to reduce our energy use. Not only can it cut energy costs and save us money but more importantly it can also reduce our carbon footprint massively!
Save energy today and everyday!
Reduce your washer and dryer use
It’s difficult for so many families to do this I get it… it might feel like your washer is on 24/7 and if it is chances are it’s on for a reason not just for the fun of it! So, why not think about how you can reduce the water and energy consumption during each wash or dry you do.
Washing at 30
Unless your clothes are dirty, and by dirty I mean covered in mud from sport, grease from work or food from a weaning baby; a 30 degree heat wash will be adequate to get clothes clean.
You will be potentially saving money on clothes in the long run too as washing on a cooler heat prevents any damage or shrinkage to clothes.
Hanging up clothes too will eliminate the need to even switch on your dryer! Do you have an airing cupboard or even somewhere to pop a clothes horse? Better still get them on the line outside!
Get a Smart Meter
Smart meters work with your prepay meter and are designed to help you take control of your energy use. They’re free to install too and you can see exactly what you use and when!
Smart meters allow you to see exactly where you are spending most of your money and energy on and where you can save.
Boost Energy are one company that are offering free smart meters to run along side their PAYG energy plan.
No we haven’t time hopped back to 1990 with random power cuts whilst drying your hair or praying that you don’t have to bin all the food in your fridge because you never topped up the meter… we are talking about the next generation in PAYG meters.
You don’t even have to pop to the shops to top up anymore either because the the Boost app gives you total control & by the way it’s NOT 1990 anymore (incase you didn’t notice!)! A lot of us these days are managing our day to day funds via app’s anyway so why not use it to manage your energy too!?
The app lets you top up from your sofa and can also give you top-up reminders! It can even help you save up for extra winter energy costs!
Boost Energy allows you to save up for extra winter energy costs with their Winter Wallet.
Budgeting for winter is hard and the increased energy bills tend to always come around Christmas so Boost have introduced the ability to save into a savings pot over the summer, when energy use is at its lowest, in preparations of higher costs over the winter months.
Don’t leave appliances on standby & turn off the lights!
Getting a smart meter is one way of being able to see how much you are spending when the kids leave all the lights on like they are at Blackpool Illuminations!
Same goes for leaving appliances on standby. You might not notice the energy you are saving if you wait for your next bill but with a smart meter you can see the energy costs adjusting right in front of your eyes and the kids love it!
Reduce your waste & recycle
Do you recycle? I know we all complained when we were given every coloured bin under the sun but using them as they were intended to be used for, is helping the environment massively and ensuring so many more things are being recycled that ever before.
Does recycling really save energy?
Yes because recycling saves more than making something new. While you might not see the different in the pennies in your pocket, the economic advantages of recycling are long-term.
Fill your freezer!
How is filling your freezer going to save me energy, I hear you ask?
Well again this is something that is not necessarily going to save you noticeable money but if you think about the fact you are running a freezer 24/7 meaning if it’s nearly empty, it’s running and costing the same as if it would be full.
To get the most from what you are spending on energy each day anyway, ensure you have a full freezer. Meal planning can help you do this and freezing foods.
You don’t necessarily need to go out and buy more food but just think about things you could possibly start to freeze that you don’t already – I posted this over on my Instagram only last week and it was mad how many people said that it wasn’t even something they thought of doing!
I hope this helps and gives you a few ideas you can implement this Earth Day to reduce both your carbon footprint AND cut your energy costs!
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This post is a collaboration.
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