As the cost of living continues to rise, it's important to find ways to save money wherever possible. One area that can eat into your monthly budget is your energy bill. With the increasing use of electronics and appliances, it's not uncommon for energy bills to skyrocket. However, there are several practical steps you can take to reduce your energy consumption and save money on your energy bills. In this blog post, we'll explore some effective strategies to help you cut down on your energy costs without sacrificing your comfort or lifestyle. Check out our top tips on how to reduce your energy usage and save money on your energy bills.

Your electricity bills are broken down into standing charges, VAT, levies, and electricity usage. Your usage is monitored by your electricity meter. These meters are usually located on the side of your home or in the public area of an apartment building. This is so they can be easily accessed by ESB technicians to take readings during the year. When you receive your bill check to see if this usage has been estimated or if it is using an actual reading. You can submit your electricity readings to your provider to ensure your bills are accurate.

Your electricity usage is calculated using peak and off-peak rates. This can vary depending on the supplier but the standard off-peak time in Ireland is 11 pm – 8 am. Be sure to check your rate bands with your provider. You can save on your electricity bills if you use off-peak times to run your washing machine, dishwasher, or tumble dryer. A great way to do this is by using the delay start option on your washing machine or dryer. You will be able to time your cycle so it’s ending just as you are getting up in the morning. You could also set your dishwasher to start just as your going to bed using an eco-cycle, then it’ll be dry and ready to unload while you wait for the kettle to boil.

The eco programme on your machine is the most energy-efficient way to run a programme or cycle. They usually take longer than a standard programme. The quick wash option is the most inefficient in terms of electricity usage. These will typically use fast spin speeds, high water temperatures and hot drying cycles. The eco programme will use cooler water, meaning your machine doesn’t have to use electricity to heat the water. It will also use longer soaking cycles. So, you still get great results without pushing up your energy usage.

Overcrowding your fridgewill reduce the lifespan of your food and can put added stress on the motor as it must work harder to keep the internal temperature at the set level. You should avoid having the fridge and freezer doors open for long periods. Each time you open the door the temperature of the fridge rises. The fridge then must work to bring the internal temperature back down to the set level. Keeping the internal temperature as consistent as possible will help to keep your energy usage down.

Another great way to save on your household bills is by avoiding food wastage. Check out some of our tips for keeping your food fresh and save money on your energy bills.

Check your lamps and pendant fittings to see if you are using LED bulbs. LED bulbs now come with energy ratings, so you can make an informed choice when purchasing new lightbulbs for your home. The LED bulbs have very low energy consumption and an extremely long lifespan. They are also shock and vibration proof. Additionally, they can achieve full brightness from the second they are turned on, unlike some halogen and CFL bulbs which can take time to reach full brightness.

Your kettle is one of the highest users of electricity in your home! If you are just making tea for one or two people, then just quarter fill your kettle. This means you’ll reduce your energy usage and spend less time waiting around for your cuppa!

Check if you have any of your appliances regularly left on standby mode. If you know you won’t be using your TV, games console or sound system for the next few hours then unplug it or power it off. While the usage in ‘rest mode’ or standby might be limited, this can add up over the course of a year. Especially in a busy house with several TVs and gaming consoles.

Using a smart hub lets you control your heating, lighting, music and even see who is at your front door.  They can connect to loads of smart devices including;

• doorbells
• speakers
• dynamic lighting

Some smart thermostats will even control your hot water, which you can monitor directly from your phone. This is a great way of monitoring your usage, especially if you are away from home for a few days. Some apps will also let you know how much energy you've saved and give you a breakdown of your usage so you can see where there’s an opportunity to save money.

Tumble dryers can be expensive to run, especially in a busy household. Unfortunately, in Ireland, we can’t always guarantee good drying weather. Try to utilize the outdoors where you can and then put your clothes in the dryer for the last few minutes to air them. This will help to reduce the length of your drying cycles. You can also add an extra spin cycle to your washing machine programme. This extra spin will help to remove excess water, limiting your required drying cycle.

Don't forget, you can recycle old electrical appliances at any DID store. You don't even need to have purchased anything with us, just drop by and we will take your old appliance off your hands.