50 tips for saving energy
Nobody likes to receive an eye-watering gas or electricity bill, and watching the price at the petrol pump climb higher isn’t much fun either. Thankfully there are plenty of ways to reduce your energy bills in the short and long term, as you’ll see from the following tips!
You can use KBC Mobile to quickly find the best energy contract for you! Thanks to our additional ‘Mijnenergie’ service, you can get an independent comparison of prices for different types of energy. Get a quick estimate or do an exact calculation using your annual bill.
If you want a refreshing shower to be just as good for your energy bill as it is for you, all it takes are a few smart changes in your bathroom!
- Install a water-saving shower head in your shower.
- Take more showers and fewer baths. This uses less hot water ...
- ...unless you shower for too long of course! So, set an alarm on your smartphone – you only need five minutes to get squeaky clean!
- Insulate your water pipes. This keeps your water warm when it’s running.
- Descale your boiler regularly.
- Don’t put towels on the radiator, as they’ll absorb heat that could be warming the room.
- Don't leave your electric toothbrush and other appliances plugged in non-stop.
Depending on what type of cook you are, things can sometimes get chaotic in the kitchen and it’s easy to lose track of what’s going on. While we can’t keep the chicken from burning, we can prevent unnecessarily higher energy bills!
- Wait until leftovers have cooled down before placing them in the fridge, and warm them up in the microwave instead of the oven.
- Clean your extractor hood regularly.
- Can't make up your mind whether you want a lemonade or a coke? Don’t spend too long deciding while the fridge door is open.
- Set your fridge to the right temperature. It should be around five degrees (every degree lower costs energy).
- Defrost your food in the fridge, rather than using the microwave.
- Don’t open the oven early to see if your food is hot yet, as this wastes heat.
- Switch off your oven a few minutes before your cooking time is finished and your food will continue to cook gently.
- Only run the dishwasher when it’s fully loaded.
- Descale your dishwasher regularly.
- Defrost your freezer regularly.
Keep a close eye on your gas and electricity consumption with ‘Energy insights’ in KBC Mobile, and get insights and tips to help you become a smarter user of energy thanks to this additional service.
There are plenty of opportunities to save energy not just at home, but also when you’re out driving.
- If you have an electric vehicle, you can drive further the less you use the heating and air conditioning.
- Store the battery for your electric bike in a cool place such as your cellar.
- Check your tyre pressure regularly, and remember you can save energy by reducing your speed.
- Driving around with the windows open or with a roof box installed also uses up more energy.
If you’re someone who likes to be at home, chances are that your living room is the place where you want to feel comfortable and relaxed, and preferably don't feel cold. Be sure to try out these tips to manage your energy consumption more consciously, without having to sacrifice your comfort.
- Why not set the thermostat one degree lower?
- Use radiator foil so that more heat goes into the room instead of the walls.
- Close doors when leaving the room and don’t leave the lights on if they aren’t needed.
- Use power strips that you can switch on and off.
- You should always check for the eco-label when buying new appliances, so pay attention in the shop if you've fallen for that bargain big-screen TV.
- Place draught seals to prevent heat from escaping through all sorts of cracks and crevices.
- Fit insulating curtains to keep even more warmth in your living room.
Some tips come in handy no matter where you are. Even though you might not have a Christmas jumper or board game to play, don’t let that put you off!
- Set the thermostat to 15 degrees when you’re not at home.
- If you have day and night rates for energy, you should try tricks like letting your washing machine run late at night.
- If you’re as addicted to your tablet, laptop or game console as we are, try putting them down for an evening to play a fun board game, or perhaps a spooky board game by candlelight!
- Try cooking without using your oven or hob once in a while. If it’s barbecue weather then a cold salad is just as tasty!
- If you find yourself wanting to turn up the thermostat in winter, maybe it’s time to dig out that terrible Christmas jumper.
- If you’ve just woken up and it’s light outside, open your curtains! It’s a much more pleasant way to wake up instead of turning on your light.
- Replace all of your light bulbs with LED or energy-saving bulbs.
- If you can never remember to turn off the lights, there are movement sensors available that can switch them off automatically. Perfect for rooms that you don't use often.
- Use a drying rack instead of your tumble dryer, but remember to bring it inside if it’s raining!
- Double-check your smartphone settings: lower the screen brightness, close any apps you’re not using and turn on aeroplane mode when you go to sleep. Or you could even just turn off your device!
Some changes cost little to nothing, but others do mean having to dig deeper into your pockets. If you have some budget left over, consider investing in home improvements to reduce your energy bill. Depending on what you choose, make sure to check if you’re eligible for a subsidy or grant!
- Want to insulate your home and save on your energy bills? Use the additional ‘Insulate your home’ service to easily request a quote to have your home insulated by a quality contractor from our network.
- If you still have old windows, you should replace them with windows using high-efficiency glass. Be sure to check the U-value of the glass: the lower the better!
- Want to optimise your energy installation? Use the additional ‘Solar panels and battery’ service to work out how much you’d save by installing solar panels and a home battery and to request a no-obligation quote.
- ... especially if you also buy a home battery to store the electricity produced.
- Invest in a solar water heater to convert sunlight into heat.
- If you’re renovating your kitchen, opt for more energy-efficient induction hobs.
Now it’s up to you! If you follow as many of these tips as you can, you’ll not only save on your bill, you’ll also be doing your bit to combat global warming. Act now and start comparing your energy contract.
