With many householders aiming to spend less on household bills and save more this Christmas and New Year, OFTEC, which represents the domestic oil heating industry, has issued tips to help consumers to be energy smart and cut fuel bills in 2014.
A recent ComRes report found that 63% of consumers are concerned with how they are going to pay for their heating bills in the year ahead, and with many of us falling for false economies in an attempt to save money or bag a bargain, be savvy with your money and follow OFTEC’s money saving tips.
David Blevings, OFTEC Ireland Manger said: “Many of us are now feeling the pinch after the traditional additional Christmas spending. OFTEC wants householders to relax and enjoy the festive period and start the New Year on a positive note, so we have put together guidelines to help you get as much value as possible from your home energy and heating system in 2014.”
OFTEC’s top money saving tips for householders include:
• Oil Users, which account for circa 68% of households in NI, should switch to a condensing boiler –this will improve energy efficiency by up to 18% and can lead to a saving of up to £300 on your oil bill every year thereafter. Grants are also available to home owners who are considering replacing an inefficient boiler for a more energy efficient condensing boiler.
• Service your heating appliance regularly- annual servicing of an appliance will improve efficiency, offer potential cost savings on energy bills and could extend the life of the product – avoiding costly repairs and or replacements. Always use an OFTEC registered technician who has been assessed to work on oil-fired equipment and carries full insurance.
• Turn your thermostat down-reducing your room temperature by 1°C could cut your heating bills by up to 10 percent and typically saves around £65 per year. If you have a programmer, set your heating and hot water to come on only when required rather than all the time.
• Only turn on lights when you need them- and switch off lights when you leave a room.
• Don’t leave appliances on standby – get into the habit of turning off the television at the socket or on the set. A TV, DVD player and PS3 will cost around £30 to run over the course of a year however it could be much higher if they are left on when not in use.
• Be water efficient where possible – for example fill up the washing machine, tumble dryer or dishwasher as one full load uses less energy than two half loads. Also use a bowl to wash up dirty dishes and only fill-up the kettle with the amount of water you need.
• Fix a leaking tap – A dripping hot water tap wastes energy and in one week wastes enough hot water to fill half a bath, so fix leaking taps and make sure they’re fully turned off!
• Replace your shower head with an energy efficient one – The shower is the biggest consumer of water in the home using a quarter of the household total. If you’ve got a shower that takes hot water straight from your boiler or hot water tank, you may be able to fit a water-efficient shower head that could reduce your hot water usage while still enjoying the sensation of a powerful shower.
