Living Green

green economy

Living green. As the days and nights grow colder and darker, our energy usage and bills can see a dramatic increase. Not only do we have to use heating that we didn’t have to over summer, but we tend to spend more time within the home due to the harsh winter conditions.

There are ways we can try to reduce our outgoings, with some top tips for living green and saving money.

In the house –

  • Only boil the amount of water you need. Everyone knows this, but still no one does it. It’s a really easy way to save some cash, especially if you’re drinking a fair few cups a day!
  • Switch to energy saving light bulbs. They are more expensive, but can save up to 10 times their original price in usage costs during their lifetime
  • When using a saucepan always try to keep the lid on, this way you will save money with every meal.
  • Layer up instead of turning on the heating.
  • Turn all plugs off when you leave the house.
  • When it comes time to replace your boiler, look for energy efficient models, or if that seems too costly, think about installing an energy efficient water heater.
  • Try to use colder water when washing your clothes, this isn’t only good for your bills, but also for the clothes.
  • Call your energy providers to see if they offer any ‘smart gadgets’ which can monitor how much energy you are using. Some are even able to tell you which items are using the most energy. Some companies will even offer to come and do an energy audit of your home to see if there are any simple ways you could be saving more money.
  • Do a health check of any insulation you may have in the house, make sure there aren’t any gaps for cold air to creep through.

Out the house –

  • Drive smart. Driving at 50mph instead of 70 mph can save up to 30% on fuel consumption, plus, it’s safer. Driving over the speed limit is illegal, dangerous and costs you more.
  • Make sure your tyres are at full capacity. When you drive with flat or semi flat tyres, your petrol to mileage ratio will suffer, and so will your bank balance.
  • When your destination is only a short walk away, walk! Or use public transport when you can. Car pooling and sharing lifts can also help reduce expenditure and damage to the environment.
  • If you own your own business or rent an office, make sure you are following the same money saving tips as you are in your home.
  • Christmas is an expensive enough time of year, so follow the above tips and try and reduce your outgoings whilst helping the environment.