Radiator Checklist

• Move any furniture that’s blocking radiators.
• Keep curtains from hanging in front of the radiators as this pulls the heat away from the room and towards the window.
• Bleed and / or de-sludge radiators if necessary.
• Place radiator foil on the wall behind your radiators.
• Turn your radiators down or off in rooms that you don’t use.

Heating Controls

• Ensure the timer is set to only heat your home / hot water when you are home.
• Upgrade your heating controls (grant available).

Windows and Doors

• Close doors to unused rooms so you only heat the smallest possible area.
• Replace worn / damaged rubber and brush seals on your front and back doors.
• Have your windows serviced to repair damaged seals and opening / closing mechanism.
• Hang curtains inside your front and back doors and close them in the evening.
• Make use of the sun and let the heat in during the winter by opening up south facing curtains and blinds.
• Use window seals or gap fillers to stop any draughts coming in around doors and windows.

Hot Water

• Check your water temperature is set for 65°C. This is the hottest you’ll need it for showers or washing dishes.
• Whenever possible, have a shower instead of a bath. A regular shower uses only one fifth (20%) of the energy of a full bath.
• As soon as the water’s hot, get into the shower. Leaving it running while you get ready lets hot water and energy go down the drain
• Avoid power showers whenever possible as they can use up to 125 litres of water in less than 5 minutes. That’s almost three times as much as a standard shower.

Appliances

• Choose your dishwasher’s ‘eco’ mode or lowest temperature and wait until it’s full to turn it on. If your electricity is cheaper at night, set it on a timer to come on then.
• Choose your washing machine’s ‘eco’ mode or wash at 30°C and wait until it’s full to turn it on. If your electricity is cheaper at night, set it on a timer to come on then.
• Check your fridge freezer temperature. Your fridge should be between 3°C and 5°C and your freezer between -15°C and -18°C.
• Keeping your freezer full uses less energy. If it’s not full of food, you could try filling in the gaps with water bottles, tubs of ice cubes, or even newspaper.
• Defrost your fridge and freezer at least every 6 months to make sure it’s working at its best. There should be less than 5mm of frost build up.
• Say goodbye to standby. Leaving TVs, computers, stereos, games consoles and other appliances on standby uses a lot of electricity over time.
• Boil only as much water as you need in the kettle when making coffee or tea.
• Keep the oven door closed as much as possible, opening it too often can let 20% of the heat escape.
• Make use of residual heat by turning off the oven for the last 10 minutes of cooking time. Once the food is cooked, let the remaining heat into the room by leaving the oven door open.