SO Energy Highlights The Four Important Ways That Residents Can Save Energy In The Spring Season

With energy prices rising, SO Energy has recently been sharing tips - including some suggestions submitted by their customers - on how residents can save energy around the home.

Sunday, 20th March will mark the long-awaited first day of the spring season in the United Kingdom (UK) - and although the warmer temperatures might be a welcome opportunity to switch off the heating and get outside, that doesn’t mean it’s not worth thinking about how efficiently people are using energy.

Key tips to help save on energy use

Whatever the season, there are still small changes that residents can make, in order to reduce their energy use, and save money on power bills.

Listed below are four ways to efficiently use energy and save on power bills:

• Make the most of extra daylight

When the clocks go forward on Sunday 27th March, daylight savings means everyone will be appreciating a bit more natural light. Data suggests that lighting accounts for around 15% of the average household’s electricity bill, so now is a good time to reduce reliance on indoor lighting.

• Get the boiler serviced

The arrival of spring season is a good time to give the boiler a bit of a spring clean - after all, it’s been working hard to keep residents warm throughout the winter months.

Most experts recommend getting the boiler serviced once a year, so as to ensure that it is running safely

Most experts recommend getting the boiler serviced once a year, so as to ensure that it is running safely and efficiently. Not doing so could lead to faults and possibly higher energy bills as well. With heating accounting for over half of energy bill, an efficient boiler can make a big difference.

For residents who have had a boiler for a while, now might also be a good time to think about whether they’re due an upgrade. If that’s the case, it’s worth having a read of this guide to replace the boiler, and for details on how to choose the most efficient boiler for the home.

• Defrost the freezer

While in spring cleaning mode, take the time to defrost the freezer - a job that many put off, but can make a difference to the amount of energy being used. This is because when ice builds up in the freezer, it acts as an insulator, meaning that it has to work harder than it usually would.

Once defrosted, there are other things residents should check too, so as to ensure that this energy-guzzling appliance is running as efficiently as possible. Use this guide as a useful checklist for tips, including cleaning the freezer condenser coils - which can prevent the freezer from cooling properly when dusty - and checking that door seals are working correctly.

• Dry laundry outside

The Energy Saving Trust estimates that not using a tumble dryer could save residents around £30 a year on energy bills. The warmer, dryer days heralded by the arrival of the spring season are an opportunity to dry washing outside, for residents who have access to outside space, such as a garden or balcony.

While looking at laundry habits, also consider washing the clothes at 30°C, if not doing so already. Washing at 30°C uses 38% less energy than washing at 40°C.