5 Ways You Could Save On Your Energy Bills*

*This is a collaborative post*

According to Money Super Market, the average household spends over £1,200 a year just heating and powering their home. If you've followed GirlGoneDreamer for a while then you'll no doubt know that I'm all about saving money so today's post I'm looking at how we can all reduce our energy bills. I'm sure that the majority of us would love to be that little bit better off, and even if it's only saving a few pounds a month, over a twelve month period the pounds will surely mount up.

1. Make The Switch To CFL And LED Bulbs

Switching to compact fluorescent lamps or light emitting diode bulbs will save you money on your electricity bill as they have a longer life than traditional incandescent light bulbs. If like me you're also highly environmentally conscious and want to reduce energy consumption, opt for LED bulbs as they'll last even longer than CFLs.

2. Unplug Electrical Appliances That Aren't In Use

It sounds obvious and yet how many of us leave the TV on standby mode or phone chargers plugged in? Leaving electrical devices or appliances plugged in - even if they're turned off - can actually still draw a small amount of electricity. I recently read an article about a family who reduced their bill from $200 to $135 just by unplugging appliances. Another blogger, Tiffany, tried this tactic and in one month she saved 26% off her electricity bill. In addition, as and when you need to replace household items, look at buying energy efficient appliances.

3. Turn Off The Lights As You Leave A Room

This isn't always the rule of thumb and will be dependent on which bulbs you use. If you're still using incandescent or halogen bulbs then you should definitely switch them off when you don't need them. However, when it comes to energy efficient bulbs such as compact fluorescent lamps, energy.gov recommends that you only switch them off if you're going to be out of a room for more than fifteen minutes as switching them on and off frequently can actually reduce their operating life. Interestingly, the life of an LED bulb is unaffected by this.

4. Switch Your Energy Provider

It's definitely worth considering a switch in energy provider as this could save you a substantial amount of money. Bear in mind that you don't necessarily have to have the same supplier for both your gas and electric. If it will save you money then do choose separate providers for each.

Business Utility Services also known as B.U.S or The Energy Bus, are a leading UK specialist energy consultancy covering both business and residential needs. They work with many energy providers including household names; British Gas, E.ON, EDF Energy, Scottish Power, Npower and SSE. Nine out of ten people who use the B.U.S energy comparison service will save money on their gas and electricity bills. Why not use their free gas and electricity comparison today to see how much you can save?

Businesses who use B.U.S services can expect a reduction in their energy costs and environmental impact plus ongoing energy management.

5. Wash Clothes Wisely

According to Energy Saving Trust, if you reduce your washing machine use by just one cycle per week then you can save an extra £5 per year on energy. In addition, washing clothing at thirty degrees will use around forty percent less energy than when you wash at a higher temperature. You can buy detergents that are designed for washing clothes at a lower temperature and many do claim to still kill germs. However, the NHS Choices website advises that all underwear, towels and household linen should still be washed at sixty degrees to prevent the spreading of germs.

Another useful tool to maximize your savings is to utilize a service like Outfox the Market. They offer an alternative to the major energy companies with a more environmental service and quality customer care. It's worth checking out both their fixed-rate and variable-rate tariffs to see if it will keep money in your pocketbook.

Why not try implementing some of the above ideas to see if you can reduce your energy bill and save yourself some money?

*Photos via Pexels and Pixabay