As gas prices rise through the roof, employing energy saving tips at home has never been more important. Because acts as simple as leaving your phone on standby, or overfilling the kettle, could be costing you hundreds of pounds a year.
Research from the Citizens Advice and the Energy Saving Trust has revealed that a third of households have not made any effort to reduce their energy use in recent years.
However, just incorporating a few energy savings hacks into your routine won’t just keep your house warm in winter, it could help households make real savings. That’s not to mention the bonus of helping the UK to reach its target of net zero emissions by 2050.
‘If every household in Britain made just a handful of energy-saving changes, the combined impact could make a big difference to our finances and the environment,’ explains Laura McGradie, head of consumer advice at Energy Saving Trust.
If you are stuck in your ways, or not sure where to start saving money on your home energy usage, these small changes could make a big difference.
Image credit: Future PLC
Flicking your thermostat dial down from 25 to 24 degrees could save households across the UK £800 million.
Another myth busted is that it’s cheaper to have the heating on low all the time. Apparently, 46 per cent of us believe it to be true but it’s not. According to the Energy Saving Trust again, you can make £150 per year by using a thermostat to regulate the temperature.
Image credit: Simon Whitmore
You don’t exactly need to have a lightbulb moment to know that switching to efficient LED bulbs can save you money. But did you know just how much you could claw back?
According to Phil Spencer, you could save up to £240 on bills. Npower agrees, but puts the estimate at a more conservative £35 per year.
If all households swapped to LED light bulbs – or better yet, smart lighting and bulbs that are easy to switch on and off from your phone – it could save £230 million a year. It would also help cut down on 430,000 tonnes of carbon emissions a year.
Image credit: Dominic Blackmore
If you see that red light blinking on the TV, tell yourself and the family “stop leaving it on standby”. Turning all appliances off properly at the wall switch could save households across the UK £690 million.
And it will prevent 1.3 million tonnes of carbon emissions being released.
Image credit: Colin Poole
Time for a cuppa? Stop filling the kettle up to the brim – and don’t be one of the 23 per cent that re-boils the kettle. Boiling more water than necessary each time could set you back £36 a year, based on calculations from the Energy Saving Trust.
Overfilling the kettle is the biggest drain on the nation’s wallet. If we all only boiled the right amount of water it would save £1.1billion!
The Energy Saving Trust has estimated that acting on just these first four energy saving tips alone could save each household £100 a year. The total carbon savings would be the equivalent of taking three million cars off the road.
Image credit: Richard Gadsby
Make sure you put the lid on saucepans so your food cooks quicker, and turn off the heat on the stove a few minutes before you’re ready. Don’t worry, things will keep cooking under the residual heat, and this will save energy little and often.
Finally, make sure you always match the size of the cooking ring to the size of the saucepan, to avoid wasting energy by heating the air.
Image credit: David Giles
Next, a clever shower room idea. According to npower, four in five of us (81 per cent) believe showers use less water than baths. Yet your power shower could be drenching you with 50 litres of water more than you’d put a bath.
The Energy Saving Trust predicts that a water-efficient shower head could save a household up to £195 a year. And one minute less in the shower could save you up to £80 annually.
Modern shower heads use current-limiting technology to save up to 40 per cent water usage, while showering under normal water pressure. So if you’re sick of the drip, drip, drip from your old, limescale encrusted shower head, now’s the time to ditch it. This will cost you around £20-£40, but will save you in the long run.
As part of a government scheme all energy supplies now install smart meters, at no extra cost, to help you keep track on what you are spending.
Monitoring your daily household usage will help your be mindful of energy consumption – helping reduce how much we use and therefore costs.
If you’re on a waiting list and need a quick fix to start reading your usage, you can buy independent readers. There’s an initial outlay, but you’ll soon start saving because of it.
Image credit: James Gardiner
Why waste the central heating you’re paying good money for? Keep cold draughts out of the house and save on heating bills. A simple draught excluder is a quick, cost-effective way to tackle unwanted winter chills from doors and windows.
Thermal lines curtains are another affordable money-saving system, keeping the heat in so you don’t need to crank up the thermostat.
While a smart utility room is a luxury we’d all love, there can be hidden costs – particularly if you’ve installed a tumble dryer. On rainy washdays, it can guzzle plenty of energy while tumbling towels and sheets to fluffy and soft perfection. But did you know a tumble dryer ball can help?
The ingenious balls create space between the laundry, airing them and helping reduce the time needed in the dryer.
Image credit: Everhot
Combining a stove or range cooker with a boiler means you can have a smart appliance on show that can heat the whole house. Traditional range cookers can heat hot water for the kitchen and bathroom and run the radiators, while providing the kitchen with heat.
A boiler stove provides hot water and can run radiators, and works best in conjunction with other heating systems.
Image credit: Future
Not feeling the benefit of your central heating system? You could be wasting money. Check your radiators are in good working order. If the top of a radiator feels cooler than the bottom then it probably needs bleeding to get rid of trapped air.
Learning how to bleed a radiator is surprisingly easy and the whole process only takes 10 minutes.
Image credit: David Parmiter
It may seem illogical, but it takes a lot more energy to keep an empty fridge cold than a full one. that’s why Location, Location, Location star Phil Spencer recommends you fill yours up with bottles of water.
You can pick one up for a pound or two but you’ll make back the invest meant easily. That’s because, although almost one in five of us (18 per cent) think a running tap uses less water when washing up, you could save up to £25 on your water bill by investing in a bowl.
And of course, you’re not paying to heat that extra water, you’ll save on your energy bills, too.
Image credit: Future PLC/ Jo Henderson
Another of Phil Spencer’s genius energy saving tips is to paint walls with a satin or semi-gloss paint rather than a gloss as it will reflect the heat better. This will keep a room warmer – but will only save you money if you’re planning to redecorate, regardless.
‘Reducing household energy consumption and the monthly cost of energy is incredibly important to homes up and down the country, who are feeling the pinch’ says Chris Gardner, Head of Home and Garden Trading at eBay.
‘Even the smallest swaps can make an impact on reducing the cost of energy for all of us. Ebay offers plenty of options, for as little as under £10, to choose from.’
Will you be making any of these simple swaps?
The post Energy saving tips for the home that will lower your bills appeared first on Ideal Home.
Floating shelves are a sleek and simple storage solution. Their no-fuss design means that unsightly shelf brackets and nails are hidden, which works particularly well for modern, minimalist or contemporary schemes. Plus, you can use them anywhere in your home, whether floor space is a premium or you have a ton of room to work with. Floating shelves can also double as bedside tables or dressing tables in some cases, for a clever (and budget-friendly) solution.
Most floating shelf designs are available in different lengths and widths, making them a fuss-free option to hang above alcoves and furniture. Some people use floating shelves atop a radiator to double as storage, or, you could use a floating shelf inside a hallway to double as a console table. See, the possibilities are endless. Plus, storage shelves come in a variety of finishes from glossy white to matt grey and natural wood, as well as a mix of materials, to ensure you’ll find something to suit your taste.
Searching for more storage inspiration? See our storage solutions for small spaces guide
Whether you’re after chunky wood shelving for a striking statement, or you’re in favour of a sleek, plain design, whatever the room you are decorating you’ll be inspired by the Ideal Home pick of the top floating shelves. They’re worth charging your drill for…
Image credit: Dunelm
Looking for an oak floating shelf? Don’t want to spend an arm and a leg? This is the one you need. It’s easy to fit and light in colour so as to subtly carry your clutter. It’s also made of wood, and it would be great for a kids bedroom – or your home office. It can hold anything from books to candles and plants, all while boasting a minimalist look. The wood is also textured for extra effect. This floating shelf is available in three different lengths – 60cm, 80cm and 120cm – plus, it starts at the very reasonable price tag of £12.
Buy now: Oak Floating Shelf, £12 – £20, Dunelm
Image credit: Habitat
We’re big fans of this grey floating shelf from Habitat – whether your home is flurried with grey furniture and decor or not, it’ll blend right in. It boasts a glossy finish for a modern look, and to make them look shiny and new. This shelf is said to be easy to assemble, plus each Jak shelf has a weight limit of 8kg. For collectables and more…
Buy now: Habitat Jak 80cm Floating Shelf, £18, Habitat
Image credit: Mack + Milo
Two shelves come included in this set, for the ultimate space-savvy – and budget-friendly – storage solution. Each shelf boasts three areas to hold anything from books to plants and more, whilst they are uniquely shaped so as to add something different to your walls. Display them together or in separate rooms, and maximise your storage space using just a few screws. They come in your choice of white, anthracite, burgundy, mustard or turqouise and they are made from sturdy manufactured wood. With a 14kg weight capacity each, they ought to stand the test of time in your bedroom, living room or even home office.
Buy now: Mack + Milo Floating Shelf, £36.99 for both, Wayfair
Image credit: Umbra
Available in your choice of black or white, these mini floating shelves are perfect for perching one item atop. Whether that be a trophy, a photo frame with a memorable moment inside or a plant you are proud of. Display them together for a clean, modern look, and play around with them to place them wherever you like on your wall. Three shelves come in one pack, and each one can hold up to 1.1kg. With a glossy finish, they are made of MDF with a sturdy stainless steel mounting frame.
Buy now: Umbra Showcase Floating Shelves, £15 for all three, John Lewis & Partners
Image credit: Chill House Ltd
This small business on Etsy sells the most gorgeous solid wood floating shelves. They’re chunky, too, with a wax finish, plus you can choose from a range of finishes to complement your home decor. From antique pine to natural oak, dark oak, Tudor oak, teak or walnut. This way, you can tailor your new floating shelf to blend in with your other wooden furniture – or wooden flooring. If you are in search of a high-quality floating shelf, then this is it. The best part? They use some of the world’s finest pine to create your shelf, that’s sourced from sustainable sawmills from across Europe. All shelves have a depth of 22cm whilst you can select a length from 40 to 200cm.
Buy now: Chill House Ltd Rustic Floating Shelf, from £25, Etsy
Image credit: IKEA
How could we curate a list of the best floating shelves without including IKEA’s trusty LACK option? Everyone in the country has probably owned one of these floating shelves at some point in their life, and it’s a good job too: they are sturdy, budget-friendly and all-around brilliant. They come in your choice of white, black-brown, oak effect, white stained oak effect or white gloss. No brackets are necessary for this shelf, obviously, whilst it’s made using fibreboard with a particleboard frame and a 100% recycled honeycomb paper filling. A clear acrylic lacquer gives each shelf a soft finish. You can buy LACK shelves in a range of sizes, from 30cm in length to 190cm. LACK shelves are 26cm in depth.
Buy now: LACK Wall Shelf, from £5, IKEA
Image credit: Kartell
The artistic and flexible Bookworm Shelf is made from highly durable plastics. With sections for separating and storing your items neatly, this shelf can be warped into any shape you like, whether a spiral or a squiggly line. How does it work? Bookends are dotted across the shelf to hold your items in place – or to place your items atop. It’ll certainly make a statement, whether used to hold books or the kids cuddly toys, and you can choose between five colourways. These include striking red or cobalt blue, modern aluminium or matt white, or go for black for a bold effect. This shelf can impressively enough hold up to 10kg on each support. It comes in three sizes, with the smallest size boasting 7 bookends, the next with 11 and the largest has a whopping 17 bookends.
Buy now: Kartell Bookworm Shelf, from £303, Heal’s
Image credit: The Oak & Rope Company
Engraved with the words of your choice, ‘My favourite plants’, ‘Jude’s toys’ or even a memorable quote, this personalised floating shelf is certainly unique. Its design makes a stunning way to display your photographs or art, too. You can choose for it to be hollowed out or as per a normal shelf all on one level, whilst it’s eco-friendly and made of solid oak. Not just that but look at the thickness – impressive! It comes with special floating shelf brackets and is 110cm in length as standard. Though bespoke orders are welcome…
Buy now: The Oak & Rope Company Personalised Oak Floating Shelf, £275, Not on the High Street
The post Shopping Edit – 8 space-savvy floating shelves for modern homes appeared first on Ideal Home.
