How to Save Money on Your Energy Bills When You're on Holiday

If you’re going on holiday, then it’s time to start thinking about how you can power down your household and save money on gas and electricity consumption.  Many household appliances don’t need to be plugged in while we’re away, but for some reason we often leave them on anyway.  here are some simple ways to save money on energy bills while you're on holiday.


Turn the Heating Off or Down

The heating is one of the few things that most consumers do consider before going on holiday.  If you’re away during the colder winter months, it’s a good idea to put it on a timer to prevent the risk of pipes from freezing and bursting.  Keep the thermostat down low.  At other times of year you can turn the heating off completely.

Keep Fridges and Freezers at the Right Temperature

Some people wonder if they should turn their fridges and/or freezers off when they go away.  Unless you’re away for an exceptionally long period, however, it’s better to leave them on.  Recommended temperatures are 5 degrees Celsius for fridges and -17 degrees Celsius for freezers.

If your fridge or freezer is particularly old or inefficient, then you may want to consider purchasing a more energy efficient model in the future, as they do consume a fair amount of electricity.


Unplug Appliances

Go through each room in the house and unplug or switch off all the appliances which do not need to be switched on while you’re away.

In the kitchen, this includes small appliances like the microwave (which remains in stand-by mode when not in use), the kettle, coffee maker and toaster, as well as larger appliances like the oven, dishwasher and washing machine (these all have stand-by modes too).

In the living room, unplug the television, DVD player and games consoles.  Together these can use a significant amount of energy over an extended time period.  Computers, laptops, printers and scanners should also be switched off.  Switch off appliances such as the alarm clock and lamps in the bedroom.


Switch Off Lights

Lights shouldn’t be left on permanently while you’re away (this could look suspicious as well as wasting energy and costing a small fortune), but you may want to consider putting some lights on a timer for security.

It’s recommended that you programme lights to come on at least once a day.  Outside motion sensor lights should also be left on.  While saving energy and money is important, safety and security are even more essential.  You can continue to save money when it comes to lighting by switching to low energy bulbs where possible.


Continue to Save Energy and Money When You Come Home

Saving money on energy is great while you’re away on holiday, but why not continue to save when you come back?  It’s the ideal time to look into how you can make savings, both by continuing to unplug household appliances when they aren’t in use, and also by reviewing your energy bills and tariff.  We love Bulb Energy which offers 100% renewable electricity at a fantastic rate.

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