Summer has arrived and the last thing on our minds is energy usage. The central heating is turned off, the long evenings mean we’re not switching on our lights and we’ve swapped cooking on the hob or in the oven for the BBQ. However, does a warm Summer actually reduce our energy costs?
It’s worth planning ahead
Even if you use no gas or electricity, you are still going to incur standing charges. This is the amount per day a consumer pays to continue to be connected to their supplier. The Energy Price Cap dictates the maximum a utility company can charge a customer on a standard variable tariff for their standing charge as well as the rate per unit of energy. These rates change every 6 months (April and October) and the summer Energy Price Cap is lower than the winter one as households typically use less energy during this period. This can be a good time to look at fixing your energy tariffs; by switching to a fixed rate you can avoid the increase in energy prices when the rates rise in the winter.
The summer months are also a good time to get on top of any energy debt you may have accrued. It’s more cost effective to pay energy bills by direct debit, not only will you be eligible for a discount via this payment method, but you will also spread the cost of your bills evenly across the year, avoiding unexpected bills. There are lots of resources available for those experiencing fuel debt, including specialised advice from organisations such as IncomeMax, Citizens Advice and Step Change. Most utility companies offer support funds to help customers pay off their fuel debts, some also offer support with replacing large household appliances, supplying alternative heat sources and even waiving standing charges in some circumstances.
Lowering the cost of keeping cool
Keeping cool in the warmer months can be a challenge but it’s important to ensure that in doing so we’re not accidentally costing ourselves more in the long run. There’s nothing better than a nice cold drink on a hot day and adding ice or keeping the drinks container in the fridge is a great way to cool down. However, every time you open your fridge or freezer the cold air from inside escapes and is replaced with warm air. This then means your fridge or freezer uses more energy to get back to temperature. Opening a fridge for just 5 minutes can increase the internal temperature by up to 3 degrees and it can take a few hours for the temperature to return to normal. This is why it’s also important to ensure the seals on your appliances are effective, if they are worn or have perished, your fridge or freezer will continually be using additional energy to keep the temperature down, fighting against the warm air which is seeping in. Keeping your fridge and freezer well stocked will also help maintain the internal temperature, however over filling effects air circulation which will lead to variable temperatures across the appliance. If you’ve emptied your freezer for a planned holiday, you can fill it up with sandwich bags or Tupperware filled with water to help reduce energy use.
Advice about air-conditioning
Air-conditioning units are not a standard appliance found in many UK homes. Portable ones are available from shops, but they are significantly less energy efficient than the purpose-built ones. They work by drawing in warm air, which is then cooled by the device before being pushed back out into the room being cooled, they will be more effective in smaller spaces. The most effective type has a hose which must be placed out of an open window but unless you can seal the area around where the ventilation pipe leaves the room, most of the hot air will return to where it is being expelled from. The basic physics of heat mean that hot air will always move to where it is cooler, so unless you can block the hot air from coming back in, it may prove to be a futile exercise. The devices themselves also emit a lot of heat when in operation and can often be counterproductive to cooling a room.
10 tips for keeping cool without breaking the bank!
Instead of buying expensive air-con units here are our top 10 cost saving tips for keeping yourself cool (some if which may also save you money on your energy bills):
- Open windows overnight and first thing in the morning, ensure they are all shut with curtains closed before the sun gets too high.
- Wear loose fitting, cotton clothing
- Refrain from excessive physical activity or exercise during the heat of the day, the best time to exercise is first thing in the morning when its coolest.
- Keep hydrated – dehydration can cause dizziness, nausea and fainting. Ensuring you keep up your hydration levels is important as it’s easy to become dehydrated when it’s hot, children and older people areare especially at risk.
- Stay out of the sun – when outside sit in the shade, wear a hat and at the hottest point of the day (11am-3pm) try to stay indoors.
- Avoid alcohol – alcohol dehydrates the body and puts you at greater risk of the effects of dehydration
- Take a cool shower or bath – cooling your whole body before bed can aid in a better night’s sleep
- Turn off any unnecessary appliances – all appliances that use energy emit a level of heat, by turning these off you will stop them contributing to the overall temperature of your home.
- Use a fan – at night a fan placed in front of an open window helps to being the cooler air in from outside and during the day a plate/bowl of ice or cold water placed in front of the fan helps cool the air that is circulating
- Place your feet in a bowl of cool water – sitting with your feet in cool water while working or watching tv cools your blood as it passes through the feet, lowering your overall body temperature. You can also run your wrists under cool water to aid with a quick cool down.
