A quick homeowner’s guide to sustainable energy

If you could save money while helping the planet, would you? Wait, don’t answer just yet. Let’s look at how easy it is to switch and why switching to a more sustainable energy lifestyle is a no-brainer.

#1 Get a smart meter installed

A smart meter is a kind of gas and electricity meter that shows you exactly what you’re spending to the last penny, allowing you to take control of your energy use and making the estimated bills a thing of the past. The meters come with an in-home display, giving you real-time usage info, such as kWh use and cost. Besides the huge benefit of making energy bills more accurate, smart meters also help homeowners understand their energy consumption habits. It helps you realise which of your lifestyle choices have the biggest impact on your energy bills, bringing your attention to areas where the biggest improvements can be made.

Moreover, smart meters can offer access to dynamic time-of-use tariffs (electricity tariffs where energy suppliers offer different prices at different times of the day), allowing you to save on your energy bills while also taking pressure off the grid by using energy at off-peak times. Read our blog to learn more about the benefits of time-of-use tariffs.

#2 Switch to a renewable energy company   

Renewable energy, also known as green energy, can be generated in several different ways, including wind, solar and wave power. The main reason why switching to a renewable energy company is good for your bank account and for the planet is that green choices encourage energy suppliers to pay more attention to consumer opinion and reduce their reliance on fossil fuels, as well as helps consumers reduce their carbon footprint and reduce their impact on the environment.

With green companies like Octopus Energy and Good Energy on the horizon, switching to a kinder, greener and most importantly, sustainable energy provider no longer means paying a premium price — these and other companies in the market offer very competitive rates and make green energy affordable. If you go down this route, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that you’re boiling a kettle using sustainable energy sources and reducing your carbon footprint.

#3 Buy more energy-efficient appliances

One more way how to keep your household’s energy bills down and reduce your carbon footprint over time is to use energy-efficient white goods. Everything from tumble dryers to televisions to vacuum cleaners is now required to have an energy efficiency label that highlights the device’s efficiency rating. The more energy-efficient your appliances are, the less energy they will eat over time, helping you to make significant savings. When you’re upgrading your white goods, be sure to pay attention to the energy efficiency labels to pick out appliances that won’t rack up your energy bill.

The energy efficiency rating system has four different “A” ratings, the best of these being “A+++”. Although appliances with the highest grade rating often cost twice as much, there are potentially massive savings to be made over the long run.

#4 Install energy-efficient solutions

Like energy-efficient appliances, the new energy-efficient solutions are designed to help homeowners slash their energy bills and create a more sustainable energy ecosystem in their households. Insulation, double-glazing, new boilers, better lightning — these can all improve your Energy performance rating of the household, which adds value to the home and cuts your energy bill at the same time. You can then get an EPC assessment done by a local DEA and the value of your property will magically increase!

#5 Go solar!

Once you have checked these energy-saving solutions off your list, we recommend you look into solar to add the cherry on top. For an energy-efficient home, generating renewable solar energy means slashing hundreds off your energy bill every year. Once you’ve reduced any electrical leakage caused by inefficient appliances and outdated technology, affordable solar solutions can be installed to power your house at lower costs while also helping you to reduce your carbon pollution. That’s a win-win for you and for the environment.

Interested in the topic? Find out the best ways to implement renewable energy sources in your own home.