Energy Savings Ignored By Consumers

EnergyChoices.co.uk found that even though more than 80 per cent of people compare energy prices at least once a year, 21.5 per cent say that they have never switched energy supplier, despite potential savings of over £200.

Switching energy supplier is one of the easiest ways to free up spare cash, and according to Ofgem, the energy regulator, 2.8 million households made the switch in the first seven months of this year alone.

Thinking of the financial savings you can make by switching appliances off at the wall rather than leaving them on standby, using energy saving light bulbs, and even switching to a money-saving online tariff, should make it easier to change your routine
But it's not just by energy switching that people can cut the cost of their bills. While the vast majority are aware of the benefits of loft insulation, double glazing and cavity wall insulation, with 90.1 per cent, 93.9 per cent and 54.1 per cent installing them respectively, other cheaper methods are often ignored.

Very simple ways of saving, such as using energy saving light bulbs -- which last 12 times longer than traditional bulbs -- or fitting a water meter in homes which are under-occupied -- which 27 per cent are, are being overlooked.

Although the average person uses between 11 and 15 light bulbs throughout their home, 32 per cent of people only had 1 to 5 energy efficient bulbs fitted and nearly 10 per cent didn't use any at all.

According to Green Peace, £9 a year could be saved on every traditional bulb that's replaced - so by making up that shortfall of 10 bulbs, the average person could instantly shave £90 a year off their electricity bill.

Michael Phillips, EnergyChoices.co.uk product director, says: "We all know that we need to reduce our energy consumption to help the environment but it can be difficult to change long-standing practices."

"Thinking of the financial savings you can make by switching appliances off at the wall rather than leaving them on standby, using energy saving light bulbs, and even switching to a money-saving online tariff, should make it easier to change your routine," he advises.

"As well as the smaller steps everyone can take to save -- such as turning your thermostat down just one degree, which saves up to £49 a year -- there are also some very big savings to be made," adds Phillips. "Anyone whose boiler is more than 10 years should start to think about having it replaced with a new energy efficient condensing boiler. These can be up to 96 per cent efficient and will cut your energy bill by up to 40 per cent straight away.

"However, 32 per cent of people have a boiler older than 10 years, and 50 per cent of which still aren't using condensing boilers, despite some older models being little more than 55 per cent efficient - wasting more than £200 a year," concludes Phillips.

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