ARE YOU LOOKING for some helpful tips to save energy and money? We’ve got you covered with simple ways to keep a more energy efficient home that promotes sustainable living as well as being good for the environment and saving money. Never has it been more crucial for us to be mindful of our surroundings, the environment, and the way in which we consume energy. The amount of information available can sometimes be overwhelming, but our aim is to simplify matters and make the entire process of going green easy with the help of the An Post Green Hub.  With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of simple steps you can take to ensure you have an energy efficient home as we head into the winter months and save a bit of cash along the way!

• Manage your water consumption – Reducing your water footprint is an easy way to reduce the energy being used in the home. According to the SEAI, approximately 25% of all of our energy use comes from within the home. Ways that you can reduce consumption can be as simple and effective as taking shorter showers, or not boiling the whole kettle for one cup of tea (we all do it), but the impact is massive. Low-flow showerheads are also all the rage, they help reduce your water consumption without even realising it! Saving you cash while you bathe. 

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• Check your time – Electricity is at the highest demand between 7-9am in the morning and 5-7pm in the evening. As these are the peak production times, and subsequently peak cost times, it’s typically the worst time to use electricity, try to plan your laundry/shower times outside of these peak times for a more energy efficient home. The good news is, lots of appliances on the market now come with delay timers, so you can schedule your electricity usage around peak times. 
• Switch to LED light bulbs – Speaking of no-brainers, are you aware of how much energy traditional light bulbs use? It’s not worth thinking about so, we won’t talk about it. The good news is, there is a solution. LED light bulbs use up to 85% less electricity than traditional light bulbs and 95% of that energy is converted to light with only 5% wasted as heat.

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• Turn your thermostat down – Did you know that turning your thermostat down by just 1% can save you 10% on your overall energy bill? According to Electric Ireland the average usage of 4200 kWh electricity a year will result in an annual bill of €2177 (from Oct 1st 2022), so we’re all looking for ways to bring that down. Once you’ve adjusted, set timers to ensure they stay consistent, it’s perfectly acceptable for it to be cooler in the hallways and bedrooms then living areas, so utilise that and save some cash! 
• Think about your phone charging – Let’s face it, we’re all glued to our devices, and many of us – without thinking – pop them on charge for the entire night. You guessed it, this isn’t eco-friendly, no devices should be left plugged in for the entire night. A practical tip would be to charge your device for an hour right before bed, but then make sure to unplug. Also, think about investing in a solar power bank rather than relying on an outlet. Solar power banks store generated energy in built-in batteries, so you can charge devices even when there’s no sun… which is perfect for Irish life!

Another great piece of advice is checking out the Green Hub from An Post to help you with your home energy upgrade. You can schedule a free home assessment through the Green Hub from An Post. They’ll help you through all the steps, including your home upgrade project and even helping to arrange grants. With the An Post Green Hub, you can enjoy a warmer more cost efficient home, with zero hassle! A no-brainer.

Check out the video below for more information on ways to become more energy efficient in the home.

If you’re looking for further information, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland are currently working with homeowners, businesses, communities and government to transform how we think about, generate and use energy. Check out their website for more. 

Over the next few weeks we’ll be covering a multitude of sustainability topics with An Post. For more information on how you can make your home energy efficient visit the An Post Green Hub.