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T aking shorter showers, turning the heat off in empty rooms and going easy on the tumble dryer can all help save energy and money

With home-heating costs increasing to a frightening extent, it pays to remain vigilant. Photo: Alexander Raths

We have all been guilty of filling the kettle to the top for one cup of tea, but those days must end. Photo: Stock image

Washing half-loads of clothes is a waste of energy and money. Photo: Stock image

Taoiseach Micheál Martin spoke obliquely about a “demand reduction approach” while Boris Johnson bluntly told people to buy new kettles, but what both were getting at in recent days was the need to use less gas and electricity.

A s the price of power reaches frightening heights, leaders at EU and national level are formulating all kinds of complex financial, legal and policy responses.

But they are also going back to basics, asking households, businesses and the public sector to “reduce their use”, as the Irish campaign is called.

Suddenly, “were you born in a barn” (close the door), “we’re not an airport” (switch off the lights) and “did you turn the immersion off?” (you don’t need that much hot water) are no longer retro t-shirt slogans but mantras for everyday living.

So, what can you do to reduce energy use and clip a few euro off bills?

The simplest rule of thumb to remember is ‘if it’s hot, it costs a lot’.

Any household appliance that creates heat to do its job will be a relatively high-energy user.

That includes obvious items such as radiators and portable heaters, the shower, oven, washing machine, tumble dryer and dishwasher.

But smaller appliances such as the kettle, coffee-maker, hairdryer or straightener, electric towel rail, toaster, toasted sandwich maker and iron can be energy hungry for their size.

We have all been guilty of filling the kettle to the top for one cup of tea, but those days must end. Photo: Stock image

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Basic advice from energy advisers is to use appliances when they’re needed, while they’re needed and only as much as they’re needed.

Don’t run the heating when you’re not at home just because you’ve set it to come on at a particular time each day.

Don’t heat rooms nobody is using and don’t heat all rooms to the same temperature. Some are naturally warmer than others.

Wait until the washing machine is full before you use it, wash at 30C or lower, spot-clean the odd stain if the rest of the garment is clean and if it’s just a freshen up that’s required, try a few hours on the washing line instead of a full suds-and-rinse experience.

Rest the tumble dryer, use only to finish off line-dried clothes.

For cooking small or single meals, use the microwave, toaster or sandwich maker instead of switching on the entire grill.

Beware the kettle. But also beware the claims of ‘energy efficient’ kettle makers.

The UK’s now ex-prime minister’s pronouncement that investing £20 in a new kettle would save £10 a year was quickly refuted by engineers pointing out that while a new kettle might boil more quickly, it uses a higher wattage to do so.

Only boiling as much water as you need each time will help though.

Use fridges and freezers smartly by opening them for the shortest time possible and installing them in a cool place if possible.

Washing half-loads of clothes is a waste of energy and money. Photo: Stock image

Fill gaps in freezers with anything from scrunched up newspaper to plastic containers of water so the machine isn’t repeatedly trying to refreeze warm air that enters when the door opens.

Take shorter showers. Time yourself and then go just a minute shorter. And then maybe another minute.

Use low-energy LED light bulbs, switch off unnecessary lighting, unplug devices once charged and don’t leave gadgets on stand-by.

Avoid peak times – 7am-9am and 5pm-7pm – where possible. If you have a smart meter and time-of-use tariff, you’ll benefit directly from cheaper charges.

Even if you don’t, these are the times when electricity producers burn extra gas to meet the surge in demand.

Spreading the demand across the day should, in theory keep power prices a little lower.

For some people, these measures are nothing new. They are the only way they can hope to keep energy bills manageable.

Many others will be wondering if they’re worth the effort and inconvenience.

It’s true the savings might be only a few cents here and there but even 20 cent a day saved is €73 a year. Shave off 50 cent a day and the saving can rise to €182 in a year.

That's still small in the context of recent bills and the price hikes yet to take effect but, every watt costs and every cent counts.

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