Many common energy-saving tips are actually myths. Here are five that could be costing you more than they save.
Leaving the heating on low all day saves money
This is one of the most expensive myths. Keeping your heating on all day, even at a low temperature, uses far more energy than heating your home only when you need it. The most efficient approach is to set your thermostat to come on when you wake up and when you get home, and turn it off when you are out or asleep.
Painting radiators black makes them more efficient
The colour of your radiator makes almost no difference to its efficiency. Radiators work by heating the air around them, and the small amount of heat radiated is not significantly affected by paint colour. Instead, focus on putting reflector panels behind radiators on external walls to stop heat escaping through the wall.
Leaving appliances on standby uses no energy
Standby power, sometimes called vampire draw, can account for up to 10% of your electricity bill. Devices like TVs, games consoles, and microwaves continue to draw power even when not in use. Turn them off at the wall or use a smart plug to cut the power completely.
Cranking the thermostat up heats the room faster
Your heating system works at the same rate regardless of the target temperature. Setting the thermostat to 30 degrees will not warm the room any faster than setting it to 21, but it will overshoot and waste energy if you forget to turn it back down. Set it to your desired temperature and let it do its job.
Hand-washing dishes is cheaper than a dishwasher
Modern dishwashers are surprisingly efficient. An Energy Star-certified dishwasher uses about 3 gallons of water per load, while hand-washing the same amount of dishes can use up to 20 gallons. To maximise savings, only run the dishwasher when it is full and use the eco setting.
