Environment and planning
Building control
Energy - efficiency advice and assessment
Welcome To Wirral
Energy – easy ways to save
Buying Energy Efficient Goods
If the appliance you are looking to buy doesn't have the energy efficiency logo then it will start wasting energy the minute you plug it in. The logo can be found on lightbulbs, light fittings, refrigeration products, laundry and dishwashing appliances and electric cookers. The EU Energy label rates appliances from A (the most efficient) to G (the least efficient).
Energy efficient products reduce energy wastage, save money on bills and help the environment.. What's more, an energy efficient product doesn't necessarily cost any more to buy than its energy-wasting cousins.
Products that display an Energy Saving Recommended certification mark meet or exceed specified energy efficiency requirements backed by the Government. It shows that the product you're looking for will save energy, cost less to run and help the environment.
Make a record of your electricity and gas meter readings on a weekly or monthly basis. Comparing one period with another can indicate savings that have been made from carrying out a certain measure. Taking electricity readings last thing at night and first thing in the morning can highlight appliances that have been left on unnecessarily.
Curtains: Close your curtains at dusk to stop heat escaping through the windows.
Lights: Always turn them off when you leave a room and adjust your curtains or blinds to let in as much light as possible during the day.
Televisions, videos, stereos, computers, cordless and mobile telephones: To cut down on wasted energy, avoid leaving appliances on standby and remember not to leave them on charge unnecessarily.
Fridges: Don’t leave the door open for longer than necessary, as cold air will escape. Avoid putting hot or warm food straight into the fridge; allow it to cool down first. Defrost your fridge regularly to keep it running efficiently and cheaply. If it tends to frost up quickly, check the door seal.
Washing machines and tumble dryers: Always wash a full load and if you can’t, use a half-load or economy programme if your machine has one. Always use the low temperature programme bearing in mind that modern washing powders will be just as effective at lower temperatures. Don’t put really wet clothes into a tumble dryer; wring them out or spin-dry them first. It’s much faster and it will save you money.
Pots and pans: Choose the right size pan for the food and cooker, and keep lids on when cooking. With gas, the flames only need to heat the bottom of the pan. Don’t use more water than you need because it doesn’t only waste energy, it also spoils food.
Kettles: Heat the amount of water you really need and if you’re using an electric kettle, make sure you cover the elements. Jug-type kettles need less water as they have smaller elements.
Lightbulbs: If you use a particular light for an average of four hours or more a day, then replace it with an energy-saving equivalent – which will use around a quarter of the electricity and last up to 12 times longer. Energy efficient bulbs cost around £1- £3 each, but will give you a saving on your bills of £10 over the year. BUT remember, energy efficient bulbs do not work with electronic sensors, dimmers and timers.