10 Energy Saving Tips for

Edinburgh Tenants

We all know that it is important to use less energy and reduce our carbon footprint. As a tenant it can be easy to assume that taking action to reduce your energy usage is the responsibility of your landlord, however, there are many easy and cost-effective steps that tenants can take, without altering the fabric of the building.

Renting can be expensive, we have put together our 10 top energy saving tips, which can easily be implemented by tenants, helping to reduce energy use and keep utility costs down.

1. Draught proof

Even a small draught can make a room significantly colder, so closing the gaps around windows and doors can make a big difference to the inside temperature of the property, allowing the heating to be turned down.

• Place draught excluders placed along the bottom of doors, especially external doors.
• Keep all internal doors closed.
• Keep keyholes covered, especially those that are older and not in use.
• Close curtains at night.

It is important not to assume that your landlord is aware of draughts and has chosen not to act, it may be the case that your landlord or letting agent is simply not aware of the issue.

2. Switch appliances off

From televisions to games consoles and phone chargers, many of us are guilty of leaving appliances on standby when we are not using them. Appliances still use electricity when on standby and, although using less than they would when turned on, it can add up over time.

3 Choose a cooler wash

Heating up water accounts for almost 90% of the energy used by your washing machine. Choosing a cooler 30 degrees wash means that you can significantly reduce the amount of energy used for each cycle.

4 Wait before switching on the dishwasher

If you only have a few dishes, either wash them in the sink or wait until you have more before using the dishwasher to avoid wasting energy.

5 Turn your heating down

We all know that it can get chilly in Edinburgh, even during summer months, however, turning down your thermostat by just 1 degree can save up to £60 on your annual energy bill. Try turning the heating down and wearing layers instead.

6 Defrost your freezer

Defrosting your freezer helps it work more efficiently, and therefore uses less energy. Also check the temperature of your fridge and freezer, the optimum temperature for efficient operation is not necessarily the lowest temperature.

7 Use energy saving light bulbs

Gone are the days that using energy saving lightbulbs means stumbling around in the dark. LED energy saving bulbs give off the same light as traditional bulbs but can help to slash your energy bills. LED bulbs can have a life span of up to 20 years, so you shouldn’t have to change them often, especially if you only light rooms that are in use. Keeping bulbs and fixtures clean also helps to generate more light.

8 Keep your oven door clean

This may seem insignificant but keeping the oven door clean means that you can check on your food cooking without opening the door, saving on lost heat. Similarly, cooking with lids on saucepans means that less energy will be used to cook the same amount of food.

9 Open curtains during the day

Even in the colder winter months, leaving curtains open during the day can help to keep the room warm by allowing sunlight in.

10 Remove lint from the tumble dryer

If you use a tumble dryer you should clean the lint filter regularly. A dryer works by moving heated air through wet clothes, if the filter is blocked it will not be able to heat the air or move it through the clothes as efficiently, taking longer to dry and using more energy.