Top 10 Energy Saving Tips

Top Tips• Turning your thermostat down 1ºc could reduce your heating bills by up to 10% saving a typical Primary School approximately £1,250 a year (consider woolly jumper days)
• Always turn off lights when leaving a room (ideally use natural daylight whenever possible it is better for your health and is free!)
• Replace your light bulbs with the energy saving recommended type. Each one can reduce your lighting costs by around £40 over the lifetime of the bulb and they last around 10 times longer than ordinary bulbs
• Unplug electronics, battery chargers and other equipment when not in use. Taken together these small items can use as much power as a refrigerator
• Keep doors and windows closed while heating is used, together with closing blinds and draft stripping on any gaps or openings
• Switch computers off when not in use and activate the built in power saving software. Remember a screen saver is not a power saver
• Do not leave equipment on stand by mode. They continue to use up to 70% of normal power consumptions at no use. The digital clock on a microwave uses more electricity than that used to cook so switch off when not in use
• Purchase energy star qualified appliances and equipment. Laptops can use up to 90% less energy than bigger desktop models
• Ensure radiators are not blocked with furniture; avoid heating unused spaces such as corridors and storerooms (these should be heated to a lower temperature). Make sure that changes on building occupation hours are updated with the controls.
• A building management system could save up to £1,000 per annum with a payback of between 3 to 5 years dependant on individual circumstances. Funding for the installation of a Building Management System (BMS) is available from the Salix Fund, contact either: -
Mike Knox – Energy Manager
Claire Bell – Salix Funding

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