Say Goodbye to '˜standby'

Power NI, Northern Ireland’s leading electricity provider has announced a 10.3% price reduction and their new handy list of energy saving tips will help households reduce bills further.

“A shocking £28m is wasted in electricity bills across Northern Ireland each year. This simple list will help equip customers take basic steps to prevent unnecessary costs,” says Kerstie Forsyth, Power NI.

“Standby buttons are a real menace in the home. Saying goodbye to standby and other energy wise habits can have a really positive impact on customer bills.

“Another simple and effective measure is proper insulation. Almost 50% of all heat lost in an average home is via the roof space and walls. Through proper insulation and topping up your existing insulation you can save up to £265 a year on home heating bills.”

Encouraging households to say goodbye to standby Mr Storey MLA said: “The simple fact is that most homes are not performing as well as they should be so energy will be wasted and money lost. By acting now you can save more of your hard earned cash.”

Power NI Energy Checklist

By installing cavity wall and loft insulation you can save up to £265 off your energy bill. Eligible households can get up to £400 off insulation – see www.powerni.co.uk/insulation for full terms.

A regularly serviced boiler will make sure it is working at its best – not only is it safer, but it will help to extend the life of your boiler and improve the efficiency of your central heating system helping you save money on your energy bills. Heating accounts for almost 60% of annual energy bills.

Spread the cost of your electricity into smaller monthly payments and save up to £40 per annum by paying by monthly direct debit or up to £60 savings if you switch to online paperless billing.

Look out for energy labels that show how efficient new appliances are. Buying an ‘A’ rated appliance, for example, costs approximately £35 less per year to run than ‘E’ rated ones.

Invest in energy saving light bulbs. They use 80% less electricity, last 10 times longer and typically save around £3 per year.

Defrost your freezer frequently and check the door seals. If possible, keep the freezer in a cool room or garage

Use a lid on saucepans where possible, as the contents heat up faster and use less energy

Turn the room thermostat down by 1 degree – it could save you around £30 a year on heating costs

If you’re using the oven, try to bake a few meals at the same time. This reduces the amount of energy you use and it also gets you organised for future meals.

Don’t leave devices such as microwaves, TVs, mobile phone chargers or game consoles on standby – they can use up to £100 worth of electricity a year. Typical standby costs in the home;

Appliance kWh per year Cost per year Microwave 61.32kWh £9.38 Cooker 43.8kWh £6.70 TV 43.8kWh £6.70 Mobile phone charger 52.56kWh £8.04 Washing machine 17.52kWh £2.68 Computer 87.6kWh £13.41