Simple mistake could be adding £300 a year to energy bills – how to fix
THOUSANDS could be wasting hundreds of pounds on energy every year because of one simple mistake.
With the cost of living on the rise, homeowners are on a tight budget for their household bills and essentials.
Dog owners could be paying an extra £300 on top of bills to keep heating and energy on for pets.
Energy bills could rocket by £830 on average this winter, so you won't want to spend more than you need to.
The price of heating, gas and lights could add up to hundreds of pounds extra, .
Dr David Glew, a government adviser on energy efficiency, says it is a recurring problem.
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Leaving the heating on for a dog could add an extra £240 to bills, says Dr Glew.
Another £50 could be added for leaving the lights on for roughly six hours, or £12 with LED bulbs.
Air conditioning could also add on hundreds of pounds if you're not careful.
Of course, exactly how much it's adding to bills depends on the size of your house, how much you pay for electricity and how long you're away for.
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But you shouldn't need to leave the heating on for your pets, according to most vets, because they have enough fur to keep them warm.
Similarly, leaving the air conditioning on would be unnecessary.
Dr Glew, head of energy efficiency and policy at Leeds Beckett University, raised the issue in a talk at Cheltenham Science Festival this month.
He said: "There is no need to leave heating on for pets but if people feel they really must do it, perhaps they could consider only heating the room the dog prefers, or turning down the radiator dial or thermostat."
Research by the Energy Saving Trust in 2015 found 43% of pet owners keep the heating on for them.
How much money do we spend on power?
A spokesperson at Uswitch told The Sun how much money is spent on power consumption for the average day.
For TV, they said: "An average TV with a power consumption of 100W left on for 9.5 hours a day would cost you about 27p a day, or £1.34 a week."
For radio: "Many plug-in radios use very little energy, with power consumption of just 0.7 watts. It would cost a fraction of a penny per day, and just 1p to leave on for 47.5 hours a week."
For lights: "The average house has just over 11 light bulbs of various types consuming 230W in total. This adds up to 62p a day, or £3 a week.
"In the summer, people will be home from work before it gets dark so it would not be necessary to leave the lights on.
"However, in the winter some pet owners might want to leave the lights on all day.
"One way to save money would be to get a plug with a timer, so the light only comes on at a set time rather than being left on for hours when it is not needed.
And for heating: "“Temperatures can drop significantly in the winter months, so pet owners may want to keep the heating on for their animals.
"To save money, you could use a thermostat so the heating only comes on if the temperature in the house dips below the programmed number.
"You could also keep radiators switched on in certain rooms, or programmed to come on at certain times of day so it is not left on for the whole day while you are at work.”
How can I save money on bills?
There are plenty more ways to keep those bills down.
With the price cap set to rise to £2,800 in October, you'll be looking for as many hacks as possible.
For example, switch off or unplug any unused appliances around the house, like bill saver Naz Yucel-Ozseker.
You can also keep a sharper eye on mortgage increases or other bill schemes that might save you from spending too much at once.
If you're struggling, there are payment schemes you could be eligible for here.
And there's also the Household Support Fund which lends extra money for bills and essentials if you're scraping by.
Eligibility and offers vary per council constituency though, so double check your to see what's available.
More ways to save if you're a pet owner
There are plenty of tips and tricks to help you keep costs down, especially if you own a pet.
Your four-legged friend isn't cheap after all - PDSA estimates the average dog costs almost £31,000 over its lifetime.
Some key hacks to cutting down costs include:
- Buying second-hand toys, beds and blankets - and are both great ways to find the perfect bargain
- Teaching yourself to groom which could save you up to £43 a year
- Buying food in bulks - that way if you spot a deal, you can buy everything you need at a discounted price
- Making your own treats - it could cost roughly £10 just for one bag of treats. You can find which show you what to do.
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As always, if you're struggling to stay afloat and don't know what to do at the moment, you can always get in touch with these organisations who can lend a helping hand for the time being:
- - 0808 808 4000
- - 0800 138 1111
- - 0808 800 9060