Top 5 energy saving gadgets
December has never been a thrifty month, but the rising price of day-to-day energy bills is threatening to push some families’ finances over the edge. There are plenty of cost-cutting methods you can adopt to keep bills low, such as turning down the thermostat a couple of degrees, insulating your home, and reducing your usage. Businesses are also aware that people are trying to use less energy – and the market is becoming flooded with ‘eco’ products. But which work and which don’t and what will actually save you money? Here’s our pick of the best…
1. Energy Monitor
Energy monitors start at around £25 and, although they don’t actually save any energy themselves, they are one of the best products to invest in at the moment. That’s because they track how much energy you use and how much it’s costing you. They can be a great way of understanding your personal energy consumption, and through a trial and error approach, you can find a way of cutting back that works for you. Changing your habits is the best way to save energy - hence why this is such a good gadget.
2. The Radiator Booster
This white telescopic tube may not look like much, but the small fan blows hot air out from behind the radiator, and back into the room. By doing this it improves the circulation of heat in the room, which means you could leave the radiator on for much shorter periods of time. Not bad for 20 quid.
3. Automatic Radiator Bleeder
It would be cheaper to bleed your radiators on a regular basis, but if you find it a ‘chore’ or your radiators become blocked very regularly, then this £10 gadget is a good idea. When radiators aren’t regularly bled the efficiency decreases despite the fact that the amount of heat being pumped out by the boiler doesn’t change - so you actually lose heat. The Automatic Bleeder releases the built up air without you having to do anything - meaning your radiators will always be on top form.
4. Energy Saving Light Bulbs
The classic ideas never let you down - energy saving light bulbs have been around for a while now, and they are still a good idea. Consumer Body Which? estimate the bulbs will save you around £45 per year.
5. Enviro-Plug
We all know that you should unplug phones when they are charged - but it really is easier said than done, isn’t it? That’s where enviro-plug comes in - plug it into a socket and it will detect when your battery is full, and shut off the power supply. If you’re forgetful, it’s worth £10.
Just remember - a little gadget will rarely change your life, and even though everything we’ve mentioned is a good investment, it’s also important to change your habits too.
