01 Jul 2013
Posted by Arwen Foley 
The AA advises homeowners and renters to become more energy efficient to save money on household bills. Setting budgets is ever more important as cash-strapped people make a number of sacrifices.
According to an AA poll of more than 9,550 people, almost 58% said they have struggled to find the funds to pay for their motor fuel, car tax, NCT or motor insurance. A further 24% said they had considered giving up one or more of their household vehicles. “As this recession continues, Irish people are really struggling” says Arwen Foley Media Spokesperson for The AA. “Saving a few Euro here and there can really help; cutting back at home can make all the difference.”
Cutting back is just what Irish people are doing as almost 57% have said they cannot afford to go on holiday this year. When asked in March how they would budget for the Local Property Tax, almost 52% said they would forgo the purchase of new home entertainment equipment, whilst over 46% said they would cut out non-essential household bills such as their digital TV package. More than 48% of respondents said they would forgo home improvements.
“If you want to save money on your household bills then you should think about energy efficiency” says Arwen. “Making a few small changes in your home can really make a difference.” Keep the heat in your house by making sure your windows and doors are sealed properly. A lot of heat also escapes through the roof so it’s worthwhile insulating your attic and repair any broken roof tiles. “We definitely wouldn’t recommend that anyone fix their own roof tiles. It’s a dangerous job and needs to be done by a professional, thankfully with AA Home Rescue, you’re covered.”
Simple changes can save you a lot of money, for example boiler servicing. Boilers can operate for many years without servicing but this can mean higher energy consumption and less reliability. Servicing your boiler can prolong its life, improve efficiency and save on your energy bill. AA Home Rescue offers a yearly boiler service, with a year’s guarantee. A lagging jacket will also reduce energy consumption by retaining the heat.
If you’re looking to save money, don’t settle for estimated bills. Provide a meter reading to your supplier, you can do it on the phone or online. Electric Ireland recommend that you do this within a week of receiving your bill in order to get a more accurate reading. Electricity monitors are also becoming more popular as you can use them to see which appliances drain the most energy. Energy efficiency really does pay off so if you’re in the market for a new fridge, make sure it has a good energy rating. Appliances are rated A to G, A being the most efficient and G the least.
There are of course easier ways to save; buying compact fluorescent light bulbs, switching off lights when they’re not in use and blocking drafts to save on heating. Computers, televisions and games consoles can often drain your energy, even when left on standby, so turn them off if they’re not needed. We all know that we should only use our dishwasher and washing machines if they’re full but simply washing your clothes with cold water can also help you save. Most of the energy consumed by your washing machine is used to heat the water. Another handy tip is to move your fridge away from the stove. The heat means your fridge has to work even harder to keep your food cool and this eats up your electricity.
The AA don’t just rescue cars they rescue homes too. To find out more about AA Home Rescue or to get a quote click here.
