If you are one of the many residents in the UK who think that their bills are rising, you would be right. Both gas and electricity bills have been rising consistently over the last 15 years.
This increase in price can exert huge amounts of financial pressure on households and businesses that already have large overheads. According to recent reports, these costs are only set to continue soaring; however, you can manage the cost of your electricity with the help of a professional electrical contractor.
Electrical contractors can provide you with the advice, installations, and repairs you need to keep your electricity bills manageable. These services can also ensure that you remain as energy-efficient and environmentally friendly as possible. With environmental responsibility ever more important, we all must do our bit to reduce our impact on the environment.
To give you a helping hand, we’ve created a brief guide on how electrical companies like us at Interlink Lighting & Electrical can give you the tools you need to save money and help the planet.
Electrical contractors can perform an energy assessment on your home
Before knowing precisely how to reduce electricity bills, it’s an idea to have an electrical contractor perform an energy assessment on your property. Also known as an ‘energy audit’, these surveys provide you with detailed information about how much energy you consume. This information can then be used to help you understand how to reduce that consumption.
Energy assessments involve several examinations of the energy function of your property. These include both the structure and the form of energy employed. An auditor may look at the building from the outside to examine the windows and walls as well as the source of energy you’re using. This will help you understand whether you need to improve your insulation, replace windows or begin using a different boiler. You may also get some information on whether your electrical appliances need updating to save you some money.
Electrical contractors can replace your incandescent bulb fittings
Very few appliances waste energy quite like incandescent bulbs. Although incandescent bulbs are cheaper per bulb than either fluorescent or LED lights, they will cost you significantly more in the long run. A typical incandescent bulb will last for around 1,000 hours of light. Although this sounds like a lot at face value, other bulbs can last for a lot longer.
The main concern regarding incandescent bulbs is that they convert huge amounts of the energy they consume into heat rather than light. In fact, as much as 90% of all of the energy an incandescent bulb uses is converted into heat. Only 10% of the energy consumed is transmitted into light. This makes incandescent light bulbs highly inefficient. Both fluorescent and LED light bulbs do a significantly better job of converting energy into light rather than heat.
Similarly, fluorescent lights will last for around 10,000 hours rather than just 1,000. LED lights last even longer, for between 20,000 and 50,000.
In some cases, you will be able to replace all of the light fittings in your home with either fluorescent or LED lights by yourself; however, it’s always worth contacting an electrical contractor to receive some expert advice on the best course of action. Doing so can make your home far more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly.
Have your electrical contractor install dimmers for your lights
In addition to changing the type of bulbs you use, having an electrical contractor install dimmer switches at your home can also help you save money on your bills. LED lights lend themselves very well to dimmer switches, as they are much easier to control than other bulb types.
Using a dimmer switch can help you extend the life of your bulbs, as they will use less energy to power. By extending the lifespan of bulbs, you’ll be spending less on replacements. You will also shave a little off of your electricity consumption.
Electrical companies can advise on energy-saving appliances
Many professional electrical contractors will be more than happy to provide you with advice and recommendations on energy-saving appliances. From new refrigerators and washing machines to showers and dishwashers, you can find an energy-saving product for almost every appliance. Over time, these appliances can save you a significant amount on your bills and ensure your home is as environmentally friendly as possible.
Seeking advice from your local electrical contractor will help you get the low-down on which appliances can save you the most money and what to look for when shopping.
Save your electrical contractor the hassle by reducing phantom energy
A simple way of saving money on your bills without calling an electrical contractor is to be more aware of phantom energy. Also known as vampire power, phantom energy is the energy that is consumed by leaving electrical appliances plugged into the mains when they’re not in use. Leaving appliances on standby still uses electricity. By leaving phone chargers or TVs plugged in when they’re not in use, you’re wasting valuable energy and needlessly increasing your bills.
Even though you might only use your TV for a few hours a day, it will still be using energy for the remaining time it’s plugged in. Some studies suggest that more than 20% of a household’s energy is wasted through phantom power. Simply keeping an eye on what you leave plugged in can help you reduce your electricity usage and, therefore, reduce your bills.
Change your habits to reduce energy consumption
In addition to being more aware of your phantom power, simply changing some habits can reduce your energy bills. For example, ensuring that lights are turned off when you leave a room and drying your clothes in the garden rather than the tumble dryer can save you a significant amount.
Have electrical contractors identify faulty appliances with a PAT test and replace
Faulty appliances may be using more energy than they should be. If you’re concerned that your business or home has some faulty appliances, you should have them PAT tested by a professional electrician. In addition to ensuring your appliances are safe for use, this can identify appliances that should be replaced. Replacing a faulty appliance may end up saving you money on your bills.
Are you looking for an electrical contractor in Glasgow? Look no further than Interlink Lighting & Electrical
Interlink Lighting & Electrical is a highly recommended electrical contractor based in Glasgow. Whether you require domestic or commercial electrical contractors, you can rest assured that we can complete the job at hand to a high standard and safely and securely.
We provide the residents and businesses of Scotland with a wide variety of lighting advice, as well as installation services and repairs. If disaster has struck and you’re in desperate need of an emergency electrical contractor, we’re on hand to help, too.
We understand that homeowners and businesses are increasingly looking for energy-efficient products and services. That is why we tailor our services to ensure that you use as little electricity as possible as a result of our installations. To help you achieve your environmental target, we can perform an energy assessment and then advise on the best energy-saving products available for installation.
To find out more, please feel free to contact us today. You can find us at 114 St Andrews Road, Glasgow G41 1PF. Alternatively, call us at 0141 429 1254 or email us at info@interlinklighting.co.uk.
