Ahead of Energy Saving Week (19-25 January), Northumbrian Water is encouraging households across the North East to take simple steps that can help save water, energy, and money.
With around 20% of an average energy bill spent on heating water, the company is reminding customers that reducing hot water use is one of the simplest ways to lower household costs while also helping the environment.
Its top tips include:
- Take shorter showers – Cutting your shower by just one minute can save up to 10 litres of water and reduce the energy used to heat it.
- Only boil what you need – When making a cup of tea, only boil the amount of water you need to save on your energy bills. If you’re cooking vegetables, use just enough to cover them.
- Wash clothes at 30 degrees – Running your washing machine half empty uses the same amount of water and electricity, so save up your clothes for a full load. If things aren’t very dirty, lowering the temperature to 30°C and running on eco mode can cut energy use.
- Use a dishwasher – Instead of running the hot tap, run a full load in the dishwasher on its eco-setting. Waiting until it’s full can also help you reduce your use by one run each week.
- Fix dripping taps – A single dripping tap can waste over 5,000 litres of water a year, costing money and energy.
Emma Bedding, Water Demand Strategy Manager, at Northumbrian Water, said: “Energy Saving Week is a great reminder that by using less hot water, households can reduce their energy bills and help protect our environment.
“Small changes really do add up and if they’re on a water meter, it will help them save money on their water bill too.
“Water is a precious resource and it’s important we use it wisely.”
For more tips, visit www.nwl.co.uk/savewater. For anyone worrying about paying their water bill, visit www.nwl.co.uk/bill-help