Reduce Your Use - Classic Gold Home Energy Advice
Tom Halpin, Head of Communications at SEAI, shares his 'Top Five Energy Saving Classics' to reduce your energy use at home.
We all have our own sentimental musical catalogue that brings us back to our school days, when we were following or even setting the latest musical trends. Those songs bring us back, everything seems familiar. And in our opinion, they have never, and will never be improved on.
In some ways energy efficiency advice is the same. When I first joined SEAI in 1995, known as the Irish Energy Centre back then, I was amazed at how familiar the staples of home energy conservation were. My childhood memories of my parents saying things like “Turn off the lights. Who left the immersion on? Do you have to shower for so long?” all came flooding back to me!
Energy related CO2 accounts for over half of all emissions in Ireland so cutting back and changing our behaviour with regards energy use is absolutely critical to saving our planet.
Energy Efficiency - It's Common Sense
Of course, our parents were primarily motivated by energy cost savings, in what were definitely more hard-pressed times. Today, because of the war in Ukraine, we have our own energy price crisis. But our motivations for energy saving are now two-fold – we must reduce our reliance on imported fossil fuels from far flung regions and we must consider how we can all contribute to collective climate action. Energy related CO2 accounts for over half of all emissions in Ireland so cutting back and changing our behaviour with regards energy use is absolutely critical to saving our planet.
For some this may feel overwhelming. We are being asked to do so many things, and it’s hard to know where to start. However, what I want to tell you is that energy efficiency is common sense and makes common sense. Take your parents advice; avoid using energy whenever you can, and if you must use it, use it as sparingly as possible.
[Oh, and give U2 “With or without you” a listen, you won’t be disappointed]
My Top Five Energy Saving Classics
Kicking off at number five:
#5. Avoid using your car for short journeys, and if you must drive, try driving at lower speeds where safe and practicable.
#4. Appliances hold their spot at number four – if it makes things hot, it uses a lot of electricity. Use your washing machine and dishwasher on full load, lower temperatures and eco settings if available.
#3. At number three – reduce your shower time to save energy and water. (Perhaps sing your favourite chart hit to keep your shower under five minutes).
#2. Holding on to the number two slot – use a timer on your home heating and your immersion to make sure they are only on when you need them.
#1. And still at number one, for the 27th year running, the old classic – reduce your home temperature to a comfortable 19°C, making sure to stay warm and well.
SEAI's Home Energy Plan
We will send you regular emails with advice for home heating, electricity and appliances, and travelling. You can implement the advice at your own pace, learning how to break the bad habits we all have, save significant amounts of energy along the way, and reduce your energy bills.