Witney News - Save energy and cut your bills

Save energy and cut your bills

Energy meters to measure home electricity usage are now available for residents to loan out from West Oxfordshire District Council.

The energy monitors can be borrowed, free of charge, to record how much electricity different home appliances use and their associated running costs.

Cllr David Harvey, Cabinet Member for the Environment said, “The monitors are a very practical way of showing how much energy is being used in the home. They can lead to a significant reduction in energy in the home helping to save money and carbon emissions.”

Monitors are available from the Council’s Town Centre Shop, 3 Welch Way, Witney from Monday 2nd August. A small deposit of £10 is required and this is paid back on return of the whole meter. The Council has a supply of 10 meters and these will be loaned out on a first come, first served basis for a loan period of up to a month.

Although the monitors are easy to use, council staff are on hand to advise residents and signpost people to support agencies and energy providers, should they want to know more about energy saving and how to generate their own energy.

Below are some simple energy saving tips:
* Always turn your lights off when you leave the room
* Change your light bulbs to energy-efficient ones – they use less energy than normal light bulbs and last much longer
* Fill the washing machine or dish-washer – one full load uses less energy than two half loads
* Also remember to set the washing machine on 30 degrees Celsius
* Dry clothes on the line rather than in the dryer –one load can cost between 30p and 70p to dry in a machine
* Don’t leave electrical appliances on ‘standby’ – turn them off completely at the switch in the wall
* Don’t overfill the kettle – only boil what’s needed

For more information about saving energy visit: www.westoxon.gov.uk/energy. For information about generating your own energy, visit www.energysavingtrust.org.uk.