Latest news with #EnergySavingTrust
BBC News
a day ago
- Health
- BBC News
How to keep your yourself and your home cool in hot weather
When temperatures soar, here are six simple things you can do to keep your home and yourself cool. 1. Let in cool air and encourage air flow Open windows on opposite sides of the house to encourage air flow - releasing trapped warm air and allowing in cooler this when the air temperature outside is cooler than inside, which tends to be overnight or in the early part of the day. In flats which have windows on one side only, open doors and use a fan to encourage air rises within houses, so if you have loft vents or windows you can open them to release some of the hot air can otherwise get trapped on the second floor, where you may be trying to sleep. Extra insulation can also help keep heat out in the summer, as well as reducing your energy bills and usage in the winter. 2. Keep warmer air out during the day In the heat of the day it is best to keep your windows shut and blinds or curtains closed - especially on the side of your home where the sun is shining. 3. Use a fan to enhance the breeze Fans are a relatively cheap and energy efficient way to keep air moving and can help you stay a freestanding fan for a 24-hour period typically costs between 15p and 31p, according to the latest guidance from the Energy Saving the fan in front of an open window can encourage the fresh air from outside to be blown throughout the room - as long as it is cooler ice cubes in front of the fan can cool the air being blown in your direction. You can use more than one fan to create a cross current. Prof Mike Tipton of the University of Portsmouth says it is important to understand how the body works. "Fanning the face improves thermal comfort most, but fanning the whole body helps lower body temperature more," he he warns that using a fan when temperatures are above 35C may make things worse, as you are ultimately just directing hot air towards your conditioning is a much more expensive option than using fans. The Energy Saving Trust says 24 hours of continuous use costs between £4.84 – £6. 4. Limit hot activities Ovens and cookers emit a lot of heat into the home during and after their to cold foods such as salads - especially during the hottest times of the day - can stop unnecessary heat being appliances, such as washing machines and dishwashers, can also produce heat so try not to use them when it is hottest. Heat exhaustion can also be brought on by high humidity - moisture in the air - so it is worth reducing humidity levels by:taking shorter and colder showerswiping excess water from surfacesmoving indoor plants outside 5. Cool yourself down Tepid showers can help to cool your body temperature, saving both money and energy. But Prof Tipton warns not to go too cold: "The trick is to try and get the skin as cool as possible whilst maintaining maximum blood flow to it."Too cold and the body will shut down blood to the skin and trap the heat in the body making it harder to get out."Putting an ice pack or cold-water bottle on your body can achieve an instant feeling of relief. You may want to wrap it in a towel to avoid direct contact with your clothes can also really affect your body temperature. Natural fibres like cotton and linen help to regulate body temperature and loose-fitting clothing allows room for the breeze to cool you is also why cotton bed sheets can help you sleep when hot air fills a room. 6. Find an alternative space Air-conditioned public buildings such as libraries, leisure centres and shopping centres can also provide relief if your home is too local authorities have created a network of so-called "cool spaces" where the public can go, including London, Manchester and simple ways cities can adapt to heatwaves
The Sun
11-06-2025
- General
- The Sun
The key mistakes you're making with your fan and it could be costing you £111 a year
KEEPING your home cool in the summer months can be a bit of a challenge. Many households turn to gadgets to help keep their pad feeling comfortable when temperatures are rising but beware as these can add a lot of money to energy bills. 1 The typical cost of running a fan is relatively low, no matter whether you opt for a bladeless model or more traditional style portable fan. For 24 hours of continuous use, you'd expect to pay between 3p and 7p through energy costs, according to the Energy Saving Trust. Even if you continuously used a fan over June, July and August it would add, at most, around £6 to an energy bill. However, with hotter weather more people are opting for air conditioning units. These appliances circulate air around the room in a similar way to a fan - but also remove heat from the room. Air con units are far more expensive to run than fans - typically 20 times as much, according to the EST. You're looking at paying up to £1.30 for 24 hours of continuous use. Over the course of a month that would be around £39 and over the summer months, £117. There are some easy ways to make sure you're getting the most out of a fan to keep your home cool so you can avoid other pricier gadgets, according to consumer group Which?. Here are the mistakes to avoid... Forgetting the ice Your fan can help cool a room faster if there is ice of cold water placed in front of it. To make this trick work best, you want a bowl filled to the top with ice and the fan blowing air directly on to it. This will make your fan feel a little more like an air conditioner without the added cost. Location, location, location If it's cooler outside, placing your fan next to a window will help draw in colder air helping to bring down the temperature in your home. This could work especially well in evenings when it's usually colder outside. Make sure it's facing the room and leave the window open. If you have another window in the room and another spare fan, you could further help push air out of the room by facing it out of the window. This will help create a crosswind in the room. Pre-running a fan Some may think that having a fan on in your bedroom before bedtime could be a good way to cool a room. But in reality you're wasting energy as a fan only creates a breeze which feels cooling rather than lowering the temperature. It's not a good idea to leave a fan running when you're out or not in a room either from a safety aspect. Not cleaning up Get the vacuum out to suck up dust and dirt in a room before turning on your fan. The gadget will blow air as well as dust and pollen particles around the room. This can aggravate allergies. If you're using your fan for the first time this year, it's worth giving it a clean. Follow the manufacturer instructions and clean blades gently if you're able to. It's a good idea to store your fan in a box or bag during cooler months to stop them gathering dust. Choosing the wrong fan As the name suggests, desk fans are usually best placed on a desk or table. They will then help you feel cool if you're working next to it. These gadgets are not too powerful and won't create a really strong breeze. So unless you're sat at the table, opt for a pedestal or tower fan which is designed to reach a larger distance in the room. How to save money on summer essentials SUNNIER days and warmer weather will leave many of us wanting to kit out gardens and outdoor areas. Sun Savers Editor Lana Clements explains how to get a great deal on summer essentials… It pays to know how to bag big savings on the likes of hot tubs paddling pools, egg chairs and outside bars. Many retailers have flash sales across entire ranges – often this ties into payday at the end of the month or Bank Holiday weekends. Sign up to the mailing lists of your favourite brands and you'll be first to know of special offers. It can be worth following retailers on social media too. Keep a close eye on the specialbuys at Aldi and middle of Lidl drops which drop a couple of times a week and usually mean great value seasonal items such as beach gear and paddling pools. If you are not in a hurry to buy an item, try adding it to the shopping cart and leaving it for a couple of days. Sometimes big brands will try to tempt you into the sale by offering you a discount. Always check if you can get cashback before paying. It's especially worth using sites such as Topcashback, Quidco and app Jamdoughnut when buying bigger ticket items such as garden furniture as you'll get a nice kickback.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Call for recruitment to support solar panel drive
A solar panel company has called for a recruitment drive to support a government announcement for mandatory panels on the the majority of new-build homes from 2027. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said the move was "just common sense" and solar panels would save the typical household £500 a year on energy bills. The regulations will require developers to add panels unless the buildings fall under certain exemptions such as being covered by shade. Terry Hayward, managing director of Solar Select in Droitwich, said the move could lead to issues with getting skilled labour in place. He said: "In 2027 companies will gear up for it and start their own in-house training, but obviously it helps if it's government-backed for apprenticeship schemes." He also said it was important the buildings had a "sensible amount" of panels fitted. "I'm sure the industry will welcome this move," he said. "What we'd like to also see is a sensible amount of panels put on there." Solar panels, or photovoltaics, capture the sun's energy and convert it into electricity to use in your home. According to the Energy Saving Trust, domestic solar panels are generally about 3.5kWp (kilowatt peak) - meaning they typically generate that much power at peak conditions. The government said the new rules would be included in the Future Homes Standard published in the autumn but there would be a transitional period for developers to adjust to the regulation changes. North Herefordshire's Green Party MP Ellie Chowns said she was glad the "government had seen sense" on making solar panels mandatory but was also cautious. "We should be making sure they're properly insulated, we should be making sure they're flood resilient, and [that they're] prevented from overheating," she added. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Most new build homes must have solar panels - Miliband Energy Saving Trust
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Call for recruitment to support solar panel drive
A solar panel company has called for a recruitment drive to support a government announcement for mandatory panels on the the majority of new-build homes from 2027. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said the move was "just common sense" and solar panels would save the typical household £500 a year on energy bills. The regulations will require developers to add panels unless the buildings fall under certain exemptions such as being covered by shade. Terry Hayward, managing director of Solar Select in Droitwich, said the move could lead to issues with getting skilled labour in place. He said: "In 2027 companies will gear up for it and start their own in-house training, but obviously it helps if it's government-backed for apprenticeship schemes." He also said it was important the buildings had a "sensible amount" of panels fitted. "I'm sure the industry will welcome this move," he said. "What we'd like to also see is a sensible amount of panels put on there." Solar panels, or photovoltaics, capture the sun's energy and convert it into electricity to use in your home. According to the Energy Saving Trust, domestic solar panels are generally about 3.5kWp (kilowatt peak) - meaning they typically generate that much power at peak conditions. The government said the new rules would be included in the Future Homes Standard published in the autumn but there would be a transitional period for developers to adjust to the regulation changes. North Herefordshire's Green Party MP Ellie Chowns said she was glad the "government had seen sense" on making solar panels mandatory but was also cautious. "We should be making sure they're properly insulated, we should be making sure they're flood resilient, and [that they're] prevented from overheating," she added. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Most new build homes must have solar panels - Miliband Energy Saving Trust
Scottish Sun
03-06-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Four tips to keep the cost of popular appliances down in the summertime
Scroll down to save £83 on a skincare set SUN SAVERS Four tips to keep the cost of popular appliances down in the summertime WARMER temperatures and lighter days mean energy bills typically dip over the summer months. But some popular seasonal appliances can be pricey to run if you're not careful. Advertisement Here's how to make sure costs stay in check at this time of year . . . HOT TUB: More people are buying inflatable hot tubs to enjoy in their back garden. But these luxury items can have a big cost, burning up to £700 in energy a year. If you have one, it's important to invest in good insulation. Advertisement Bringing down the water temperature slightly can also help keep a lid on your outlay. AIR CON: Soaring temperatures can make your home sticky and uncomfortable. Portable air-conditioning units offer relief but are expensive to run. These appliances are 20 times dearer to run than a typical freestanding fan, according to the Energy Saving Trust. Advertisement Evaporative air coolers use far less energy than air-con units if you want to invest in a gadget. Or try closing your curtains on hot sunny days to stop the sun creating a greenhouse effect. Expert's warning over common barbecue myths that pose 'dangerous health risk' as Brits' grilling blunders revealed You could also place a bowl of ice in front of a fan to help cool down a room. And open windows a crack at night to let in a cooling breeze. Advertisement BBQ: If you're a grilling enthusiast, and frequently firing up the barbecue you might want to invest in a gas or electric model. It's generally cheaper to run an electric barbecue than a gas model, says Currys, because the electric version uses less energy to warm up the grill and at full heat. PATIO HEATER: Summer evenings can get cool and you might think a patio heater is the solution. But these appliances are energy-hungry, adding extra pounds to your power bills. Advertisement Instead, load up on blankets and consider lighting a portable fire-pit on chillier evenings. All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability. 7 We have four tips to make sure your energy bills stay down in the summertime Credit: Getty Deal of the day 7 This Fresh Faced Favourites skincare set is £29.99, from Boots Credit: supplied SECURE glowing skin with this Fresh Faced Favourites skincare set, £29.99, from Boots. Advertisement The bundle – worth £112.99 – features SPF essentials, cleansers and serums from brands including The Inkey List and Pixi. SAVE: £83 Cheap treat 7 This Emmi caffe latte is £1.85 from Tesco Credit: supplied GET a sweet caffeine hit on the go with this Emmi caffe latte, £1.85, from Tesco. Advertisement What's new? TGI Fridays has launched a breakfast menu, available now at 22 locations, with dishes starting at £5. Top swap 7 This Skims T-shirt will set you back £46 Credit: supplied 7 This similar one is just £12.99 at Next Credit: supplied THIS Skims' T-shirt is a staple from the shapewear brand. It's £46 from Selfridges. Advertisement Or you could try H&M's fitted microfibre T-shirt £12.99. SAVE: £33.01 Little helper STAY on top of your to-do list with these pink sticky memos, £1.50 from Flying Tiger. Shop & save 7 These ballet pumps are now £16 at Office Credit: supplied THESE ballet pumps are a versatile addition for any wardrobe and are down from £29.99 to £16 at Office. Advertisement SAVE: £13.99 Hot right now NAB the perfect Father's Day gift with Calvin Klein Obsession EDT. It has an RRP of £68 but is £20 online only at PLAY NOW TO WIN £200 7 Join thousands of readers taking part in The Sun Raffle Advertisement JOIN thousands of readers taking part in The Sun Raffle. Every month we're giving away £100 to 250 lucky readers - whether you're saving up or just in need of some extra cash, The Sun could have you covered. Every Sun Savers code entered equals one Raffle ticket. The more codes you enter, the more tickets you'll earn and the more chance you will have of winning!
