Looking after your wallet and the planet sometimes means cutting down on the amount of energy you consume. There have been thousands of innovative inventions and smart repurposing of everyday objects over the years that aim to save energy. Here are some of the most prevalent.

Double Glazing

Double glazing first became popular in the 1930s. These days around 85 percent of UK households are fitted with some kind of double or triple glazing. Double glazing works by wedging a layer of nonconductive gas in between two or more layers of glass. A huge decrease in the necessary energy expenditure of a home is common when double glazing is installed: better insulation means that houses take less energy to heat up. Similarly, secondary glazing (you might find some of the Best Secondary Glazing in London here) helps homeowners save energy and improve on sound-proofing qualities of their home. In cities like London, the government might help owners with funding if one decides to go for such a treatment for the windows in their house. The UK government will help to fund some double-glazinginstallation jobs as part of a warm homes scheme. Find out if you qualify for double glazing funding by reaching out to alocal installer.

Solar Panels

Solar panels – made up of solar cells – produce Direct Current electricity by converting sunlight. They are a great source of renewable energy and can help cut your reliance on fossil fuel burning energy providers. Under relatively new UK legislation, you may be entitled to some money for any unused energy you produce using solar panels attached to your home.

LED Lightbulbs

LED lightbulbs are now standard issue in the United Kingdom. They use far less energy and last a great deal longer than their antiquated filament bulb ancestors.

A Brick

A simple brick might be one of the most useful energy saving tools out there. Simply place a brick into your toilet cistern to save money on water bills. Water takes a great deal of energy to filter and transport, so by saving it you are having a knock-on effect on your carbon footprint. If you use a brick, make sure to wrap it in a plastic bag. Brick fragments will do no good to your plumbing.

Smart Meters

Sometimes the easiest way to change your energy wasting ways is to know exactly how and when you are wasting energy in the first place. Smart meters ensure you are able to see exactly how much is being used by what machines. By telling you exactly how and when you are using energy, a smart meter empowers you to make small changes that will save you a great deal of money in the long term. In the UK smart meters are not considered to be a standard element of a new energy contract, but are definitely useful.

Smart Sockets

Most devices will still draw a small amount of electricity when they are on standby. This might be a minute amount, but it makes a big difference when you have lots of devices on standby over time. Smart sockets are placed between your devices and conventional outlets. They either reduce or completely eliminate electricity use when your devices are on standby mode. They don’t cost the world and they can save you money on your energy bills in the long run.