To use less energy at home has a few negative associations to it. Those visits to your grandparents during winter who refuses to turn on the heater, freezing evenings in layers of clothes and old blankets, and when you finally get to shower and drench yourself in warm, water, you hear a sharp knock on the door after five minutes.

We all know that wasting water is a terrible habit, and carelessly using electricity is something only children do; yet, it would be nice to be warm. Enjoy the sun while you have it and prepare for miniature electricity bills this autumn with these brilliant tips – it doesn’t have to feel cold or stingy at all.

The Airflow

In the summer you’re too warm, and in the winter you’re too cold – but it doesn’t have to be like this. A small apartment will keep the air flowing on its own, while a larger one often struggles with maintaining the same temperature in each room. It’s a good idea to close the doors of the rooms you’re not using; that way, you’ll be able to heat up or cool down the room you’d want to be in without having to waste electricity on the rest.

However, if you have a large family – or a small one that likes to spend time in separate rooms, you can try to control the airflow with a fan. Heat rises and will try to escape through the highest point in the room; by positioning the fan correctly, you can continue to spread the warm air and keep it from disappearing into the coldness outside.

Now that it’s summer, you can turn the same principle around to promote a cool airflow through your house by helping the heat upwards. Fans are cost-effective and practical, especially so when you can decide where the heat goes. Read more here on how to keep your home cool in the summer.

The Appliances

Most modern appliances don’t have especially high energy costs; keep an eye out for any outdated ones you have standing around, however, as these might cost you more than you think. Have a walk around the house and see if any of them could use an update – replacing them with a modern one might cost a bit initially, but it will save you money in the long-run.

Make sure you read up on how to dispose of your electronic appliances, by the way; this complete guide to electronics recycling should have everything you need to know. That way, you don’t contribute to the electronic waste problem the world is currently dealing with.

Some of your appliances might cost you more than you think, though, and modern video game systems are usually the worst of them all – together with your television and desktop computers you never turn of. The best way to handle this is to simply switch it off whenever they’re not in use, as you should always do in any way.

Try to do your laundry in the evening as well, as some utility companies can make your energy bills lower when you do it during non-peak hours. It’s a good idea to call your power company to ask if they offer this and when exactly the discounted hours are.