Temperatures are not the only thing rising in the UK recently, the cost of living is too, with the latest forecast showing that the price cap for energy bills is set to rocket to more than £3,000 in October this year.
So, Swift has put together six simple, cost-effective heatwave hacks to stay cool this summer, without breaking the bank.
Close blinds and curtains
If a room receives direct sunlight throughout the day, you should close blinds and curtains even during the daytime when the sun is at its strongest point, as this will help keep outside heat out and trap cool air in. Once the temperatures then drop in the evening, you can open the curtains and windows to allow the room to circulate cooler air.
Or, if you even have the spare cash to make the upgrade, blackout curtains, or dark-coloured fabrics may be worth investing in as these could reduce the heat coming into your home by 24%.
Avoid the oven
During a heatwave is not the time you want to fire up the oven to cook a meal, using your oven will not only just affect your energy bill, but it’ll also unnecessarily heat up your home too.
Avoid this by simply making cool and healthy meals such as salads, or dust off the slow cooker to keep the heat at a minimum, whilst also saving money on your energy bill.
Air dry clothes
According to Energy Saving Trust, us Brits spend a whopping estimated £375 million tumble drying our clothes between June and September each year.
The hot weather is the perfect condition for air drying laundry, simply ditching the tumble dryer will help cut costs, it’s free, and it will also leave your washing smelling fresher!
Switch up your shower
Reduce the number of baths you’re taking and opt for a short, cold shower to cool off, doing this will not only immediately cool you down and feel refreshing, but save you the cost of heating water and reduce unwanted steam which also makes your bathroom hotter.
Limiting your shower time to four minutes could also bring your bills down by £70 a year!
No air con? no problem!
Less than 1% of UK homes have air conditioning, but don’t sweat it! A quick and easy way to convert a standard electric fan into air-con is by positioning a frozen bottle of water or a shallow bowl or pan filled with ice cubes in front of your fan, this will produce a similar cooling breeze like air conditioning.
Switch off devices when you’re not using them
Did you know general electrical appliances generate heat even whilst they’re in standby mode? According to Loop, around 30% of energy in UK homes is wasted each year, adding up to £429 to your annual electrical bill!
So, ensure you switch off any devices at the socket, whether it’s your TV, computer, or games console, to prevent heating up your home and save you cash in the long run.
Claim a tax refund
The average refund from Swift is £2,000 – which could give you peace of mind about your energy bills for the rest of the year.
Enjoy the heatwave with a tax refund, don’t hesitate to get in touch to find out what you could be owed from HMRC, get started today, here
