Hints & Tips at UniversityWe all want to do our bit. Safety, sustainability and energy efficiency are important to us all. Sometimes it’s the little things that can make a big difference, particularly when we act collectively. Here are some top tips to help students at university or college. |
Thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) only limit the maximum temperature areas reach. It is a common misconception that they change how quickly an area heats up. Don’t turn them up thinking the room will heat up quicker.
Use a microwave. Generally a microwave oven is the most efficient way to heat up and cook food.
Group shops are worth the effort! Whether you shop online or go to the supermarket together, buying food and other household items together can be a money-saver and a bit of a bonding experience. It can also reduce waste and saving on multiple deliveries will reduce your carbon footprint too. Afterall, how many loaves of bread do you need in you flat?
Make sure your radiators are clear so they can heat the space efficiently. Curtains or furniture can easily block them.
Switch off radiators in any rooms you are not using regularly and keep internal doors shut to save energy.
Think before your print. Reducing the amount of material you print has a long list of benefits including saving paper, chemicals and electricity. More and more offices and industries are going paper free, so think about how you can reduce any printing you do.
Using lids on your pans when cooking will save energy and help heat the contents quicker.
A dripping tap can waste at least 5,500 litres of water a year. If this is hot water you’re also wasting the energy used to heat it. Get leaking taps fixed promptly.
Make sure your pans fully cover the rings on your hob to use all of the heat being provided. Use the right sized ring for the pan you are heating.
Spending one minute less in the shower each day will save up to £8 a year off your energy bills, per person. With a water meter this could save a further £11 off annual water and sewerage bills. If everyone in a four-person household did this it would lead to a total saving of £75 a year.