| Managing student loans is not easy when you have | | | | colder, harsher light than a normal bulb? If so, be |
| bills to pay. We want to try and help students across | | | | prepared to think again. There are now more reasons |
| the UK to reduce energy bills so that they come out | | | | than ever to buy energy saving lightbulbs. |
| of university with less student debt. Our tips below | | | | The savings: |
| can help to save students hundreds of pounds: | | | | Depending on how long your lights are in use every |
| 1) Students can save money on gas and electricity | | | | day, just one energy saving lightbulb could save you |
| bills by switching providers | | | | up to £7 and 26 kilograms of CO2 a year. |
| We've created a 100% impartial energy search | | | | Also because it will last up to 10 times longer than a |
| engine which allows you to compare the prices of all | | | | standard bulb, it could save you around £60 |
| gas and electricity suppliers and find the very best | | | | before it needs replacing. These days, the average |
| deal for your student house. By using a energy | | | | price of an energy saving bulb is only £3 a |
| search tool all students are able to find the best deal | | | | bulb, so you'll usually recoup the extra outlay within a |
| on the market - it's easier than speaking with each | | | | year! |
| provider and trying to get a quote. | | | | 5) Turn things off! It sounds pretty obvious but you |
| 2) By buying an electricity meter which shows you | | | | can reduce your bills dramatically by turning things off. |
| how much electricity you are using all students can | | | | For example turn off any unnecessary lights, turn off |
| directly see how much money is being spent on | | | | your TV and computer fully (not just putting it on |
| energy. This lets you know what you should be | | | | standby but COMPLETELY off!), turning off your |
| turning off to save some cash! | | | | heating in your room if you go home for the |
| 3) Wear more clothes! By wearing a jumper around | | | | weekend and turning off the tap while you're |
| your halls or house you can cut down on your | | | | brushing your teeth. |
| heating bill. You should also make sure you turn down | | | | Leaving appliances on standby uses so much |
| the heating when you go home for the holidays (but | | | | electricity for doing nothing apart from lighting a little |
| make sure you don't let the pipes freeze over | | | | red LED light - save yourself some cash and get into |
| Christmas!) | | | | the habit of hitting those 'power' buttons. |
| 4) You can save cash on your energy bills by using | | | | 6) Use 'economy' cycles. Most dishwashers, washing |
| energy saving bulbs. Energy saving bulbs use up to | | | | machines and tumble dryers have 'economy' cycles, |
| 80 per cent less electricity than a standard bulb, but | | | | which basically means that they use less electricity |
| produce the same amount of light. In other words, | | | | when this option is selected. In your student house |
| they can help you to save money and energy, all in | | | | you should always make sure that you stuff them |
| one wise purchase. And by saving energy, you'll be | | | | full - fill the dishwasher completely and stuff that |
| helping to fight climate change too. Technology's | | | | washing machine so that you do less loads, and |
| moved on a lot since energy saving lightbulbs were | | | | therefore use less energy. You should then select the |
| first invented, and so has the way they look. In your | | | | 'economy' cycle to save even more energy. This will |
| mind's eye think of an energy saving bulb, does it | | | | help to reduce your electricity costs - especially if all |
| look bulky and oddly shaped? Maybe giving off a | | | | of the students in your student pad do it. |