With the baby boom in full swing and household bills still on the rise, new parents are not getting a great deal. Understandably, increased energy consumption is not at the top of new parents minds as sleepless nights and midnight feeds take over.
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The energy experts at Zenith Home offer some simple tips to help new parents save money by being more energy efficient. Making these small changes will not only make a difference to your bills but your own energy levels too!
Cheaper sleepless nights
Sadly there is no solution for those sleepless nights. The more hours you are awake, the longer lights are on but, if you switch your light bulbs to energy efficient alternatives then over the course of the baby’s first year you will see a saving. Alternatively, use a few nightlights as this will use up far less energy than your main light and it will help in creating a restful environment for you and your newborn.
Too Draughty?
Simple draught excluders will help to keep your rooms cosy on those British summer days that feel more like winter and curb the temptation to put the heating back on.
Don’t overfill
Thankfully, if you are breastfeeding you don’t need to worry about warming up a bottle (or a few). However, if you are using formula, then warming milk will become a daily (if not bi-hourly) task. For those without a sterilizer, use a jug of hot water from the kettle to warm the bottle. Boiling an overfilled kettle can have an effect on your bills so make sure you fill the kettle with just the amount of water you need. With so many bottles to heat up, it is important to make savings where possible.
Bath time
We all know baths are less efficient than showers, however, giving a baby a shower really isn’t feasible! So instead, use a baby bath tub rather than filling your bath with water.
Power House
With a new baby, comes many new gadgets and gizmos to help in making life a little easier. From baby monitors to sterilizers, your house will be on full power 24/7. When not in use, try to remember to switch items off at the wall and unplug. This will help in adding to your household savings.
Washing Over-drive
With a lovely new addition to the family, washing loads will seem to triple in size (even though the new addition is tiny) so where possible, try to limit yourself to two washes a week, this way you won’t use up your own energy hanging the washing out every day.
Dry outside
Tumble dryers are notorious for energy consumption and with the sun coming out more often, hang your clothes and sheets outside to dry instead. If you don’t have room for a washing line then a clothes horse will do the trick outside or in.
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