I’m an energy expert and here’s how I can save €850.72 every year with five simple switches

As energy prices continue to rise, people across Ireland will be looking for ways to lower their bills.

Although wholesale fuel costs are falling slightly, the everyday burden of the cost-of-living crisis is unlikely to ease for many any time soon.

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Luckily, an Irish energy expert has revealed how you can save over €850 a year by cutting back on some daily routines and swapping out everyday appliances.

switch. ie’s energy expert Eoin Clarke said: “Despite the glimmer of hope that energy prices may be stabilising, it could be a while before people’s bills start to shrink.

“By cutting back on some living habits and upgrading to smarter, more energy-efficient appliances, you could save hundreds of dollars.

“Our message is: reduce and replace wherever possible. Try to streamline your daily routines, and when you need a new device, always go for the energy-saving choice because these small changes add up to big savings.”

Here are the five swaps that could save you €850.72 a year, according to Switcher.ie.

LOAD LIGHTER

Cut your laundry costs by running one fewer wash cycle per week to save €0.43 per week, that’s over €22 per year.

Set the temperature to 30 degrees and fully load your drum to keep washes to a minimum.

If your washing machine has an Eco program, you can use it to save 30 percent energy.

Save an additional €5.19 per week on your weekly laundry by skipping the dryer.

The dryer is one of the most expensive appliances in our homes, as it uses between 2.5 and 3 kilowatts per hour, so use it sparingly.

This saving of €5.62 per week adds up to €292.24 per year.

REDUCE SHOWER TIME

Reduce your shower time from 15 minutes to 10 minutes a day and save up to €2.13 a week or a whopping €111 a year.

Turn the thermostat down a notch and save even more.

Simply drying your hair for 10 minutes, six days a week will save you 0.65°C per week.

Towel dry longer and dry time down to 5 minutes to save 0.32 cents per week and up to €16.64 per year.

This savings of €2.45 ​​per week adds up to €127.40 per year.

ALTERNATIVE COOKING

Trade in your electric stove for smarter appliances that don’t cost the earth.

Cooking dinner in a slow cooker instead of the oven and making sausages in an air fryer instead of on the stove could save you €2.14 a week.

When your kettle stops working, replace it with a pressure cooker to save up to 0.93 cents a week.

Combined, these simple exchanges could save you €3.07 per week, that’s €159.64 per year.

GO WIRELESS

You can make savings by maxing out your dishwasher load and halving your weekly washes.

Reduce from 4 cycles to 2 and save about €1.30 per week or €67.60 per year.

As you upgrade home appliances, consider switching your wired devices to wireless devices so you only pay for charging time.

You could save around €8.84 a year simply by swapping out your old handheld vacuum for a snazzy cordless model.

These savings of €1.47 per week add up to €76.44 per year.

DITCH OR SWITCH

Whether you work from home or play until the wee hours, running a desktop computer can cost you as much as €3.50 a week.

Ditch the desktop and use a laptop. They are much more energy efficient and could save you up to €2.42 per week.

Winter means the lights stay on longer, but replacing your 60-watt incandescent bulbs with 5-watt LED bulbs with the same light output can save you at least €1.33 a week.

These savings of €3.75 per week add up to €195 per year.