Myth #1 It's better to leave heating on low all the time than set it to come on twice a day at higher temperatures.
Fact: Leaving the heating on constantly uses more energy than turning it on and off, but this does not mean that short, sharp bursts of heat at a high temperature are more efficient. Use a thermostat to regulate temperature and concentrate on heating the rooms you use most often.
Myth #2 It's better to keep the water heater on all the time than heat from cold.
Fact: A hot water tank only needs to heat up water as it is used. Heating water continuously is like constantly re-boiling a kettle in the run up to teatime - completely unnecesary when a quick flick of a switch a minute before you want a cuppa will suffice. Check your hot water doesn't automatically turn on with the heating (you may not have an option with some older systems). If you've got a combi boiler you don't need to worry as it only heats water as you use it.
Myth #3 There is not much point in turning the thermostat by only one degree.
Fact: Based on normal use, this simple and small change can reduce bills by 10% if you have your heating on for eight hours a day.
Myth #4 Once a gadget is fully charged, it stops drawing electricity.
Fact: A small amount of electricity is still drawn whenever the device is plugged in. Instead of charging overnight, juice up smartphones and tablets for a couple of hours during the day.
Myth #5 Energy saving lightbulbs are not as powerful as older ones.
Fact: Not true. LED lighting is greener and brighter than the original energy-savers. The amount of light produced in energy-efficient bulbs is measured in lumens, not watts - and they consume so much less power that comparisons are meaningless. The higher the number of lumens, the brighter the light. As a rough guide to brightness, add a zero to the wattage - so for 60 watts look for 600 lumens.
Myth #6 Leaving appliances on stnadby can't hurt much.
Fact: You could save up to £80 per year by switching items off standby. Since 2010, appliances cannot use more than 1 watt of energy when on standby, but older products can waste much more. Watch out for older audiovisual equipment such as flatscreen tvs and digiboxes, and wireless routers and modems. Switch off appliances connected to your tv (dvd player, games consoles and Freeview boxes) easily with an intelligent mains controller. It's like a remote control that allows you to point, click and turn off devices from your sofa.
Myth #7 Electricity and gas cost the same.
Fact: Although electrical heating is more efficient (i.e. we need less), a modern gas central heating system with a condensing boiler is generally the cheapest form of heating.
Myth #8 Computer screensavers save energy.
Fact: Basic screensavers don't use much energy, but all-singing, all-dancing ones use a fair bit of energy to power the moving design. Better to swtich off your computer if leaving it for any length of time.
Feature in Good Housekeeping, February 2015
