For many bill payers in the UK, there’s few greater feelings than saving money where possible on your energy outgoings. And, not only can money-saving hacks help you make the most of your money, they could reduce your environmental impact too. Best-known for his work as co-presenter on Location, Location, Location, Phil Spencer has now shared some of his top tips for saving money when it comes to your bills. So, what does the 49-year-old recommend you do in order to avoid wasting your hard-earned cash?
Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk, the TV presenter and journalist, who has recently teamed up with Smart Energy GB, discussed how a smart meter could make you more aware of your energy consumption.
Explaining that installing this device into your home wouldn’t mean you automatically save money, Phil addressed how it could put your energy consumption into perspective.
“The smart meter itself won’t save you money or save the planet,” he said.
However, the Relocation, Relocation star went on to explain that the installation of these items will usually be free for the bill-payer.
And, once they’re up and running, they could make working out your home’s energy expenditure far easier.
“Previously, the traditional electricity meter is probably in a cupboard under the stairs where you never look,” he said.
“And even if you do look at it, it measures the energy that you’re using in kilowatts.”
And, Phil explained, it’s not always the easiest of tasks to immediately realise how much a kilowatt of energy can cost you – rendering the traditional type of energy reading meters as “almost meaningless”.
Rather, the TV regular suggested a smart meter could be a good idea – adding: “You get an estimated bill, not an accurate bill [with traditional electricity meters].
“If you have a smart meter installed by your energy provider at no additional cost to you, at least you’re in control.
“You have an up-to-the-minute virtually accurate reading of what you are spending in pounds and pence. So, it puts you in the drivers seat,” he considered.
“It puts you in control of what you are using and how much you are spending.
“And that actually makes you change your behaviour, because you can see [what you’re using].
“You can make all those little adjustments when it’s right in front of you.”
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To help you keep track of how much energy you are saving thanks to energy efficient measures, get a smart meter installed at no extra cost, by contacting your energy supplier or visit www.smartenergygb.org for more information.