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People are increasingly looking for ways to cut down on the cost of electricity and costs of living, especially as both continue to steadily increase. One way to save money is on energy bills is by making use of renewable energy, and there’s various ways to use renewable energy in your everyday life.

In this article we’ll look at how you can use renewable energy to save money.

Saving through renewable energy

It’s possible to save on your electrical bill as well as heating and cooling costs. These are just a few useful tips to help both the environment as well as your bank account.

The most popular option by far is solar energy, which is most used through solar panels.

• Solar energy: Perhaps one of the best ways to save on bills is through solar energy, which is effectively an infinite source of renewable energy. This can be used to heat your home as well as to generate electricity. The long-term monetary payback can be invaluable.

Solar energy helps to save in two ways. Firstly, it reduces the amount of power you need to buy from the grid. Secondly, through schemes like Smart Export Guarantee. This is a government program which pays homeowners for the electricity they export to the grid.

Solar panels are easy to install that can be done by Solar Panel Installer Scotland and do not require planning permission, which is often a significant barrier to many home improvements. Furthermore, solar panels will (within eleven to fifteen years) eventually pay for themselves. This makes them a fantastic investment to make.

• Hydroelectric Power: Hydroelectric power is another renewable energy resource able to generate electricity and provide energy for your home.

• Wind: Wind has long been a popular renewable energy option. Home wind turbines are costly and require planning permission, and they are not suitable for urban areas, however they offer incredible energy benefits.

Other Ways to Save

You aren’t just restricted to renewable energy to save money. There are other changes you can make which can help to save money as well as benefit the environment.

Insulating Your Home

A well-insulated home will save on heating and cooling costs. This is a cost-effective measure to make significant changes and save money, and there are a swathe of government tax breaks and benefits to help pay for insulation as well.

Insulating your homes roof can be an invaluable approach, as this is often where the most heat is lost (after the windows). By insulating your loft, you can shave as much as £135 off your energy bills each year.

Getting a new boiler

Older boilers tend to be very energy inefficient. This means they use a lot more energy to warm up your home while putting out relatively little heat. This is a major waste of money overall, and it doesn’t consider other problems – such as a tendency towards breakdowns. Getting a new boiler can prove a fantastic and highly reliable investment.

How to save gas

Upgrading gas appliances to more efficient models or making use of a smart thermostat which can track your usage and have far more control over your gas-powered central heating.

Water conservation

Water conservation is another imperative way to save money. Reducing your water bill can be a major boon.

Energy Efficient light bulbs

Energy efficient light bulbs can help save on energy bills and last for years as well – helping to save a huge amount of money in the long term. Standard bulbs don’t have the same capacity to last as energy-efficient bulbs – in fact many of them are able to last up to five times as long, ensuring long term energy bill savings. Energy efficient light bulbs cost more initially but in the long run they will provide a significant benefit, financially and energy wise.

Turning off appliances and other large items

Make sure you turn off appliances and don’t leave electrical items on. If you fully commit to turning off these items, it’s possible to save 25% more energy. Leaving appliances plugged in will waste energy too, especially compared to turning them off and unplug them. Not only will this make a difference in your energy bill, but it’ll help you to feel better about how you use energy in the first place.  

Replacing older windows

Older single- and double-glazed windows are a serious source of heat loss. Lacking the insulating power of modern double glazing (or triple glazing), these windows often result in a significant loss of heat. By replacing your existing windows with double or triple glazing you can significantly reduce the loss of heat.

Compare energy quotes

Comparing energy quotes is by far one of the best ways to keep on top of your energy bills, and often can make a major difference when it comes to savings.

If you have recently qualified as a lawyer, or are about to, you are currently in the process of searching for the perfect law firm to apply to.

For a first timer, the legal job market can be difficult to navigate, especially if you have not fully decided upon the area of law that you wish to pursue.

From major international firms to local lawyer offices with a single figure workforce, there are almost unlimited options when it comes to entering the legal profession.

That said, after a few applications being knocked back, it can often feel as though the opportunities are not that extensive after all.

Competition is fierce, but with a bit of research and a clear plan, you will be able to stand out from the competition and take your first steps in what is a very rewarding industry.

Here are our top tips for choosing the right law firm for you:

Narrow the market

Finding a law firm best suited to your talents isn’t easy, and with so many different firms in the UK it can be difficult to know where to start.

Before you start firing off applications to every law firm under the sun in the hope of getting lucky, narrow down your options to those in the area of law you are truly interested in.

Look for firms with experience of success in these areas and you will have a much more manageable selection to aim for.

Most law firms in the UK have a section on their website detailing their specialisms as well as testimonies from previous clients that will give you an idea of the sort of work that they do.

If you yourself are unsure about the field you want to go into, do some more research online or talk to a senior lawyer before proceeding. The more focussed your search is, the more you can tailor your applications to the firm in question and the better chance you have of being successful.

If you are simply applying for a summer internship whilst studying for a law degree, the area of law you are working in is less important, all experience is great experience at this stage!

Attend law fairs

Law fairs, or other networking sessions attended by those from major law firms, are a great opportunity to leave a good impression and get one step ahead when it comes to applying for entry- level positions.

Whilst you are unlikely to secure a role directly through these events, they will give you a great opportunity to ask some questions and get a better idea of what law firms are looking for from their applicants.

You will also be able to pick up a brochure or two that will give you some more information on the firms in question and help you remember some of the advice that you were given.

Often, firms will send alumni from your school who now work for them to networking events so consider asking about their own journey after graduation for some inspiration.

Examine the firm’s website

Law fairs are a great networking opportunity, but you do have to take some of the information that you are given at such events with a pinch of salt.

At the end of the day, these firms are there to try and attract the best recruits and will, therefore, bombard you with marketing slogans and freebies designed to help them stand out from the crowd.

For a more balanced view, study a few of the firms you are interested in online. See what sort of cases they take on, the area of law that they specialise in, and the training programme that they offer.

If all of this information is closely aligned with your own future ambitions, and you feel as though you would be a good addition, it is time to get down to the business of applying.

Ruling out potential options with an afternoon’s worth of online research can save you a huge amount of time further down the line.

Go the extra mile

With so much competition for positions, being qualified as a lawyer is not enough to help you stand out from the competition.

Recruiters see hundreds of CVs and applications and yours needs to catch their attention in an instant.

One way to do this is to make it clear that you have done your research and you are knowledgeable about the type of work that the Glasgow legal firm do.

You could also do some research on their competition. As a lawyer you will need to be bold and innovative to be successful, and these are qualities that law firms are always on the look out for from the next generation.