Home Heating ● Turn the thermostat for your living areas down to 20°C. The temperature in hallways and bedrooms should be cooler, ideally between 15-18°C. ● Bleed your radiators - Trapped air in radiators stops them working efficiently. If there are cold spots on your radiators, particularly at the top, it's a sign they need bleeding. This releases the air and ensures your heating system is working to its full potential. ● Manage your heating needs by using the control panel (Nest, Climote, Hive and Netatmo for example). With these devices you can programme your central heating and your water to come on at specific times throughout the day to fit your routine, ensuring you’re not wasting energy needlessly throughout the day. Appliances Most of the energy used by a dishwasher and washing machine is for water heating. Run them on a lower temperature setting and save on your energy costs. Wash clothes at 30°C if they aren’t particularly dirty. Keep your fridge’s temperature at between 2–3°C for the best performance. This keeps your food safe to eat and avoids freezing (and ruining) your fruit and veg. The freezer should be set to -15°C. Don’t leave the fridge door open for too long while getting food. For every 10–20 seconds the door is open it takes 45 minutes for the fridge to cool down to its original temperature. Having a TV in Ireland ● In Ireland you must have a TV licence if you have a TV capable of receiving television broadcasts. An Post is responsible for issuing TV licences and collecting TV licence fees. ● You do not need a TV licence to watch television on your computer, phone or other device (for example, RTÉ Player or streaming services like Netflix). However, the computer, phone or other device must not be capable of receiving a television signal by cable, satellite or aerial. ● If you are living in rented accommodation and there is a TV in the premises, you must have a TV licence. This applies whether you or the landlord owns the TV. ● The annual fee for a TV licence is €160 for both homes and businesses. If you are over 70 or receiving a Disability Allowance, you may be entitled to a free TV licence under the Household Benefits package. ● If you have not paid your TV licence, you may receive a notice from An Post to warn you that you could be prosecuted if you fail to buy a TV licence. A TV inspector could visit your premises to verify if you have a TV. ● You can be fined up to €1,000 (or €2,000 for subsequent offences) if you
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