Simple tips to save on your energy bills
Last week we marked Energy Savers Week, where we shared low-cost ways to make your home warmer this winter. Simple changes around the home can make a big difference to your yearly bills, so check our top tips and see how much they could save you.
If you’re worried about your energy bills, dealing with outstanding debts or need more support with energy efficiency, our free energy advice service can help. Call our energy team free on 0808 164 4406, send us a message on Whatsapp on 0736 054 6111 or find out more on our website.
Turn your heating down
Turning your heating down slightly could make you big savings in the long run. For example, turning your thermostat down by just 1℃ could save you around £105 a year. However, to keep safe and comfortable make sure you don’t go below 18℃.
Leave radiators off
Switching off your heating for a few hours when you leave the house is one of the best ways to save on your energy bills. Unless you have a heat pump, it can be cheaper to reheat your home than it is to leave your heating on a low setting.
Draught proof your home
Draught-proofing your home can be a quick and cheap way to make your home more energy efficient. Keeping extra heat in your home will also leave you feeling warmer and more comfortable. Fitting draught proofing strips to your windows and doors is a quick DIY job and could save you around £45 a year.
Turn lights off
Turning lights off when you aren’t using them, even for a few minutes, will save more energy than keeping your lights on for a longer period of time. This will save you around £20 a year, regardless of what type of bulbs you have. However, switching the lights in your home to LED bulbs could help you save even more.
Use smart cycles
Using your washing machine carefully could help you save around £27 a year. Try washing your clothes on a 30 degree cycle instead of higher temperatures - most detergents are made to work well at lower temperatures. Reducing the amount of laundry you do per week could also help you save - try to stick to one cycle per week.
Avoid using the tumble dryer
Instead of using a tumble dryer, save money by drying clothes inside using a clothes airer or on a washing line if the weather is nice. This could reduce your energy bill by around £55 a year.
Take shorter showers
Reducing the amount of time you spend in the shower can help save on your bills. If everyone in a four-person household reduced their 8 minute shower to a 4 minute shower, it would lead to a total saving of £65 a year.
You can keep track of how long you’re taking in the shower by using a timer on your phone or listening to a song roughly 4 minutes in length.
Swap baths for showers
Taking baths instead of showering is also a simple way to save on your bills. Swapping just one bath a week with a 4-minute shower could save you around £14 a year on your energy bills.
Don’t overfill the kettle
Kettles are one of the most used appliances in the kitchen, however overfilling the kettle can use more energy. Only filling the kettle with the amount of water that you need could save around £11 a year.