How to Save Money on Energy Bills

With seemingly never-ending energy price increases we could all benefit from one of the biggest outgoings to hit our bank balances by cutting the cost of our energy bills. Not only are there environmental benefits to saving energy, but our pockets will also benefit too. You may be wondering where to start so we’ve pulled together some ideas on what changes you can make to help reduce the cost of your energy bills.

As well as more substantial investments such as new windows or doors, there are lots of small things that you can do to help keep costs down. If you change some habits and the way you use some appliances you can make small savings short term that can turn into more significant savings over a year or longer. So take a look at our top tips on where you could make some changes that will turn into cutting costs.

Washing and Drying

An easy change is to move to a 20°C or 30°C wash cycle. If your laundry is not heavily stained this should clean your clothes as well as a 40°C wash. If the load isn’t particularly dirty and just needs a “refresh” look to use a short cycle, and if your machine offers an Eco setting take advantage of it – the cycle may take longer but uses less water and energy. If some of your laundry is particularly stained, you should pre-treat and pre-soak the items to avoid multiple wash cycles.

Check if your energy provider has a cheaper tariff during “off-peak” hours; moving the time you do your laundry could save you pounds each month.

Is your washing machine loaded correctly? You should be able to fit your hand at the top of the load and move your fist around. If you overload your washing machine it cannot wash your clothing properly which may result in you having to wash the load again. Underloading your washing machine wastes energy but can also cause an imbalance to the drum which can lead to it becoming damaged.

Avoid using a tumble dryer when you can, instead make the most of any dry weather and hang washing outdoors on a line. If you don’t have outdoor space or the weather isn’t suitable then wait until the heating is on to hang your washing on an airer indoors to speed up the drying time – try to keep a window open in the room the washing is hanging in to avoid any build-up of damp.

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Heating

Turn down thermostat – most people are comfortable in 18 - 21°C so check if you could turn down your thermostat, even turning it down by 0.5 will help save costs.

Make sure the heating is switched off when no one is at home. Where you can, schedule a timer to help manage how long the heating stays on for so you don’t forget to keep it on when it isn’t necessary. You could look to invest in smart heating that will give you the option to control your heating remotely – handy if you forget to switch it off and are not at home.

Close internal doors when the heating is turned on to heat each room more efficiently. Adjust the radiator’s thermostat up or down – most houses have rooms that are naturally warmer or colder, or more or less used than others so you should look to alter the settings appropriately.

Think about wearing extra layers of clothing or blankets if you spend a lot of time at home, instead of turning the central heating on. You could also invest in an electric blanket for the evenings, they use a fraction of the energy that heating a whole house does.

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Drop the Draughts

Check windows and doors are properly sealed; any gaps that can let cold air in will be letting warm air out too. Check all round the edges of the frames to feel for any air moving through, and on front doors check that letterboxes and keyholes are not letting heat escape. Using a glazing sealant on windows if it is worn down and needs replacing will help get rid of unnecessary chills from draughts.

Make sure any colder rooms such as kitchens are not letting the cool air escape through any gaps under the door – add a draught excluder if you can feel air movement to help prevent the cooler air spreading to the rest of the house.

For more information on ways to draught-proof your home take a look at the Energy Saving Trust’s website.

Replace Windows

It is a considerable investment to replace your windows, but one that will make long-term savings. If your windows are single-glazed you are likely to be losing a lot of heat from your home as they do not have the same insulating properties as double or triple glazing.

If your budget does not allow for brand new windows, consider thermal insulated curtains that can help reduce the amount of heat escaping through windows.

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Cooking

Small changes in the kitchen can have an impact on the amount of energy you use. Things like not over-filling the kettle and only using what you need. Or think about when you could use the microwave instead of the gas or electric cooker as it uses considerably less energy. As an added bonus it can often be quicker too!

Consider investing in low-energy kitchen appliances such as an air-fryer or slow cooker. A slow cooker for example is not only energy efficient, but you can batch cook meals that can be frozen for a later date and reheated in the microwave once defrosted helping to cut costs. Or if you are using the oven could you be using it for more than one thing at once? Planning ahead means you can cook several meals at the same time in the oven, and depending on what you cook you can store in the fridge for several days.

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Funding and other ideas

You may be entitled to funding to help make home improvements that will make your house warmer and cheaper to heat. Take a look at the details for the government’s Help to Heat scheme to see if you are eligible.

For further ideas on energy saving suggestions that could cut your bills down check out The Energy Saving Trust's website that is full of tips and advice.