Energy saving tips to help you reduce your energy bills

During the current cost of living crisis, learning how to reduce your energy bills has never felt more important. We’re talking energy saving home improvements you can put in place, as well as energy saving tips and habits you can apply in  your day-to-day lives. With lower energy usage comes a reduction in emissions too, giving you another incentive to make changes to help reduce environmental impacts. Here’s how you can make simple switches to save you money.

Switch to energy-efficient appliances

When it comes to energy-saving tips, this is a biggie. Learning how to interpret energy labels is a good place to start (remember, ‘A+++’ is the most efficient). Usually, larger items require more energy, but make sure you’re checking the energy ratings as a first port of call. You can also make the switch to energy-saving lighting, which is designed to reduce your electricity bills, but without compromising on the strength or quality of light in your home. This switch can also help lower your carbon footprint.

Turn down your thermostat

By lowering your heating by just one degree, you can save more energy than you might think. WWF are challenging people to do this, based on research by Uswitch. Try it yourself and see whether anybody in the household notices – if not, result! Installing a smart thermostat can also help you to monitor your energy usage, making your energy consumption (and bills) more visible. Make sure you communicate with your household to ensure everyone is on the same page, otherwise someone may undo all your hard work by turning the thermostat up too high. It’s one of the simplest ways to save energy and reduce your bills.

Wash your clothes at a lower temperature

Washing your clothes at a lower temperature is a win-win scenario. Your clothes are at less risk of shrinking and you’ll simultaneously reduce your energy bills. Washing items at 30°C uses 38% less energy than if you wash them at 40°C, making it a great energy saving tip. You can even wash your clothes at 20°C, which will reduce costs by an average of 62%. However, it’s worth bearing in mind that washing clothes at this temperature should be used with the right detergent and can have restrictions when removing stains. Make sure you do a monthly maintenance wash too, with washing machine cleaner. The bottom line is to always check the label!

Draught-proof your property

Draught-proofing your property is key to preventing heat from escaping your home, especially during the winter. Make the time to do a quick survey of your home to identify any draughty culprits, then find a way to resolve them. Simple fixes include thick curtains, as well as draught excluders and letterbox brushes. Even rugs covering the gaps in your floorboards can be effective to save energy at home.

Turn off appliances left on standby

‘Vampire electronics’, otherwise known as devices that drain power when left on standby, make more of a dent in your bills than you might expect. British Gas states that you can save an average of £110 on your annual energy bill by switching devices off at the plug. Otherwise, they’ll simply drain power, battling against your efforts to reduce your energy bills. TVs, computers, and any electronic devices left on charge, such as your phone or tablet, are some of the top culprits for this.