Want to know what practical steps you can take to reduce your energy bills? Well, here's all there is to know that's worth knowing.
Do your energy bills seem out of control? Are you frantically looking for things you can do to take back some of that control?
With energy tariffs set to skyrocket from April 1st due to the price cap increase, it's not so surprising that it's got everyone worrying, especially those in vulnerable situations that are at risk of fuel poverty.
To make matters worse, many energy companies are currently refusing to take on new customers, so being able to find a better deal than the one offered by your current energy supplier is extremely limited.
So, with such limited options, what else can you do?
In this guide, we'll explain practical steps you can take, from choosing the best tariff to discovering how to reduce energy waste, we have listed all of the measures you can take that will have maximum impact.
We’ll also address some energy-saving myths, so you can avoid some of the most common mistakes.
Here’s a tip: More and more people are switching to battery storage systems to benefit from lower off-peak tariffs, significantly cutting down their energy costs. Discover how you can start saving today — click here to learn more!
Top 12 Ways to Reduce Energy Bills UK
#1 Limit your energy use as much as possible
Using less energy may sound obvious, but it’s one of the simplest ways to limit your spending. Therefore, try to cut down on your gas and electricity use as much as possible.
#2 Don't keep your heating on constantly
There is also a very common myth that keeping your heating on low constantly is cheaper than only using your heating, but as the Energy Saving Trust confirms, this is not true.
It’s also a good idea to install draft excluders and close your curtains to avoid the heat escaping from the room.
#3 Opt for eco-mode
Also, consider only operating your appliances in energy-saving or eco modes, these settings are commonly found on dishwashers and washing machines. They essentially reduce the temperature of the water, helping you to save energy.
#4 Spend less time in the shower
Spending less time in the shower can help, in fact, spending just 4 minutes in there could save a typical home £65 a year on their energy bills.
Here are some other helpful measures to adopt to help limit your energy use:
Switch off standby mode on all appliances and you could save as much as £55 a year.
Trade traditional light bulbs for LEDs and you could save a further £20.
Avoid or limit using the tumble dryer as much as possible - they are one of the most expensive appliances to run - on average around £55 a year.
#5 Invest in Smart Heating Controls
Smart heating controls include things like smart thermostats and smart thermostatic radiator valves, with leading examples being the Google Nest, the Hive smart thermostat and the tado.
These devices enable you to take more control over how you use your home heating, allowing you to monitor it better and ultimately avoid energy waste.
In fact, according to Energy Saving Trust, installing heating controls could save you as much as £75 a year.
One of the most notable features of smart thermostats is zonal heating, which essentially allows you to heat certain zones in your home, instead of heating your entire house, i.e. rooms you are currently using.
This does require them to be used in conjunction with smart thermostatic radiator valves that automatically adjust the thermostat on your radiators in line with the settings.
Another clever and popular feature is geofencing, which tracks you based on your mobile’s location, so should you leave the house your heating will be turned off to avoid wasting energy and money.
You can read all about the best smart thermostats here.
PS You can now also read our complete review of the best thermostatic radiator valves in the UK.
#6 Turn down your thermostat too...
Turning your thermostat down can have a dramatic impact on your energy bill too, especially when you consider more than half of the energy used in the average UK household is spent on heating.
Therefore, it's worth noting that simply turning down your heating by just one degree could save you up to £80 a year.
Turning down your boiler flow temperature could also save you up to 8% on your heating bill too, check our new guide on whether to turn the radiators off in unused rooms for another quick and free energy-saving hack.
#7 Invest in Green Home Improvements
Green home improvements are upgrades to your home that help to reduce energy waste and/or reduce carbon emissions.
It includes things like insulation, such as cavity wall insulation, installing new double-glazed windows and upgrading your boiler to a modern A-rated model.
#8 Improve your home's insulation
For example, a quarter of heat is lost via the roof in an uninsulated home, so installing a layer of insulating material in your attic can make a significant impact, helping to keep the heat in your home for longer, potentially reducing your central heating use and therefore energy bills.
Energy Help Guides:
#9 Install a new energy-efficient boiler
If your combi boiler is over 10 years old, it’s very likely to be G-rated under the ErP (Energy Related Products Directive) boiler rating system, meaning it could be less than 70% efficient.
According to the Energy Saving Trust making this upgrade has a significant advantage:
By trading your old boiler in for a modern boiler, you could save around £340 and a whopping 1,500kg of carbon emissions a year.
The good news is that there are various government grants available to help you make upgrades, such as:
Improving your insulation.
Upgrading your boiler and appliances with an ECO Grant.
Installing solar panels or other renewables.
Even if you aren’t entitled to a grant, by investing in any of the above types of green upgrades, like one of the best combi boiler models, you can recoup the costs over time via the savings you can make on your energy bills.
#10 Make the most of your energy tariff
If your home uses electric heating or an electric boiler, or you have electric appliances that consume a lot of energy, then you should check what type of tariff you are on.
If you are on an economy 7 or economy 10 tariff, the price of electricity is typically much cheaper during off-peak hours, so it’s helpful to try and limit your use to this window.
This is particularly helpful if your home uses an immersion heater to heat water. You can easily set your thermostat timer to reap the rewards of certain energy tariffs.
For example, customers on the Economy 7 tariff can set their timer to only switch the heater on during off-peak hours.
You can also insulate your immersion heater; in which case your water will stay hot for several hours after it has been turned off.
You can easily find out the tariff you are on by asking your energy provider.
Recommended reading:
#11 Compare energy quotes
Due to the current energy crisis, there isn't as much opportunity to change your current energy tariff to a more competitive deal, but it may still be worth checking.
However, many energy suppliers have closed down and many others continue to refuse to take on new customers at present.
In usual circumstances comparing energy, quotes can be one of the quickest ways to save money on both your gas and electricity bills.
#12 Consider Draught Proofing
Draught-proofing your home is cheap and effective at reducing heat loss and preventing cold air from making its way into the home.
Read all about the steps you can take in our draught-proofing guide.
Energy Saving Tips FAQ
Why are energy prices increasing?
Unfortunately, with the current energy crisis looming, the number of UK households in poverty as a result of their energy bills is set to treble and reach an unprecedented 6 million when the current energy price cap is abolished on April 1st.
The cause of the increase is thought to be multifaceted, with a global rebound in post-lockdown energy demand, a particularly cold winter that left stores depleted, as well as a recent fire at a key line between France and the UK.
Currently, fuel poverty is estimated to affect around 2 million people in the UK, but a recent report by Foundations has found that this figure is likely to jump to 6 million overnight when the new cap is introduced on the 1st of April.
In September energy regulator OFGEM found that the average UK energy bill was £95 per month, or £1,138 a year and this is expected to rise by around £600 come spring.
Unfortunately, fuel poverty isn't simply a financial issue it has far-reaching health and well-being implications.
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