Energy saving tips

How to save money on your energy bills

There's no doubt that the cost of living is rising – we've seen it with our weekly shopping bills, council tax, and now with gas and electricity prices, which is already one of the biggest annual costs for UK households!

Although these price increases will put a strain on the finances of many households, there are some simple changes that you can make to reduce the amount of energy your home uses; in turn making your gas, electricity, and water bills more affordable. 

1. Turn appliances off at the plug socket

If you keep your electrical appliances switched on at the plug socket when you’re not using them, you're paying for energy that you're not making use of.

According to the Energy Saving Trust, turning your appliances off at the plug socket, rather than leaving them on standby, can save you around £55 a year.

The next time you've finished charging your phone or playing on your games console, why not switch it off at the plug socket to save yourself a bit a money? You won't have to worry about causing any programming issues as most electrical appliances can be turned off at the plug socket without causing any problems. However, for some appliances such as satellites and digital TV recorders, we would recommend checking the instruction booklet to make sure that they are okay to be switched off at the plug socket.

Did you know... TVs are the household item most likely to be left on standby, rather than switched off at the plug socket, when not in use?

As well as switching your TV off at the plug socket, if your TV has an 'eco-mode' setting, Compare the Market recommend that you turn this feature on as another way to help reduce the amount of energy you use. 

2. Turn down your thermostat

Turning the thermostat up by a degree or two, rather than putting on another layer of clothing, when your home is feeling on the chilly side is something that we’re all guilty of. But did you know that you can cut your yearly gas bill by around 4% just by turning the temperature down on your thermostat by one degree? 

3. Wash clothes at 30 degrees

Rather than washing clothes on the standard 40 degrees setting, try washing them at 30 degrees to help reduce your energy usage. The Energy Saving Trust say that by doing this, you can save around £28 a year.

If you want to be even more economical, reduce the amount of wash loads you do each week and avoid washing just one item of clothing on its own – fill up your washing machine!

Myth: smart meters save you money

Smart meters measure your energy usage and send meter readings to your supplier automatically, and although they can help you to see how much energy you use (and the cost of it), they will not save you any money unless you actively use less gas, electricity, and water.

Find out more about smart meters by checking out MoneySuperMarket’s smart meter guide.

4. Draught-proof your home

Cracks in floors and skirting boards as well as gaps around windows and doors can cause a cold draught throughout your home, which are especially felt during the winter months.

MoneySuperMarket suggest that you can save around £35 a year on your energy bills by sealing cracks in floors and skirting boards, lining your letterbox, and blocking unused chimneys as you won’t need to turn the thermostat up to (temporarily) mask the draughts.

If you're on a budget, you can draught-proof your home yourself using kits found at your local DIY store.

Check out Energy Saving Trust's reducing home heat loss guide to find out more about what you can do to help manage the temperature in your home.

5. Buy efficient appliances

When the time comes to replace your fridge freezer, dishwasher, or washing machine, opt for one with a high energy-efficiency rating as these types of appliances help to reduce your energy consumption (and bills over time) – this applies to other home appliances too!

MoneySuperMarket advise that an A+++ fridge freezer can save you around £320 during its lifetime (compared to an A+ model), and a modern energy efficient dishwasher will be £7 cheaper to run per year compared to an older model.

Although these changes seem small, they will help to save money on your energy bills over time. However, if you find yourself struggling to pay your gas, electricity, and water bills even after making efforts to limit your usage, contact your supplier to see if there is anything they can do to support you, such as creating a payment plan to help you manage your monthly or weekly payments. 

Want to save money on the cost of running your car? Check out this blog to find out what you can do! 👈

Information includes references to: 

Compare the Market – Energy hacks that could save you cash

MoneySuperMarket – Top 11 ways to save energy at home

Money Saving Expert – Energy saving tips and Energy mythbusting

Energy Saving Trust – Quick tips to save energy