10 Powerful Strategies to Slash Your Energy Bills

With the help of our seasoned advice, you might save hundreds of pounds on your monthly energy expenditure. By making your home more energy efficient, you can save money on your electric and gas bills, as well as reducing the amount of carbon dioxide you emit into the atmosphere.

You will be able to decrease costs and make your house more comfortable by following the recommendations we provide, which range from reevaluating your energy tariff to reducing the quantity of gas and electricity you use. It won’t take you more than a few minutes to implement some of our best advice, so you can get started immediately on lowering your monthly energy expenditure. Continue reading to learn how just a few minor adjustments might result in significant savings over the course of a year.

1. Look over your most recent energy bill for opportunities to save costs.

Because there are no longer any attractive low-cost energy plans available, it is not an ideal moment for the vast majority of individuals to transfer their energy provider. If you haven’t changed your provider or tariff in a while, or if you were forced to transfer to a new provider because the one you were using went out of business, you’re definitely paying out-of-contract charges (also known as a variable or default tariff). Historically speaking, these haven’t been a very good deal; nonetheless, as of right now, they are among the cheapest tariffs, which means that it’s in your best interest to stay put for the time being.

Very few, if any, suppliers now offer fixed rates that are competitive enough to warrant switching to. If you want to lock in a price for a certain amount of time, you can do so by fixing a bargain; but, doing so will cost you more money. According to Ofgem’s calculations, the price cap for out-of-contract rates increased by 54% for a typical user on April 1, 2022.

This indicates that the majority of homes across the country will soon be receiving significantly higher monthly energy costs than they have become accustomed to. Which? will still allow you to investigate the various options that are available to you on the local energy market in your region. Switch:

2. For savings of up to $425, use appliances with a high energy efficiency rating.

 

 

When you need to replace an appliance, you can reduce the amount you spend on power by purchasing the model that is the most energy-efficient. For instance, the cost of operating a washing machine might range anywhere from fifteen to seventy pounds a year, depending on its dimensions. For further information, please refer to our buying guide for energy-efficient washing machines. The energy-efficiency grade that the European Union gives a product is the clearest indication of how energy-efficient the product is. However, we test energy usage in a manner that is reflective of how you actually use various appliances. This allows us to provide you with information that is more accurate regarding which ones consume less energy.

For instance, we evaluate washing machines using the 40°C cottons programme, which is the one that is utilised by Which? members the majority of the time. In contrast, the EU Energy Label tests are based 60 percent on the 60°C cottons programme. The total annual operating costs of each major appliance have been determined by our in-house testing. Make use of the findings to determine how much it costs to run various appliances, as well as which ones will be the most cost-effective. Learn more about how to pick for an appliance that is good for the environment by doing some reading, and you can immediately begin saving money on your subsequent purchase.

How much money can you save per year by using appliances that are more energy efficient?

: Fridge Freezer – £138

Tumble dryer – £137

Washing machine – £69

Cost of a Dishwasher is £44.

Built-in oven – £37

According to the findings of product testing conducted by Which?, these are the greatest savings that may be achieved based on the difference between the highest and lowest annual running expenses. According to the findings of our research, switching out energy-intensive kitchen appliances for those that consume less electricity might save you as much as $425 per year. Find out more information on the most energy-efficient refrigerator freezers and dishwashers.

3. Invest in insulation to realise savings of up to £290

Do you have cavity walls and a loft? If you insulate both, you might save as much as £290 each year. Because less heat will be lost via the roof, installing loft insulation to a thickness of 270 millimetres in a typical non-insulated three-bedroom semi may shave £135 a year off the annual energy bills. Insulating cavity walls can save up to £155 a year in a semi-detached house. Although installing solid-wall insulation may cost you more money upfront, it has the potential to save you £210 annually in the same style of home.

Learn everything you need to know about insulating your home by reading our comprehensive information on loft insulation, cavity wall insulation, and solid wall insulation. These guides cover the process of adding insulation to your home. If you already have loft insulation done, you might save an additional £100 per year by increasing the amount of insulation to the recommended 270mm from the original 120mm. Alternately, you can lessen the amount of heat that escapes through your windows by installing double glass in place of single glazing.

4. Invest in a new boiler and save approximately £195.

Each year, the cost of your home’s heating accounts for more than half of the total energy bill you pay. Therefore, if you have an older gas boiler that is not energy efficient, replacing it with a newer model that is energy efficient will make a significant difference in your monthly expenditures. If you replace an older gas boiler with a modern condensing one that has an A rating, a programmer, a room thermostat, and thermostatic radiator valves, you could be able to cut your annual heating costs by £195. According to the Energy Saving Trust, this is the average fuel consumption for a semi. You might save up to £300 per year if you live in a detached house. When you include in the cost of installation, purchasing a new boiler can easily set you back a couple of thousand pounds. If you want to save the most money possible and your boiler can still be fixed, you should weigh the amount of money you will save against the price of the update. Discover how much a brand-new boiler can set you back. In addition, gas boilers won’t be around forever, so if you’re looking to the future, you should think about renewable heating systems like air source heat pumps instead of gas boilers.

5. To save £180, switch out your light bulbs.

Install and make use of the controls for the central heating system to save yourself £75.

According to the Energy Saving Trust, the installation of a room thermostat, a programmer, and thermostatic radiator valves in a typical home that does not already have them might save the homeowner approximately £75 per year if the devices are used effectively. Additionally, it will reduce the amount of carbon emissions produced by your home by 320 kg per year. The controls for the heating should allow you to: You may programme the heating and the hot water to turn on and off at specific times. You should only heat the areas of your house that require it. Adjust the thermostat in accordance with the area of the house you are in. Maintain a temperature in your home that is agreeable while minimising the amount of heat that is lost. According to the research conducted by the Energy Saving Trust, if you just have one thermostat for the whole house and you crank it up by one degree, your monthly heating expenditure will increase by approximately 10 percent. Put on a sweater first, then adjust the temperature of the heating system.

Heaters that use electricity

If you just need to heat one room in your house, it can be more cost-effective to utilise a portable electric heater and dial the thermostat down than to heat the entire house with a central heating system. Those who reside alone or work from home may find that purchasing an electric heater is the best way to reduce their heating costs over the long term because it will prevent them from heating their entire home when it is not necessary. However, electric heaters should only be used moderately most of the time. Electricity costs significantly more than gas does per hour. In addition, the results of our testing revealed that some heaters are not equipped with highly accurate thermostats, which means they do not produce the desired level of warmth in the room. Discover which electric heaters performed exceptionally well in our testing, as well as other information about selecting the ideal electric heater for your house.

Intelligent thermostats

If you have a smart thermostat, you can control your heating system over the internet from a remote location using your smartphone, tablet, or personal computer. Some can also memorise your daily routine or make adjustments to your settings based on the next weather report. When combined with clever thermostatic radiator valves, you have complete control over which areas of the house are heated and which are not.

Even if your thermostatic radiator valves aren’t clever, you can still accomplish this goal; however, you will need to switch the valves off manually in each room. The amount of money you could save by installing a smart thermostat is contingent upon the kind of lifestyle you lead, the degree to which you already exercise effective control over your heating, and the degree to which you would prefer to use the smart thermostat rather than conventional heating controls. Find out how to acquire the most effective programmable thermostat here.

7. Preventing draughts can save you approximately £25.

According to the Energy Saving Trust, if you prevent heat from escaping via undesired spaces around doors and windows in a normal home, you might save approximately 25 pounds a year in energy costs. You may be able to save even more money by hiring a professional to draught-proof your home. Examine the following parts of the situation:

When it comes to the windows, install draught-proofing strips all the way around the frame. Sash windows benefit more from the use of brush strips.

Doors: Draught-proofing strips should be installed around the door’s perimeter, and brush or hinged-flap draught excluders should be installed below the door.

Chimney and fireplace – If you don’t use your fireplace, you can block the chimney with an inflatable pillow or put a cap on top of the chimney pot. Simply having an open chimney might save you up to £18 per year in unnecessary expenses.

Floorboards and skirting: Because floorboards need to be able to move, you should fill the gaps between them using a flexible filler based on silicone.

To prevent heat loss through loft hatches, draught-proofing foam strips should be used. Have you already renovated major sections that are draughty? Think about keyholes and letterboxes, which are both examples of tiny openings that let air in.

8. Use less hot water

Even if you only turn on your heating system when it’s cold outside, you still have to pay for energy to keep your water hot. Therefore, your heating costs will be affected by how efficiently you use heat. In addition to that, if you have a water metre, you can save money there as well by following these guidelines. You may turn the water heating on and off with the controls for your heating system if you have a hot water tank rather than a combi boiler. This will ensure that you are only heating the amount of water that you require.

9. Determine whether or not you are eligible to receive financial aid or subsidies for energy efficiency.

energy efficiency.

You may qualify for financial assistance in the form of energy programmes and grants to help pay for your energy bills or to support you with the costs of renewable heating. These are among them:

Warm Home Discount: a one-off payment of £140 (rising to £150 in October 2022), available mostly to retirees and people receiving certain forms of government assistance.

Those who were born before September 26, 1955 are eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment ranging from £100 to £300 per season. Starting in May of 2022, the Boiler Upgrade scheme will provide homeowners with financial incentives of up to £5,000 to upgrade their existing gas or oil heating systems to low-carbon heating systems. Help with the expenses of boilers and loft insulation is available from several energy suppliers. Find out if you qualify for any home energy grants and what they are.

10. Quick energy-saving tips

If you are short on time or money, have already completed everything else on this list, or simply want to start lowering your energy bill as soon as possible, you can attempt the following steps: Be aware of the sources of the costs of your energy consumption. A smart metre provides real-time feedback on the amount of energy consumed as well as the associated cost. Make use of this information to see where you can make reductions in spending.

Don’t forget to turn off your electronic devices! There are limits placed on the amount of power that more current electronic devices can consume while in sleep mode; nevertheless, older devices require more caution. According to statistics that were released by the Energy Savings Trust in March 2022, turning off appliances might save you £55 over the course of a year. Instead of using your tumble dryer, dry your laundry outside in the fresh air.

It is recommended that you only use your washing machine and dishwasher when they are completely full, that you reduce the number of times you use them by one each week, and that you wash your clothes at a temperature of 30 degrees Celsius whenever possible (unless you are washing really dirty clothes), as Best Buy washing machines will still do a good job. According to estimates provided by the Energy Savings Trust, doing these actions can result in a yearly bill reduction of £28. (figures published in March 2022).

Food that has been frozen should be allowed to defrost in the refrigerator before being placed in the freezer or refrigerator in order to assist in lowering the temperature of the refrigerator. Only bring to a boil in the kettle as much water as is necessary. It is important to keep the filters in your refrigerator and tumble dryer clean so that they may continue to function well.