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Save energy at home
How to save money on your energy bills
12 ways to save energy in your home
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1. Wash clothes at a lower temperature
90% of a washing machine's energy usage is spent heating the water, so washing at a cooler temperature will save energy and money (USwitch, 2021).
2. Place lids on pots when you’re cooking
You’ll use less energy and time to cook your food by preventing heat escaping from the pot.
3. Don’t overfill kettles
If your kettle doesn’t let you see how many cups worth of water you’re boiling, simply fill a cup from the tap, or however much you need, and pour it into the kettle.
4. Use 'eco' settings on appliances
Appliances, such as dishwashers, often have an ‘eco’ setting which is designed to use less energy. Although the cleaning cycle can take longer, it will be more energy efficient than an intensive quick cycle.
5. Close the fridge door
Leaving the fridge door open causes it to work harder to keep the temperature cool, so try to limit how long the door stays open. If your fridge has an alarm, make sure it’s turned on, in case you leave it open by mistake. Defrosting your freezer regularly will help it to run efficiently too.
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6. Reduce the time you spend in the shower
A family of four could save £75 per year if each person spent one minute less in the shower (Source: Energy Saving Trust, 2021). Fitting a water efficient shower head will also reduce your hot water usage while keeping the sensation of a powerful shower.
7. Good ventilation is important
Taking a bath or shower in a poorly ventilated bathroom will create more moisture in the air, making it harder to heat. That could mean your boiler has to work harder to warm a radiator. If you don’t have an extractor fan, then keep a window open until any moisture clears.
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8. Lower the temperature
Getting your bedroom at the right temperature could help you get a better sleep and reduce how much energy you use. According to the Sleep Foundation (2022), the temperature to aim for is 18.3 degrees Celsius. You don’t need to be that precise but fitting thermostatic radiator valves will help you to set the right temperature for different rooms in your home.
9. Dust your radiator
When dust gathers on radiators in makes them less effective. Make sure you keep the top and back clear of dust. It’s the same problem with dust at the back of fridges but moving them can be tricky.
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10. Turn off standby
Leaving appliances on standby means they’re still using energy. The same goes for any room but living rooms can be home to a range of household gadgets, from televisions to music systems. Although it may be a small amount, it starts to add up if you do this every day – wasting energy and money.
11. Let the light in
It’s common for living rooms to have the largest area of glass in the home. On sunnier days, natural light will help nudge the temperature up naturally.
12. Reduce draughts
It can be difficult to work out where cold draughts are coming from, but gaps in wooden floorboards or open fireplaces can be culprits. Under floor insulation is one solution, but it might be cheaper and less of an upheaval to fill the gaps with a specially designed filler. For fireplaces, whether you use them or not, it’s best to get professional help. Especially if the solution involves inserting a draught stopper or accessing the roof to change the chimney.
Changes to energy prices
From the 1st April 2022 the energy price cap set by Ofgem increased from £1,277 to £1,971 a year for dual-fuel, standard variable tariff customers, so it’s likely that if you're not on a fixed tariff you’ll see your energy bills increase.
This is due to the ongoing changes in the energy market, with increasing wholesale energy prices. These changes have meant that a number of energy companies have been unable to continue trading and it remains difficult to find a deal when looking to switch your energy supplier.
Questions about changes in the energy market
Home energy grants and schemes
Whether you need some help to pay your energy bills, would like some support to make energy saving changes to your home, there is a wide range of financial support available.