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Energy saving advice and tips

Start saving on your energy bills with advice on reducing energy use, keeping warm at home, making energy efficiency upgrades and installing renewable energy systems.

Advice

Start saving on your energy bills by reducing your energy use, making energy efficiency home improvements and installing renewable technology. To find out which energy improvements would be best for your home, try our free Homewise tool.

Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to get help with funding energy efficiency home improvements. For more information, visit our grants and funding page.

You can also get free tailored advice and support from us. Give our team a call today on 0808 175 9345.

 

  • It’s important to find trusted professionals to carry out any work on your home. Our installation support service, in partnership with Warmworks, will handle the whole process for you. 

    Alternatively, our installer finder tool can help you find an installer near you.

    Whatever work you’re having done, we strongly recommend the following: 

    • Get quotes from at least three installers. This makes sure you’re getting the best value for money.  
    • Be wary of cold callers and any sales tactics that make you feel pressured to accept an offer. 
    • Ask installers what guarantees they provide for the quality of their work, and what warranties come with the products they use. 

    It’s also important to make sure any installer or tradesperson is fully qualified and certified by a reputable industry body: 

    • For insulation and draught-proofing, look for installers on TrustMark – a government-endorsed quality scheme. 
    • For boiler servicing and heating controls, look for installers who are GasSafe registered. 

    If you want more information or advice on finding installers, we can help you. Call our free advice line on 0808 175 9345. 

  • Using the right heating controls can keep your home at a comfortable temperature and save you money on your energy bills. You can get heating controls for any heating system, including: 

    • Electric heaters 
    • Central heating systems 
    • Boilers 

    Electric heaters come with two or three settings. All electric heaters have an input dial, an output dial, and some also have a boost function.  

    Central heating controls come in three parts: 

    • Programmer – this lets you control when the heating turns on and off.  
    • Thermostat – this lets you set the desired temperature. The heating will turn off once the room reaches this temperature. 
    • Thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) – these let you control the heating in individual rooms. Each TRV lets the radiator heat the room to the desired temperature, then reduces the flow of hot water through the radiator. 

    Boilers also have their own thermostats. You can set how much the boiler heats the water before sending it through your radiators. This is called the boiler flow temperature. 

    If you want full control of your heating, you can use smart heating controls. These let you adjust your heating using an app, and some can learn your heating habits to make the boiler run more efficiently. 

    If you want more expert advice heating controls, or would like support to get them installed, call our team free on 0808 175 9345. 

  • Installing home insulation and plugging any draughts are the best ways to stop heat escaping from your home. This will lead to lower energy bills as your heating doesn’t need to work so hard to stay warm. 

    Depending on the kind of house you live in, you might be able to install one or more types of insulation: 

    • Cavity wall – suitable for homes built after 1920. These are easier and less expensive to insulate. 
    • Solid wall – for homes built before 1920. These tend to be more expensive to insulate as it involved adding an extra layer to the inside or outside of the wall. 
    • Loft and roof – if you have an attic space or a room in the roof, you should be able to insulate at least part of the space. 
    • Ground floor – depending on what kind of floor you have, you can add insulation on top of or underneath the floor itself.  

    There are several ways you can help keep your home warm: 

    • Install double or triple glazed windows 
    • Draught proof any open chimneys 
    • Add draught proofing to your windows and doors 

    We can help you with installing home insulation and draught proofing. Call our team free on 0808 175 9345 for more tailored information. 

  • Replacing your heating system with a heat pump could help lower your energy costs.  

    Heat pumps use electricity to heat your home and are roughly four times more efficient than a gas boiler. 

    The most common type of heat pump in the UK is an air source heat pump. These capture heat from the air outside and use compression to raise the temperature before transferring the heat to the water in your radiators. 

    Most homes are suitable for heat pumps so long as you have enough space for the outside unit. This is about the same size as two wheelie bins side-by-side. 

    If you don’t have that kind of space eg you live in a mid or top-floor flat, air-to-air heat pumps are a smaller alternative. 

    If you’re looking to replace an older heating system, a heat pump is likely to save you money on your energy bills. 

    For more expert advice and help with getting a heat pump, call our advice team free on 0808 175 9345. 

  • Solar panels let you convert sunlight into electricity to power your lights and appliances during the day for free. Solar panels can also power a heat pump or electric car. 

    If your solar panels generate more electricity than you can use during the day, you can either: 

    • Store the extra electricity in a home battery to use at night. 
    • Sell the extra electricity to the grid through the Smart Export Guarantee. 

    The ideal place to install panels is on your roof, so long as it: 

    • Faces south (though east or west are suitable too) 
    • Doesn’t get much shade from nearby trees and tall buildings 
    • Has around 25m2 of space 

    Sunlight is a free and renewable energy source. So, once you’ve paid the initial cost of installing the panels, you’ll save on your energy bills every year. 

    If you’re interested in getting solar panels and want to know more, we can help. Call our expert advice team free on 0808 175 9345 and we’ll talk you through your options. 

  • Here are 10 small, low-cost changes you can make to reduce your energy use. Following these 10 tips will save you £356 a year on your energy bills*: 

    1. Switch appliances off when not in use – don’t leave them on standby
    2. Only boil as much water as you need – don’t overfill the kettle
    3. Wash your clothes at 30°C and reduce by one load per week 
    4. Swap one bath a week for a shower 
    5. Turn off all lights when you’re not using them 
    6. Fit draught proofing strips around your windows and doors 
    7. Turn your thermostat down 
    8. Add insulation to your hot water cylinder and pipes 
    9. Avoid using the tumble dryer – line dry your clothes instead 
    10. Reduce your shower time to four minutes

    * Figures correct as of October 2024 based on a typical three-bedroom semi-detached house in England on a standard energy tariff and paying by direct debit. 

    For more expert advice on small changes you can make to save energy, call our team free on 0808 175 9345. 

  • If you’re struggling with paying your energy bills, here are some options you can explore: 

    • Compare and switch energy suppliers or move onto a different tariff with better rates. 
    • Pay by direct debit or pay quarterly instead of monthly. Some energy suppliers may offer you a discount for doing this. 
    • Ask for paperless billing. Some companies may give you a discount to have your bills arrive by email or text instead of by letter. 
    • Speak to your current energy supplier, who may be able to help you move to a cheaper tariff or start a payment plan. 
    • Take regular meter readings, which means you’re only paying for the energy you use. 
    • Ask your supplier if they can install a smart meter, which automatically sends accurate energy readings to them. 

    Get in touch with us if you need more tailored advice on how to reduce your energy bills. Call us free on 0808 175 9345.