Use less energy

Avoid standby and use more energy efficient devices

• One of the quickest changes you can make is to avoid keeping your devices on standby. Switch off appliances when you’re not using them and save £45 on your electricity bills each year. Get a standby saver that allows you to turn all your appliances off standby in one go. 
• Laptops use around 65% less electricity than desktop computers, while tablets use even less energy. Choosing a laptop over a desktop could save you up to £30 a year on your bills. 

Be careful in the kitchen 

• Don’t overfill the kettle – only boil as much water as you need to save yourself £10 a year. 
• When you’re cooking, always use the right sized pan for the job, and use the correct hob ring for each pan.
• Try and keep your oven door shut as much as possible. Make sure the glass door is clean so you can see when your meal is ready. 
• Let warm foods cool completely before putting them in the fridge – it means your fridge won’t have to work as hard. 

Washing and drying 

Try to minimise unnecessary washing by hanging up clothes to air after you’ve worn them. That way you can get the maximum use out of each item before you need to wash it. 

You can save more money from your energy bill just by using your washing machine more carefully: 

• Use your washing machine on a 30-degree cycle instead of a higher temperature to save up to £12 a year.
• Reduce your washing machine use by one run per week for a year and save another £12.

Get your lighting right 

• Remember to turn off lights when you don’t need them. Turning off all the lights around your home when they’re not needed could save around £6 a year on energy bills. 
• Replacing all the lights in your home with LED bulbs could help you save even more.  For more information, see Energy Saving Trust’s advice on energy efficient lighting.

Keep the draughts out 

• Fitting inexpensive draught proofing strips to windows and doors is a relatively quick and easy DIY job. And it could save you around £40 a year on your energy bills. When fitting, don’t block up any intentional vents as these allow essential fresh air into your house. 
• If you have an open chimney, draught proofing your chimney when you’re not using it could save around £55 a year. 
• Don’t leave the front door open more than necessary – especially if the central heating is on.
• Putting a curtain over your front door and windows helps keep the draughts out. Close your curtains at dusk to keep your home warmer with less energy. 
• Make sure blinds and curtains don’t block any heat from radiators from getting into the room. When they’re closed, they should stop between the edge of the windowsill and above any radiators. 

Take control of your heating 

• Choose central heating over electric heaters. Gas central heating, is generally cheaper to use than an electric heater. If you want to heat one room, turn the radiator valves up number in this room and lower them in the other rooms in your home.
• You could save up to £260 a year if you turn your thermostat down from 21°C to 18°C. You’d also reduce your carbon emissions by 4,200 kWh a year. 
• Use heating controls to heat a room just before you need it. Switch if off earlier to enjoy the residual heat, without worrying about how much it’s costing you. 
• If you have rooms you don’t use often, set the radiators to the lowest setting to avoid heating empty spaces. 
• Get your boiler serviced in the summer so it’s in good working order before winter arrives. Bleed your radiators too, so your heating is working efficiently. 

Keep your water tank cosy 

• Most modern hot water tanks have plenty of insulation, but an older tank might only have a small amount. Add extra insulation with a hot water tank insulation jacket – these are inexpensive, widely available and easy to fit. They could also save you around £40 a year on your energy bills for a semi-detached home. 
• Adding pipe insulation is another inexpensive DIY hack that’s available from most DIY stores. Fitting it could save you around £5 a year. 

Use water wisely 

Your water use at home contributes to your energy bills and carbon emissions. Saving water can help you save energy – and money – too. 

• Turn off the tap when you’re cleaning your teeth, shaving, or washing your face. A running tap uses around 11 litres of water a minute. Fill the basin if you can or just turn the taps on when you need them. 
• Keep your shower time to just four minutes to save around £60 a year on your bills (in a typical 4 person household). Invest in a shower timer to help you see how long you spend in the shower and challenge yourself to keep it within four minutes. 
• Swapping just one bath a week with a four-minute shower could save you £9 a year. 
• Power showers can use as much water as taking a bath. Consider fitting an eco or low-flow showerhead to cut down on your water use. If a family of four replaced their inefficient showerhead with a water efficient one, they could save around £25 on their energy bills each year. 

Get more energy saving advice

If you need more detailed energy advice and support, call our advice team free on 0808 175 9345. Or request a call back using our contact form.