11 Top Ways to Reducing Energy Bills

Reducing energy bills and making your home more energy-efficient can save you money

10 Best Way to Reducing Energy Bills — 11 Top Way to Reducing Energy Bills

October’s energy price cap will see households on standard variable tariffs pay an average 80% more for gas and electricity, taking bills to around £3,549 a year based on typical use.

Top tips to save energy around the home and reducing energy bills

1. Switch to energy-saving lightbulbs

Replacing bulbs with energy efficient LEDs is a definite win, even though there is the initial expense of doing so.

Turning off lights to save money is a sensible habit to get into, but if you leave your energy inefficient light bulbs on overnight it will only cost you a few pence.

2. Submit regular energy meter readings

Remember to give your energy supplier regular meter readings so that you are paying the correct amount each month. You can usually do this online, via an app or automatically if you have a smart meter.

Accurate meter readings can save on your energy bill by making sure you do not overpay with estimated costs.

3. Turn your thermostat down a little

One of the simplest ways to save energy is by turning your heating down a single degree. You might not think such a small amount would make much difference – but according to the Energy Saving Trust lowering your thermostat from 22C to 21C (for example) can save 10% on your heating bill.

4. You can wash clothes at a lower temperature

If you are doing laundry four times a week at 20 degrees rather than 40 degrees you can save £24 a year, according to Which and cutting out one cycle per week, perhaps by wearing your clothes more before you wash them, could save you £5 a year, according to the Energy Saving Trust.

5. Unplug your devices will help in reducing energy bills

Your phone, tablet, a microwave, a home music system, laptops or TV still use energy on standby. Avoid paying for energy you don’t use by unplugging them when you can.

According to the Energy Saving Trust you can save £35 a year just by remembering to turn off your devices and appliances when you’re not using them.

You could also think about getting a standby saver or smart plug, which allows you to turn all your appliances off standby automatically.

6. Move your furniture

Big furniture close to your radiator can stop heat reaching the room. Move them an inch or two away for better air circulation, and your rooms will be warm much faster.

7. Close the curtains

Heat starts to escape when the sun goes down. Draw curtains or close blinds to keep the warmth in – especially if you have older windows.

8. Switch off the lights

Turn the lights off when you left a room. Getting everyone in the habit of only lighting rooms that are being used can help you save around £20 a year.

9. Reducing energy bills doing the laundry

Use the economy setting on your washing machine to save water and energy
Dry your laundry outside where you can, instead of using an energy-hungry tumble dryer
Avoid drying clothes on radiators – it just makes your boiler work harder
Use eco-balls in your tumble dryer to spread your clothes so they dry more quickly

10. Invest in insulation, will help in reducing energy bills

If you can afford the outlay, investing in professional draught-proofing and insulation in preparation for the winter months could lead to a reduction in bills by £405 for a semi-detached home. However, DIY draught-proofing is cheaper and anything is better than nothing.

Loft insulation is worth looking at too: a quarter of heat in an uninsulated home is lost through the roof. Most homes have at least some loft insulation but often not enough. Topping up from 120mm to at least 270mm of insulation will help.

11. Draught Proofing will help in reducing energy bills

Draught proofing your home is a cheap and efficient way of saving money on your energy bills.

Using foam fillers or draught excluder strips help to block any gaps that may be around your window frames, loft hatches, doors, skirting board and floorboards. By draught proofing, you could be saving an extra £50 a year.