Free ways to lower your energy bills
Free actions you can take immediately to reduce the amount of energy you use.
Take action this summer
Take shorter showers and save up to £70 a year
Reducing your shower length to 4 minutes will save water and money on your energy bill. If your water is metered, it will also save you money on your water bill.
Wash clothes at a lower temperature to save up to £30 a year
Modern washing machines can clean clothes effectively at lower temperatures. Changing from 40°C to 30°C means you could get 3 cycles instead of 2 using the same amount of energy, depending on your washing machine.
Using your tumble dryer less could save you £60 a year
Tumble dryers are one of the most energy-intensive devices in the home. Use your tumble dryer less frequently by ensuring you have a full load, around three-quarters of the drum. Or use a clothes airer to dry clothes outside, or inside with a window open for ventilation. You should also avoid overfilling your dryer as this could lengthen the drying time.
Turn appliances off at the socket to save up to £60 a year
Almost all electrical appliances in your home, such as computers, televisions, smart devices and video game consoles, draw power continuously unless unplugged. Turn off the power switch at the socket or unplug appliances from the socket when they are not in use.
Track your energy usage using an app
If you have a smart meter, there are apps which are free and allow you to track your hourly energy use over days, weeks, months or years. This can help you find the best ways to reduce usage and save on your energy bills in a safe and manageable way.
Installing a smart meter can help you see what you’re spending
A smart meter provides you with near real-time information about how much energy you are using via an in-home display, which you can use to track your spending and have greater control over your usage. Smart meters provide automatic readings to your energy supplier, meaning an end to estimated bills and enabling easier budgeting.
Contact your energy supplier, who can arrange to install a smart meter free of charge.
Get ready for winter
Bleed your radiators
Bleeding radiators makes your home warmer and can help reduce the cost of your energy bills. It does this by removing air pockets which reduce the pressure in your system so you don’t need to turn the heating up as much.
Reduce your boiler flow temperature to save up to £70 a year
If you have a Combi boiler, its efficiency can be improved by adjusting the ‘flow temperature’ dial/setting to 60 degrees.
Reducing flow temperature isn’t the same as turning down the thermostat. It won’t noticeably reduce the temperature of your home but may take longer to heat up.
If you are over 65, or have pre-existing health conditions, you may want to set a slightly higher flow temperature of 65°C to ensure your home warms more quickly.
Close all your curtains and blinds at night
By closing your curtains and blinds, you can help stop warm air escaping through windows and reduce heating costs, especially if you have radiators situated below your windows.
Turn down radiators in rooms you aren’t using to save up to £50 a year
When you’re not using rooms, turn radiator valves down to a lower setting.
Turning off radiators completely in rooms you are not using is less energy efficient as this means your boiler has to work harder to maintain the temperature of a room you are heating than if kept at a low setting. Turning off radiators can also cause issues with mould and damp.
People over 65, children under 5 and those with pre-existing health conditions are more vulnerable to cold temperatures. Make sure you are warm enough and have a minimum indoor temperature of 18°C (setting 2 or 3 on your radiator valves) to ensure you’re healthy and comfortable.