Reduce Energy Bills With These Top Ten Tips

While the government announced the Energy Price Guarantee, which took effect at the start of October, energy prices are still higher than they have ever been. In this blog, we’ll look at ways in which you can reduce how much you’ll pay. These include how to be more efficient with your energy use and tips to keep the heat inside your home.

1. Draught-Proofing

If your home was built fairly recently, you may not have to do this, as air tightness has increased in Building Regulations over the years. However, if your home loses heat, draught-proofing is a quick and easy way to reduce your energy bills.

Professional draught-proofing will set you back around £225 for a whole house, but will save you around £60 a year, according to Energy Saving Trust. If you add in your chimney, you could save an extra £90.

2. Smart Heating Controls

If your heating controls are more than 14 years old, you can benefit from upgrading them. Installing a room thermostat, programmer and thermostatic radiator valves to your radiators, you can potentially save £75 a year for an older home.

If you upgrade to smart heating controls, which allow you to control your system remotely, there is a potential saving of £110 a year, according to Hive. Some systems will even learn your heating habits and make sure empty rooms aren’t heated.

3. Turn The Thermostat Down

We’ve all heard this tip before. By turning your thermostat down by 1ºC, you can save 10% off your heating bill. However, there’s only so many times that you can do this before you go below comfort levels. A comfortable home is typically between 18 and 21ºC, depending on outside conditions.

4. Replace Your Inefficient Boiler

Boilers lose efficiency over time, and if your boiler is more than ten years old, you should consider replacing it. Modern boilers are not only more efficient, but will save you money.

5. Insulate

Installing insulation in your home is the best way to increase the energy efficiency of your heating system. You’ll reduce the amount of wasted heat escaping and keep your costs down. Insulating a loft can save you up to £590 a year in heating bills, while cavity wall insulation can save you £690.

6. Pipe Insulation

Modern homes won’t have this problem, but older homes can suffer from cold pipes that have the potential to freeze in cold weather. If you install insulation on your water pipes, they will be able to retain their heat, reducing the energy it takes to heat them up.

7. Reflector Panels

You can maximise the efficiency of your radiators by installing reflector panels behind them. This reflects heat back into the room rather than letting it escape through the external wall. It is also one of the lowest cost options.

8. Switch Appliances Off

Appliances left on standby still use a small amount of energy. If you turn everything off at the socket, you can save yourself around £35 a year.

9. LED Lighting

Modern lighting is more expensive, but lasts longer than traditional incandescent bulbs, saving you money over the course of their lifetime. It’s also a much more energy efficient way to illuminate your home.

10. Reduce Water Usage

Minimising shower times and opting for showers over baths can cut your hot water use. If you also ensure your washing machine and dishwashers are full before you run them, you’ll save on energy.