How to get the best energy deal for you
Switching energy suppliers could save you a lot of money. Read our tips on getting a better deal.
We've brought together a number of energy saving tips to help you to cut down on your energy bills. Some of these are simple changes, such as turning lights off when you leave a room, whereas some of them are more extensive changes, such as insulating roof and loft spaces.
Turn lights off when you leave a room, but only if you're not risking your safety by doing so. It's also important that you make sure to keep stairs and other areas well lit to reduce your risk of falls.
LED lightbulbs use less energy than traditional lightbulbs, so consider replacing these. Over time, this will save you money on your energy bills.
These days, a lot of new appliances come with an energy efficiency rating – the better the rating, the less energy the appliance uses. If you’re getting any new appliances, choose the best energy rating and make sure you get an appliance that’s the right size for you – as larger appliances use more energy than smaller ones.
A new energy efficiency rating system was introduced in March 2021 so you might see energy labels on appliances such as lights, fridges and freezers, TVs, washing machines, washer-dryers and dishwashers.
Switch appliances off when they're not in use rather than leaving them on standby. But don't turn off your fridge or freezer because this could mean your food goes off sooner than it would otherwise.
It's also a good idea to try and defrost your freezer every 6 months, or if it's looking frosted around the edges. This can make the freezer work more efficiently because the motor doesn't have to work so hard.
If you can, take showers instead of baths – a short shower can use 1/3 of the amount of water needed for a bath. However, if it's easier for you to take baths, consider not filling the tub all the way – the average full bath uses 80 litres of water.
Fix any dripping taps – a dripping or leaking tap can waste up to 1/2 of a bath's worth of water a week and it'll cost you extra if you use a water meter.
Turn off the tap while you're brushing your teeth or shaving because this saves water. You could also fill up a bowl and use this to do the dishes and wash food, rather than rinsing every plate and cup under running water.
When making hot drinks, only boil the amount of water you need.
If you like gardening, try and use a watering can instead of a hosepipe.
Turn off the radiators in rooms you don’t use, like spare bedrooms, and close the doors to stop heat escaping from the rooms where the radiators are switched on. Heat the rooms you use the most, like your living room, to a comfortable temperature – usually around 18°C (64°F) is ideal.
It's a good idea to become familiar with your heating controls, such as thermostats and timers. This will help you heat your home comfortably without wasting energy.
Run the washing machine at a lower temperature – you can often do everyday washes at 30°C. Washing clothes at 30°C uses around 40% less electricity over a year than washing at higher temperatures.
You can also run your dishwasher at a lower temperature – on the 'eco' programme, for example. This uses less energy than higher temperature programmes.
It's a good idea to keep radiators and heaters clear so that warm air can circulate through rooms. For example, during the daytime, make sure to draw your curtains and tuck them behind radiators.
When air gets trapped inside your radiators, this leaves cold spots at the top. This makes your heating system less efficient because you have to use more energy to get enough warmth from your radiators. If your radiators are hot at the bottom but cold at the top, they probably need bleeding.
Find out more about how to bleeed your radiators on the British Gas website
If you can't bleed your radiators yourself – or you're just not comfortable doing so – your local Age UK might run a handyperson service that could help.
Draught proof doors and windows to stop heat escaping. To do this, fit draught-proofing strips and draught excluders around doors, seal gaps around window frames and add covers to letterboxes and keyholes. It's important to leave some ventilation to reduce condensation and prevent the build up of waste gases from fuel-burning appliances.
Double-glazing stops heat from escaping, as well as minimising noise from the outside – you could save money on your heating bills if you install it throughout your home. To keep installation costs down, you could choose to only double-glaze the rooms you use and heat most often.
Insulating roof and loft spaces can really reduce heat loss in your home and save you hundreds of pounds per year. Most homes have some loft insulation but often not enough. Topping up your loft insulation will make your home warmer and save you money on your energy bills.
If your home has cavity walls – a space between the inner and outer layers of brick – they can be insulated. Insulating your cavity walls will make your home feel warmer. In a typical home, cavity wall insulation can save you hundreds of pounds per year.
Insulating hot water tanks and pipes keeps them warm, which means you can cut down on the amount you'd spend on heating water otherwise.
Larger measures, such as insulation, can be expensive to carry out, but financial help may be available. Larger energy suppliers are part of a scheme called the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) that may be able to fund, or partially fund, the work. You can get help from any participating supplier – they don’t have to supply your energy.
Find out more about the Energy Company Obligation on GOV.UK
Your local Home Improvement Agency (HIA) may be able to advise you on making energy-efficient changes to your home. You can search the directory on their website to find your local HIA.
We offer support through our free advice line on 0800 678 1602. Lines are open 8am-7pm, 365 days a year. We also have specialist advisers at over 120 local Age UKs.
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