Be as efficient as possible with your energy use

It’s becoming more and more important for us all to become energy efficient. The Energy Saving Trust – an organisation devoted to promoting energy efficiency, energy conservation, and the sustainable use of energy – has compiled a list of 10 straightforward ways we can improve our habits – and our homes – to help reduce unnecessary spending on energy.

1. Switch off standby

Almost all electrical appliances can be turned off at the plug without disturbing their programming (check instructions for any appliances you aren’t sure about, such as ones that you have set to record a series of programmes). The problem is that we all get into the habit of leaving things on standby because it is just that bit easier than turning everything off at the plug, especially if the plug is in a hard-to-reach place. But remember this: as long as an appliance is on standby, it’s costing you money.

2. Draught-proof gaps

A lot of housing stock in Britain is old – and therefore draughty. If you can feel cold air around doors and windows, the floor, or chimney, then not only is cold air getting in – the air that you are paying to heat is escaping. And the colder you feel, the more you’re likely to turn the heating up, and the more heat will escape. It’s a vicious circle. There are professionals who can draft proof your home, but if you are happy to do some DIY there are lots of simple fixes to improve insulation. The Energy Saving Trust has compiled a list of fixes for drafts throughout your home, which includes categories such as windows, doors, chimneys, skirting boards, loft hatches and cracks in walls. You can find out more here.

3. Turn off the lights

Get into the habit of turning lights off when you are not using them – even if you are just leaving the room for a few minutes. By doing this you will not only reduce your energy consumption but extend the life of your light bulbs, so you’ll need to replace them less often. If you do need to replace light bulbs, consider LED. These use much less energy and last longer than traditional light bulbs.

4. Wash your clothes at lower temperatures

Most washing machines offer lower temperature or eco cycles, which will use less energy. Just check the packaging of your detergent to make sure that it is still effective at the lowest temperatures. If you’re concerned about hygiene, there are anti-bacterial laundry sanitizers available that work at 20 degrees. The added benefit of washing in cooler water is that your clothes could last longer: hot water can cause bright colors to run and fade, certain types of fabric to shrink, and damage certain synthetic fabrics. Also, make sure that you don’t run your washing machine until you have a full load to maximise efficiency yet further.

5. Avoid using the tumble dryer

Tumble dryers are expensive to run, so avoid using them where you can. If you have big items that you need to wash (blankets, throws, quilts etc) wash them now, while the weather is still warm enough to dry them outside. Get a clothes airer for colder weather and keep it in the warmest room in the house. For example, if you’re cooking in the oven, put your airer in the kitchen (if it’s safe to do so, you may even want to consider leaving the oven door open when you’ve finished cooking to heat up the room a little more). You may need to be more organized as drying clothes this way is going to take longer but just remember that the convenience of the tumble dryer comes at a cost.

6. Take shorter showers

Heating up water is one of the largest household expenses – whether using it for radiators, or to wash up, or to take showers. The Energy Saving Trust recommends a 4-minute shower to save energy.

7. Limit your soaks in the bath

Using the same principle as above, it is not the best use of hot water to run a bath for a single person to lie in. However, if you enjoy a soak as a way to relax and unwind, just limit the number of baths you take. The Energy Saving Trust says even replacing one bath a week with a 4-minute shower will pay dividends. For those with young children, it may be possible to have a soak while the water is at its hottest and then wash your little ones afterwards to make the hot water go a little further.

8. Only boil the water you need

Kettles are one of the most used appliances in the kitchen, but how often do we make sure we only boil the amount we need? You may remember the days when we were told we needed to fill the kettle to cover the element (the metal tube that heated the water) and so we tend to overfill the kettle. However, modern kettles can safely boil just one mug of water if that is what is required. If you do boil more than you need, you could keep it in a thermos flask for the next time you’re making a cup of tea or even use it in a hot water bottle to keep you warm as the days get chillier.

9. Reduce your dishwasher use

Only run your dishwasher when it is full, even if it takes a few days to fill it up. Just like washing machines, dishwashers also have energy efficient eco cycles (they will take longer) that you can use. Another suggestion is to pop the door open at the end of the washing cycle and let your dishes air dry – some experts believe this could reduce your energy consumption by as much as 20%.

10. Insulate your water tank, pipes and radiators

Adding insulation to water tanks and pipes and insulating behind radiators reduces the amount of heat lost, so you spend less money heating water up, and hot water stays hotter for longer. You can pick up equipment from a DIY store and manufacturers supply instructions to make fitting a straightforward job, in some cases you can even watch manufacturers’ videos online. You can click here for tips on effective insulation and how to fit it.

In addition to the tips from the Energy Saving Trust, there are a few extra common sense ideas that could help you save money:

11. Make the most of natural sunlight:

We may not get a lot of sunlight in the winter, but we can still make the most of it by opening up curtains and blinds to south-facing windows during the day and let it naturally warm up your home. Just make sure that you close curtains when it starts to get dark to block any chill from the cold windows.

12. Only heat the rooms you’re in

Heating air is expensive, so limit it to the rooms you are using. Just make sure you close the doors to those unused rooms to prevent the cold air seeping into the rest of the house. This will enable your boiler to work more efficiently (meaning the house will warm up more quickly and the boiler switch off sooner). However, if you have north facing rooms that are damp, don’t turn off the heating completely as this will exacerbate the problem. Instead, set the radiators to the lowest setting and air the room regularly. When we get into the depths of winter, you may consider setting the radiators in the unused rooms to a frost setting (usually a snowflake symbol on the dial) so that if there is a sharp frost, your pipes will not freeze.

13. Cook in bulk

Maximise the energy efficiency of your oven by cooking multiple meals at once. This will save you money, help your appliances last longer, and free up time during the week. Freeze extra portions, which will help you even more (a full freezer uses less energy than an empty one because the already-frozen food keeps the temperature low). Just remember to take out portions the day before you want to use them and let them thaw naturally in the fridge – then you will only need to use energy to heat them up, not defrost them.

Additional help

• The Energy Bills Support Scheme (or energy bill rebate) is due to begin in October. This payment from the government will enable all households with a domestic energy connection to receive a £400 credit to their bills. The money will be paid in six 6 monthly instalments and will not need to be paid back. You can find out more information here.
• If you or a relative were born on or before 25 September 1956 you could get between £250 and £600 to help you pay your heating bills. This is known as a ‘Winter Fuel Payment’. The amount you’ll get includes a special ‘Pensioner Cost of Living Payment’, which is between £150 and £300, and only available this winter (2022- 2023). This is in addition to any Cost of Living Payment you get with your benefit or tax credits, and the Energy Bills Support Scheme. You can find out more information here.
• If you have an energy problem and need advice, you can contact the Citizens Advice Bureau and speak to a trained specialist: