Energy saving tips

With a big chunk of family budgets being spent on energy bills, it makes sense to look for ways to reduce the amount of gas and electricity you use.

How much energy does the average household use?

The average home, containing four occupants, now uses 13 electronic appliances (including TVs and laptops). That’s a huge leap compared with 1990, when just four appliances were typically used, according to the Energy Consumption in the UK (ECUK) 2017 report. 

But despite owning more appliances, we still use roughly the same amount of energy as we did two decades ago, meaning our gadgets have become more energy efficient over time. But, there’s still a lot you can do to reduce energy consumption – and save money.

How to save electricity

There are a few changes you can make around the home that could help cut down your average electricity usage. This can include using more efficient gadgets and appliances, from energy-saver lightbulbs to A+++ rated dishwashers, as well as replacing old appliances, and avoiding wasted power by switching unused devices off at the plug.

Data collected by MoneySuperMarket, accurate as of March 2019

How to save gas

There are also things you can do to save on gas bills, such as upgrading your gas appliances to more efficient models or installing a smart thermostat to help you track usage and have more control over your gas-powered central heating.

Data collected by MoneySuperMarket, accurate as of March 2019

How to save energy

The energy saving tips below give you some tools and tactics that will help you save gas and electricity at home. We have included estimated figures from the Energy Saving Trust to illustrate the potential energy savings that you could make.

1.      Turn off standby appliances

• Turn appliances off at the plug to save an average of £30 a year.
• Use plug sockets that can be turned on and off via your phone, to make sure you switch unused appliances off. You could use cheaper timer plugs to schedule turning appliances off.

2.       Install a smart thermostat

• Smart thermostats can make your heating more efficient by only warming the rooms you are using.
• They learn how long it takes to heat your home, so they can have it at the right temperature at exactly the right time.
• They can also be controlled by your phone, which means you won?t have to come back to a cold home.
• If you installed room thermostats, programmers and thermostatic radiator valves, you could save around £75 a year.

3.       Turn down your thermostat

• Almost half the money spent on energy bills is absorbed by heating and hot water costs.
• Turning your heating down by just one degree could save up to £80 a year.

4.       Buy efficient appliances

• Throwing out a perfectly good appliance won?t save you much money, but when it is time to swap, going for one with a high energy-efficiency rating can be worth the investment.
• An A+++ washing will typically use £65 less energy than an A+ one over an 11-year product lifespan.
• A modern, efficient dishwasher will typically cost around £7 less a year to run compared to an older model.
• An A+++ fridge freezer will save around £320 in energy bills over its lifetime compared to an A+ model.

5.       Install a new boiler

• You can save energy by upgrading your old boiler to a new A-rated condensing boiler with a programmer, room thermostat and thermostatic radiator controls.
• Based on fuel prices in March 2019, a detached house upgrading from a G-rated boiler could save around £300 a year.

6.       Wash clothes at a lower temperature

• Washing at 30 degrees rather than 40 degrees can help reduce your energy usage, and if you can cut out one wash cycle per week you’ll clip £5 off your annual energy bill.

7.       Be smarter about water

• You can save around £25 a year by washing up in a bowl rather than using a running tap.
• Buying a more efficient shower head can save you as much as £18 per person a year on energy bills, plus an additional amount if you have a water meter.
  
• If you fit a shower timer in your bathroom, you could save up to £7 per person each year by cutting just one minute off every shower.

8.       Invest in double glazing

• Double glazing insulates your home from the cold and helps reduce your heating bill, as well as keeping the noise out.
• If your semi-detached home is entirely single glazed, you could save as much as £110 a year by installing A-rated double glazing.

9.       Draught-proof your property

• A cold draught can cause your home to lose heat, which makes it more tempting to turn the heating up. Draught excluders or draught-proofing kits are a good way to prevent this.
• Seal cracks in floors and skirting boards, line your letterbox and block an unused chimney to reduce your heating bills by up to £35 a year.
• If you don't have double glazing, you can buy plastic lining for your windows to save energy and keep more heat in.

10.       Insulate the roof

• Insulating your roof can stop heat escaping from your home ? however the process can be complicated so it may be best to employ an expert to do this.
• While insulating your loft can cost several hundreds of pounds, it can also shave around £135 off your energy bills each year if you live in a typical semi-detached house.
  

11.       Monitor your usage

• Keeping a watchful eye on your consumption levels can help you decide if and when you have to change the way you use energy.
• Installing a Smart Meter lets you track your consumption with accurate and real time information. Learn more about how they work with our guide to Smart Meters.

Compare energy quotes

Conditions in the energy market right now mean that we are current unable to switch your energy to save you money. 

However, in normal circumstances comparing energy can be the best way to save on electricity and gas. The process is simple – you just need to tell us a few details, such as your postcode, current supplier, and payment and contact details.

By using MoneySuperMarket, you can compare estimated yearly and monthly costs as well as your annual savings if you were to switch, and if there’s a fee for leaving early. All of which makes it easy to find the deal that’s best for you. You’ll be given the option to pick from a big-name supplier, or you can browse the full range to see all the options available.

You can also check whether you’ll be paying at a fixed or variable rate. A fixed rate means your payments will stay the same throughout, while a variable rate means they’ll change depending on the rate set by the supplier. While a fixed rate can give you stability and protection against sudden price hikes, it also means you’ll miss out on savings if your supplier decides to lower its prices.

If you do decide to switch supplier, the move will be handled by the supplier you’re moving to.. There won’t be any loss of supply or any new installations or work at your property, and the process could be done within three weeks.

Need help with your bills?

If you’ve tried to save energy by limiting your usage but you are struggling to pay your bill, you should contact your supplier and see if they can help. You may be able to negotiate a payment plan if your energy bills are becoming too much for your budget.

One option is to have a prepayment meter installed. This way you can pay off your debt gradually, while paying for your current usage and avoiding sliding into further debt. You should keep in mind that prepayment meters are often on a more expensive tariff, but it’s still possible to switch energy providers when you’re using one.