Helpful tips to save energy 

We all want to save money on energy bills while staying safe and well, and one of the easiest ways to reduce costs is by making small, simple changes which can add up to real annual savings.   

 

Our top tips, recommended by our partners at the Energy Saving Trust, take no time to put into action, so you can start cutting your energy costs today. 

Put a lid on it

There are lots of ways you can save money when cooking.

  • Putting a lid on your pan while cooking on a gas hob can save you money on your energy bills this year. Water will boil faster and the lid keeps the heat in the pan, rather than letting it escape, speeding up cooking time and helping you use less energy.
  • Cook slowly to save! Slow cookers are an extremely efficient way to cook, and you can batch cook extra portions for another day to save time as well as energy. Microwaves and air fryers are also great alternatives to using ovens.
  • Only boil as much water as you need - overfilling your kettle wastes energy. Filling your kettle with just the amount of water you intend to use could save you £131 each year.

Turn it down

Turning down the temperature where you can, can help keep costs down too.

  • Typically, a large percentage of your energy bill is from heating your home over the winter. Turning down your heating thermostat by just one degree could save you £115 on energy bills every year1, 2. To help to keep you safe and well, your thermostat should be set between 18-21°C.
  • Wash smart! Setting your washing machine to 30° rather than higher temperatures uses over 50% less electricity and can save you £15 a year1, 3.
  • And make sure you only wash with a full load. Cutting back on just one washing cycle a week can save you an additional £15 a year and further savings on metered water bills1.
 

Switch on to switching off

  • It takes seconds and saves pounds - turning off lights when you’re not using them or when you leave a room. could save you around £251 a year
  • Switching appliances off standby mode could save you £601, 4. This includes energy draining appliances such as televisions, computers, games consoles and phones left on charge - so remember to switch them off.
 

More ways to save

  • Use a washing up bowl to use less energy. It only takes around 95 seconds to fill a washing up bowl with enough water to clean your dishes1, 5 - which is far more cost effective than leaving the tap running.
  • Take shorter showers. Spending just one minute less in the shower can save £20 a year in a typical household - and uses far less energy than taking a bath. If you are on a water meter you could save an additional £19 a year1, 6.
  • Sticking to 4-minute showers could save a typical household £75 on energy bills and around £65 on metered water bills every year1, 6.
  • You can save even more money by replacing an inefficient shower head with a water-efficient one, reducing your yearly gas bill by £45. If you have a water meter as well you can save another £25 - that’s a total saving of £70 each year1, 7.
  • Use energy-friendly LED light bulbs. Replacing all the light bulbs in your home with LEDs can save around £65 a year1 - and they last five times longer!

We’re committed to helping our customers keep safe and well. 

We are working with our partners Energy Saving Trust, National Energy Action (NEA), Groundwork and Turn2us to provide you with practical advice and help you find financial assistance with your energy bills. 

Explore our useful resources below to learn more about what support you could be entitled to. 

Turn2us

Turn2us is a national charity that offers practical information and support to people who are struggling with money. It is working with Cadent to ensure our customers can access the necessary tools to help them find financial help and make household energy consumption more affordable.

Use the Turn2us Grants Search tool to find out what grants you may be entitled to, and the anonymous, free to use Turn2us benefit calculator to see which means-tested benefits you can apply for.

Groundwork

Groundwork is working with the Cadent Foundation to give the most vulnerable households tailored consultations with ‘Groundwork Green Doctors’ about energy-saving measures and financial support via a referral service.  They are also providing tips and advice for all energy consumers on the Groundwork website.  

National Energy Action 

National Energy Action (NEA) is a national fuel poverty charity, working to keep people warm and safe in their homes. NEA works with Cadent to offer a range of support to people in fuel poverty both directly and via intermediaries. 

To find out how NEA can help you visit the National Energy Action website. 

Other useful resources

More energy saving tips from the Energy Saving Trust 

Try the top tips for using less energy around the home as recommended by our partner the Energy Saving Trust.  

Find out more

Priority customers

The Priority Services Register (PSR) helps gas and electricity companies look after customers who have additional communication, access or safety needs. It’s free and easy to join and gives extra support to those who need it. 

 

Register for PSR

Stay safe from scammers 

A number of messages are currently being circulated claiming to offer discounts on energy bills. These are a scam. If you receive one of these do not provide personal information, bank details, or make a payment upfront. Rebates will be applied automatically and you do not need to register!  

 

Be scam aware

What to do if you smell gas 

The smell of gas can be alarming and should be treated seriously. If you smell gas either inside or outside your property always act fast and call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999* at any time of the day or night.  

Find out more

Theft of gas and unauthorised connections 

The theft of gas can pose serious danger– interfering with gas pipes and meters can put lives at risk.  Find out more to understand, identify, and report gas theft.  

Find out more

Stay safe, warm and connected this winter

Keep yourself and your family safe and warm with our top tips to help prepare your home.  

Find out more
  1.  All tips are based on a typical three-bedroom semi-detatched gas-heated house in Great Britain with an 88% efficient gas boiler, using a gas tariff of 8p/kWh and electricity tariff of 30p/kWh 
  2. Based on turning down a room thermostat from 22 degrees to 21 degrees in the main living areas.
  3. Based on the average energy use at different temperatures from lab testing of 55 washing machine models. Energy use was monitored on an empty load.  
  4. This saving includes all appliances, consumer electronics, lights and chargers that have been left on standby mode or have been left on and not in use.  
  5. Based on filling a 10-litre washing up bowl compared with a 12.65 litre/min kitchen tap at 50% of its full flow.  
  6. Based on a average shower flow rate of 9.82 litres a minute used 0.75 times per person per day in a 2.4 person household. 
  7. Assumes that a household replaces a 9.82 litre a minute shower head with a 7.7 litre a minute shower head.