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. 

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 £145 on energy bills every year^{1, 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 £17 a year^{1, 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 £17 a year and further savings on metered water bills¹.

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 dishes^{1, 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 £25 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 £17 a year^{1, 6}.
• Sticking to 4-minute showers could save a typical household £95 on energy bills and around £60 on metered water bills every year^{1, 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 year^{1, 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!
• Dry your clothes naturally. Appliances that heat things use a lot of energy, so you can save on average £70¹ a year on your electricity bill by line drying clothes instead of using a tumble dryer when the weather allows.
• Only run your dishwasher when it is full to reduce the amount of water you use. Reducing your dishwasher use by one run per week for a year could save you £17¹.