Energy advice

Could you be paying too much for your gas and electricity?
Are you finding it hard to pay your energy bills?

Here are some energy saving tips which could also save you money:

  • Turn off standby appliances - turn appliances off at the plug to save an average of £30 a year
  • 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
  • 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
  • an A+++ fridge freezer will save around £320 in energy bills over its lifetime compared to an A+ model
  • Wash clothes at a lower temperature - washing at 30 degrees rather than 40 degrees can help reduce your energy usage
  • Be smarter about water - you’d be surprised how much you could save by having a shower instead of a bath, not leaving the tap running while you clean your teeth, or not over filling the kettle!
  • Turn down radiators in the rooms you’re not using regularly and keep internal doors shut. Otherwise, draughts and poorly insulated windows will mean you’re burning energy unnecessarily.
  • Make sure your radiators aren’t blocked by curtains or furniture – it’s good to make the best of the heat you’re paying for
  • When you leave mobile phones, laptops and tablets on charge even when the battery level is 100%, they could still be using energy. Switching them off and unplugging them once they’re fully charged is a great way to be more energy efficient
  • Think carefully before putting wet clothes in the tumble dryer – if it’s warm or windy, consider air-drying outside instead
  • Warm, damp air in your home can cause condensation on walls and windows. Condensation can then cause black spots or mould – reduce steam and damp air in your home (open the window when you shower, cook with pan lids on) and keep your home well ventilated.

Visit the Energy Saving Trust website for more free energy saving tips.

If you think your home is too cold or you’re spending too much on your bills, give us a call on 0300 111 1000.