Energy saving tips to reduce energy bills

We've brought together a number of energy saving tips to help you to cut down on your energy bills. Some of these are simple changes, such as turning lights off when you leave a room, whereas some of them are more extensive changes, such as insulating roof and loft spaces. 

Turn lights off

Turn lights off when you leave a room, but only if you're not risking your safety by doing so. It's also important that you make sure to keep stairs and other areas well lit to reduce your risk of falls.

Think about replacing lightbulbs

LED lightbulbs use less energy than traditional lightbulbs, so consider replacing these. Over time, this will save you money on your energy bills. 

Choose appliances with good energy ratings

These days, a lot of new appliances come with an energy efficiency rating – the better the rating, the less energy the appliance uses. If you’re getting any new appliances, choose the best energy rating and make sure you get an appliance that’s the right size for you – as larger appliances use more energy than smaller ones.

A new energy efficiency rating system was introduced in March 2021 so you might see energy labels on appliances such as lights, fridges and freezers, TVs, washing machines, washer-dryers and dishwashers.

Switch off appliances when they're not in use

Switch appliances off when they're not in use rather than leaving them on standby. But don't turn off your fridge or freezer because this could mean your food goes off sooner than it would otherwise.

Defrost your freezer every 6 months

It's also a good idea to try and defrost your freezer every 6 months, or if it's looking frosted around the edges. This can make the freezer work more efficiently because the motor doesn't have to work so hard.

Take showers instead of baths

If you can, take showers instead of baths – a short shower can use 1/3 of the amount of water needed for a bath. However, if it's easier for you to take baths, consider not filling the tub all the way – the average full bath uses 80 litres of water.

Fix dripping taps

Fix any dripping taps – a dripping or leaking tap can waste up to 1/2 of a bath's worth of water a week and it'll cost you extra if you use a water meter.

Only use the water you need

Turn off the tap while you're brushing your teeth or shaving because this saves water. You could also fill up a bowl and use this to do the dishes and wash food, rather than rinsing every plate and cup under running water.

When making hot drinks, only boil the amount of water you need.

If you like gardening, try and use a watering can instead of a hosepipe. 

Turn off radiators in rooms you don’t use

Turn off the radiators in rooms you don’t use, like spare bedrooms, and close the doors to stop heat escaping from the rooms where the radiators are switched on. Heat the rooms you use the most, like your living room, to a comfortable temperature – usually around 18°C (64°F) is ideal.  

Understand how your heating controls work

It's a good idea to become familiar with your heating controls, such as thermostats and timers. This will help you heat your home comfortably without wasting energy.

Find out more about how to use your heating controls

Run machines at lower temperatures

Run the washing machine at a lower temperature – you can often do everyday washes at 30°C. Washing clothes at 30°C uses around 40% less electricity over a year than washing at higher temperatures.

You can also run your dishwasher at a lower temperature – on the 'eco' programme, for example. This uses less energy than higher temperature programmes.

Keep radiators and heaters clear

It's a good idea to keep radiators and heaters clear so that warm air can circulate through rooms. For example, during the daytime, make sure to draw your curtains and tuck them behind radiators.

Bleed radiators

When air gets trapped inside your radiators, this leaves cold spots at the top. This makes your heating system less efficient because you have to use more energy to get enough warmth from your radiators. If your radiators are hot at the bottom but cold at the top, they probably need bleeding. 

Find out more about how to bleeed your radiators on the British Gas website

If you can't bleed your radiators yourself – or you're just not comfortable doing so – your local Age UK might run a handyperson service that could help.

Make sure doors and windows are draught proofed

Draught proof doors and windows to stop heat escaping. To do this, fit draught-proofing strips and draught excluders around doors, seal gaps around window frames and add covers to letterboxes and keyholes. It's important to leave some ventilation to reduce condensation and prevent the build up of waste gases from fuel-burning appliances.

Install double glazing throughout your home

Double-glazing stops heat from escaping, as well as minimising noise from the outside – you could save money on your heating bills if you install it throughout your home. To keep installation costs down, you could choose to only double-glaze the rooms you use and heat most often.

Insulate roof and loft spaces

Insulating roof and loft spaces can really reduce heat loss in your home and save you hundreds of pounds per year. Most homes have some loft insulation but often not enough. Topping up your loft insulation will make your home warmer and save you money on your energy bills.

Insulate cavity walls

If your home has cavity walls – a space between the inner and outer layers of brick – they can be insulated. Insulating your cavity walls will make your home feel warmer. In a typical home, cavity wall insulation can save you hundreds of pounds per year. 

Insulate hot water tanks

Insulating hot water tanks and pipes keeps them warm, which means you can cut down on the amount you'd spend on heating water otherwise.