Energy saving tips

There are many ways to save small amounts of money on your gas and electricity supplies, but remember it all adds up!

• Turn off the lights when you leave a room.

• Change to energy efficient lightbulbs- they last longer and will overtime pay for themselves.

• Do not leave appliances on standby, only turn them on when you need to use them

• Try to use your washing machine/dishwasher only when you have enough to fill it.

• Use your washing machine on a cooler wash cycle.

• Only fill your kettle with the amount of water you need to make your hot drinks.

• Turn down your thermostat on your heating. Just a slight reduction in the thermostat can make a difference to your bill!

• When cooking, keep the lids on your saucepans.

• Fit draught exclusion to your windows to help rooms feel warm. You can use tape and/or traditional draught stoppers.

• Set your heating to come on only when you are home.

• If you can, invest in thicker curtains.

Remember, anything that heats up costs money, so hair straighteners, hair dryers, tumble driers and yes even your kettle is costing you to use! 

Please note: we do not encourage you to turn off any extractor fans you have in your home to save on electricity. These fans do not use up much electricity and by turning them off, you may cause excess condensation, which can lead to damp or mould forming.

Making small changes to the way you live can save you money and it all adds up. According to Energy Saving Trust, each year these small changes you could save you:

If you want to know roughly how much household appliances cost to use, you can find out and compare the cost of appliances using the GoCompare Energy Cost Calculator. Click the button below to check it out.

Visit the Energy Cost Calculator

A smart meter has two main elements:

1. The meter itself which uses a secure smart data network to send your meter readings automatically and wirelessly to your supplier at least once per month.

2. An in-home digital display that shows you what energy you’re using, when and how much it costs.

The benefits of having a smart meter:

• An end to inaccurate/estimated bills – you only pay for your actual consumption.

• Can help you to reduce your energy consumption.  If you can see how much you are using, you can take steps to reduce it.

• The data from your meter will help your supply company to monitor national consumption and therefore make stronger plans to ensure that the country has enough energy and that it is used in the most efficient way.

It is difficult to think about keeping your home warm when the sun is shining and the weather is warm and sunny, but planning ahead can help you to save money.  Thinking about how you will heat your home over the winter months and putting in place steps to do so can help to reduce bills.

• Put up thicker curtains if you can as this will keep the cold contained behind them.

• Use draught excluders at doors and windows.

• Lower your thermostat by a degree or two.

• Use your timer – set your heating to come on only when you are at home.

Saving water can reduce your water bill, especially if you are on a water meter, but it can also reduce CO2 emissions.

You can save water by:

• Changing your shower head to a water efficient shower head.

• Turn off a running tap when brushing your teeth and fix any dripping taps.

• Fill up your dishwasher before using it.

• Use a washing up bowl rather than running the tap.

• Invest in some of the water saving devices on the market. Some water companies provide these for free. Contact yours to find out more.

You may find it useful to know the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating for your home to have an idea of how well your home retains heat.

An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) lets us know how energy efficient a home is in terms of how much it costs to heat and power the property, with a rating of A being the most efficient and the rating of G being inefficient. Most homes will have an EPC assessment carried out when a new family moves in. You can use your postcode to look up the EPC rating of your home on the Government's website at: www.gov.uk/find-energy-certificate.

Find out your home's EPC rating

If you have communal heating or a heat network in your building:

• Your heat supplier cannot be changed, however this does not mean that you cannot make savings by making sure you turn off your ‘heat’ when you are not using it.

• The communal heating system will still use 1-2kwh per day even without use, as the temperature of the water needs to be maintained so it is hot upon demand.  This means you should expect to see consumption even when you are away for prolonged periods of time.

• Your heat tariff will be fixed for at least six months. Tariff reviews are carried out automatically twice per year.  Your tariff can go up as well as down.

With energy prices rising for everyone across the UK as well as cost of living, we know all residents will be affected by these price increases. We have a dedicated page on our website with information about how we can help, and the support you can access from other organisations. Click here or the button below to find out more.

More information and support on rising energy prices