Energy costs increased at the beginning of October, with households in England, Wales, and Scotland now expected to pay £2,500 year, an increase of £500. The huge price increase won’t be offset by energy conservation initiatives. However, numerous little adjustments added up could result in annual savings of several hundred pounds. Here are some tips to cut energy bills.
Cut Energy Bills – Change How You Cook
Ovens might be an ineffective cooking method because they need heating a huge area. It might be less expensive to use a microwave, pressure cooker, or air fryer in its place.
For instance, as of October 1, it costs 3p to microwave an 800W (watts) frozen ready meal for seven minutes. According to energy efficiency website Sust-it, it would cost 40p for 35 minutes in a 2000W oven.
Since they cook food faster, microwaves often use less energy. An oven-baked potato, for instance, might require 90 minutes, an air fryer 45 minutes, and a microwave 10 minutes.
Lighting
According to The Energy Saving Trust and Which?, the average UK household uses 11% of its energy for lighting.
Making the switch to LED bulbs can have a significant impact.
According to Sust-it, a household could spend roughly £238 per year if a dozen 40W incandescent or halogen lamps were used for four hours each day. LED replacement costs would be £41.70, saving £196.30 annually.
Although LED bulbs can be more expensive, they have a longer lifespan and will ultimately cost less.
Cutting Energy Bills – Heating
the lowest comfortable setting on your thermostat (often 18 to 21C).
According to the Energy Saving Trust, lowering your thermostat by just one degree could result in annual savings of £145. This is based on a semi-detached home with the heating on from 7 am to 9 am, 4 pm to 11 pm, and 7 am to 11 pm on the weekends.
The savings will be less in smaller homes, like a flat or a terraced house.
You can also turn the heating off in rooms you’re not using.
Bleeding radiators to remove trapped air and moving furniture away from them helps warms air flow more easily around a room.
Cutting Energy Bills – Insulation
Your home will lose heat more quickly and be more difficult to keep warm if it is poorly insulated.
Heat is trapped through insulation and draught-proofing, which prevents heat from escaping through doors and windows.
According to the Energy Saving Trust, professional draught-proofing may cost around £225. However, depending on an average semi-detached property, it can save roughly £125 each year.
You can also cut costs by using DIY alternatives like strong curtains and self-adhesive strips for window gaps. Since the roof loses the majority of heat, loft insulation needs to be a top priority.
Renters may not have the opportunity to install insulation because landlords are responsible for large renovations. Landlords who rent out homes that don’t satisfy minimal energy efficiency criteria, however, may be subject to fines.
Cutting Energy Bills – Appliances
Dryers and washers can consume a lot of energy. However, she claims that there are effective methods to employ them. Use any environmental options and reduce the speed of your machine, especially if the clothing aren’t really that dirty.
According to the Energy Saving Trust, washing clothing at 30 C and utilising one fewer cycle each week might result in a £28 annual savings.
If possible, air dry your garments as opposed to using a dryer. Based on typical consumption, an energy-efficient dryer will cost at least £36 per year starting in October, while an inefficient one may cost as much as £159, according to Sust-it.
The Energy Savings Trust estimates that refraining from using an inefficient dryer for four months during the summer might result in annual savings of up to £70.
Keeping Clean
According to the Energy Saving Trust, heating water for showers, baths, and faucets accounts for roughly 12% of the energy expenditure in a typical family with gas heating.
The savings, however, might be less if you utilise a power shower because you’ll need more hot water.
During this time, shaving off four minutes from an eight-minute shower might save you £70 annually. Based on taking five showers per week.
