As responsible and law-abiding UK citizens, it’s only fair that we act responsibly when it comes to consuming energy in our homes.
Whether you’re a student, homeowner, or private/corporate tenant, there are many things you can do to reduce your energy bill, especially with energy tariffs and global warming seemingly increasing each year.
Therefore, it’s now more important than ever to understand some of the best ways for cutting down your power bill. Not only will you have more peace of mind, but the environment will also thank you. And so will your wallet, as a matter of fact!
Best ways to reduce your energy bill in 2024
Now, before we start discussing some of the tips to reduce your energy bill, you should spend some time understanding what your energy bill actually includes.
It can be confusing to initially understand the plethora of information, but once you understand what it all means, it can give you a few ideas right off the bat to save energy. Therefore, we recommend contacting your local energy provider to better understand the charges breakdown.
Without further ado:
Take your appliances off standby
Did you know that you can actually save up to £45 or more each year simply by taking your electronic items and appliances off standby?
When any kind of electronic equipment or appliance is on standby, its circuits are still active which means it continues to consume electricity even though you’re not using it.
Nearly all electronics and home appliances can be switched off completely without losing your personal settings or upsetting their ‘factory’ programming. All you need to do is pull the plug from Mains or if you have one of those sockets with a ‘power off’ switch, you can do so without having to pull the plug.
However, some electronic items, such a digital TV recorders, audio/video recorders for your CCTV cameras, and satellite receivers may need to be left plugged in – not only to help you view your security feed when away from home, for example, but also to keep track of the TV programmes you may want to record.
In such cases, it might make sense to leave these items plugged in, although others you can safely disconnect, such as the microwave oven, computer, TV, and any other frequently used appliance or electronic item.
Switch off those lights
Don’t need the lights for a while? Switch them off!
People often have a nasty habit of leaving the lights on in their room. By turning them off, you can save almost £7 each year on your energy bills. Plus, by using LED bulbs in your home, you can shave off even more from your annual bills.
Use your washing machine conservatively
It’s always better to run your washing machine on a 30° cycle and not at higher temperatures. Also, try to reduce your washing machine operation by at least one run each week for a year.
In doing so, you can potentially save up to £24 each year.
Do away with the tumble dryer
If you can find a way to dry off your clothes without the tumble dryer, do it!
Drying off your clothes on racks (either indoors or outdoors) can help to save as much as £50 a year.
Draught-proof the windows & doors
If your home is relatively new, then this tip may not be as useful, although it’s a worth a shot. Homes that have not been recently built tend to lose a little bit of heat through draughts due to gaps around the doors, windows, and floors, or even in the chimney.
If you draught-proof your windows and doors, and block the cracks in your floors and skirting boards, for example, you can save nearly £80 on your bill each year. We’ll leave it up to you if you want to DIY draught-proof your home or get professional help, although the latter option can be expensive. Ultimately, it’s a time and money investment that will be well worth your while.
Be kitchen-savvy
Undeniably, kettles are among the most used appliances in the kitchen, although most folks end up boiling more water in the kettle than they actually need.
So, let’s start by avoiding overfilling our kettles and, in doing so, we can save up to £10 each year from our electricity bill.
Ever thought about fitting an aerator onto your kitchen tap? This reduces the amount of water coming out of the tap but without affecting the water’s effectiveness or ability to clean things.
If you’ve never used an aerator on your kitchen taps, then it’s a small contraption with tiny holes in it which you attach to your tap’s sprout. It’s cheap and very easy to install, and could potentially help to save around £19 a year.
Fill up your dishwasher
By running your dishwasher only when it’s full, you will effectively cut down the amount of water you use each day. This will also help you to reduce your dishwasher use by one run a week, so that means a potential saving of up to £12 a year.
Use sheepskin products in summers and winters
Anything made from pure sheepskin, such as sheepskin hot water bottles, or sheepskin cushions, for example, can you help you reduce both your heating and cooling bill throughout the year. But how, you might wonder?
Genuine sheepskin has excellent insulating properties – this means that it will keep you nice, warm, and cosy in the winters without you having to constantly run the heater on max – and keep you dry and well-ventilated in the summers as it can draw away moisture quickly, thus, keeping your air conditioner use to a minimum.
Consider loft insulation
The more insulation you have in your home, the more energy-efficient it will be. This is why people get loft insulation to boost their property’s insulation credentials. By adding the recommended 270mm of insulation, you can save as much as £250 a year in a semi-detached home.
Follow the above tips, and you could potentially save hundreds of pounds from your annual energy bill!