How to cut down your energy bills
It’s understandable to feel anxious about the current cost of living crisis in the UK. Everything is increasing, from fuel to food and taxes; unfortunately, most peoples’ pay remains stagnant. Energy bills alone are set to rise by £693 for the average household.
Thankfully, there are ways to lower your spending by making your home more efficient and adapting your lifestyle. Plus, making these changes now will help you prepare for the return of colder weather from autumn onwards.
Not all the tips below will suit every home, and you’ll need an upfront investment for some. But, over time, many of these suggestions should pay off significantly.
Read five of the best ways to reduce your energy bills below.
Review your energy bill and account
In previous years, switching energy provider was one of the easiest ways to save by avoiding ‘out-of-contract rates’. The same kinds of deals aren’t available right now – but there are still a few ways to save:
- Choose paperless bills and manage everything online
- Pay by Direct Debit instead of manually transferring money for each bill
- Take and send regular meter readings to make sure your bill is accurate
Choose energy-efficient appliances
If your washing machine, fridge, tumble dryer, oven or another big appliance is on its way out, choosing an energy-efficient upgrade will lower your bills in the long run.
All major appliances are sold with an efficiency rating, so check this alongside any other information on running costs. The best appliances usually come with higher upfront prices, but they’ll pay for themselves over time.
Improve insulation
Insulation stops heat escaping from your home, helping you make more of what you pay for while using less overall.
Lofts are especially worthwhile to insulate, as lots of heat is lost through your roof. Cavity wall insulation is also a smart idea, while replacing single glazed windows with double glazing makes a noticeable difference too.
Get a new boiler
Is your boiler on the blink? British Gas states that around 60% of the average energy bill goes on heating, so it makes sense to replace your heating’s power source with a more efficient model.
New boilers don’t come cheap, especially when you factor in insulation, so you might need to review your finances to cover the initial cost. But you should save on costly repairs if your current boiler is old and unreliable.
Buy energy-saving light bulbs
Using better light bulbs might seem like a small change, but it could make a surprisingly big difference to your energy usage over the space of your entire home. Energy-saving LED light bulbs also last longer than traditional ones, saving the cost and hassle of replacements.
Other worthwhile options include central heating controls, draught proofing and solar panelling.
Could any of these tips work for your home?
