7 tips to reduce average energy bills
With the cost of energy soaring, more people than ever are trying to reduce their energy bills. Average energy bills for UK households are around £526.23 per year or £43.86 per month on electricity and £602 per year or £50.17 per month on gas. This is bound to increase with energy prices getting higher and many households will be spending much more than this already. How do you reduce your average energy bills and make them more affordable? In this guide, we reveal our top seven tips.
Install a smart meter
If you haven’t already, now is the time to have a smart meter installed. They make it far easier to set a budget, track your energy usage and reduce it whenever you find you are going over budget. They also mean that the meter readings that your energy company uses to charge you are far more accurate.
Turn down the thermostat
Turning down the thermostat by just one degree can massively reduce your energy bills while making little difference to the temperature of your home.
Invest in insulation
The above point is far easier if you have adequate insulation that keeps heat in and cold air out. Changing your windows and doors to double or triple glazing with new sealing is one of the best ways to get rid of draughts, as well as installing insulation in your loft to prevent heat from escaping through the roof.
Get your boiler serviced
Consider getting your boiler serviced to ensure that it is working at maximum efficiency. This may be included in your boiler’s warranty or insurance and for little cost could reduce your bills significantly because it ensures it is working as it should.
Choose energy efficient appliances
Check the EU energy-efficient rating before you buy a new appliance – those with good ratings use less electricity and will help to reduce your bill. Use electricity guzzling appliances less often where possible such as:
• Air drying clothes instead of using the tumble dryer
• Hand washing dishes instead of using the dishwasher
• Choosing CFL or LED light bulbs over incandescent bulbs.
Reduce water heating
Wet appliances are the worst culprit when it comes to driving up energy bills because water requires extensive heating. To tackle this, you could:
• Take showers instead of baths
• Limit shower time
• Only fill the kettle with as much water as is needed
• Wash clothes at 30 degrees or lower.
Don’t leave devices on standby
Perhaps the easiest tip is to turn your TV off at the wall instead of leaving it on standby when it is not in use, as this still uses up a lot of energy unnecessarily.
