Shorter daylight hours and colder weather are on the way, and for many, this means seriously looking at the impact the rising energy cost will have on them this winter. Even though a unit price cap is in place, your behaviour last winter could be too costly to maintain this year. 

Dramatic increases in energy, food and travel costs will leave many struggling and needing to find ways to cut costs. Energy bills particularly have seen huge increases, which undoubtedly means finding smarter ways to get by.

Many gadgets are available to help you reduce your energy consumption and lower your bills. We look at some that could help you make a difference. Remember to check out both online and in-store prices to get the best deals.

Energy Saving Gadget ideas

LED lightbulbs – saving a whopping 90% energy usage for the same amount of light. Changing to LED bulbs can help you save as much as £50-£200 a year, depending on how many lights you have.

A step further is to change to Smart light bulbs connected to a smartphone or speaker. Quickly turn the lights off after forgetful family members without getting up from your seat. Great if you have a home full of teenagers or elderly who don’t understand the impact of rising energy prices.

Heated clothes airers – A tumble dryer cycle costs roughly £1.25 more than a year ago. Tumble drier balls can reduce drying time if you have no choice but to tumble dry. Yet, investing in a heated clothes airer will only use from as little as 7p per hour, so it could significantly affect your energy use to dry washing.

Air fryers – some of which have a grill function are a great way to reduce energy costs and still eat well. Air fryers can cook almost anything you usually use your big oven for. Yet, they are smaller, heat up quicker and can often cook food in less time than a traditional oven. 

Electric blankets and wraps – if it’s too costly to heat a whole room or house, think of heating just yourself and invest in a heated wrap to help save on heating bills.

One cup hot water dispensers – a hot drink is warming on a cold day, yet so much money is wasted when boiling a kettle. The range of energy-saving one-cup machines means you just pop your cup under and only boil the water your cup needs. It’s quicker too.

More Money Saving Gadgets

As well as these small ways in which you can save money on your energy bills, there are other additions to your home that might help, all year round.

Smart thermostats

If you’ve ever wondered what your perfect temperature is, just ask a smart thermostat. These fascinating little devices work by learning how you usually heat your home and adjusting the temperature to match it. However, you don’t have to stick with the temperature your thermostat predicts you will need. You will have full control over your heating with the smartphone companion app, which will make it much easier to reduce your energy usage while you are out of the house or the weather improves.

Smart plugs

If you’ve ever left your devices on standby, they may be wasting energy. Using a smart plug will allow you to control your appliances remotely, even setting schedules so that your electric items will wake up when you do.

Draught Excluders

Controlling the heat that escapes your home is vital for good energy usage. A draft excluder is a simple and effective way of ensuring that any gaps, particularly under your front door, for example or windows, are plugged.

Thicker curtains

If your home feels very cold in winter, a simple way to improve this is to hang thicker curtains on your windows. These are particularly useful in older homes as they can significantly reduce heat loss.

Water saving showerhead

Showers will likely be a major source of both energy and water consumption. If you love your morning showers it may be a wrench to shorten them or give them a miss every so often. However, a water-saving showerhead can help you to enjoy your usual water pressure while reducing water flow. 

Insulation 

Should you home have poor installation, you may as well be throwing money away. Take a look at upgrading your cavity wall installation, loft installation or even floor insulation. While this will have an initial cost, long-term savings are likely to pay off.

Air source heat pumps

A more energy efficient alternative to traditional boilers, these renewable energy systems take heat from outside and convert it into usable heating and hot water for your home. Not only can they help you save on your energy bills, but they can also help you significantly reduce your carbon footprint.

Solar panels

With a high upfront cost, these may not be within your budget. However, if you can afford them, solar panels can generate free electricity for your home. Not only this, but she will reduce your reliance on the grid, and in the long-term, you can even save thousands of pounds over their lifetime.

Final words on Energy Bills and Gadgets To Save You Money

While the UK government are tackling some of the issues of fuel poverty, still as many as two-thirds of families will find the higher energy costs a struggle this winter. Cutting down usage is going to be essential for many. Finding energy-saving gadgets and changing habits will undoubtedly help you reduce energy bills, so it’s worth looking at how you use energy and considering what changes you could make ahead of winter.

If our gadget list has inspired you, here are some further tips to reduce energy bills this winter to help you cut the amount you spend.