Replacing traditional bulbs with LEDs could save £4 to £13 per bulb per year. LEDs last much longer too, so you won't need to replace them as often.
Energy Saving
Energy saving tips
Practical energy saving tips to reduce your bills and keep your home warm.
Small changes can make a big difference to your energy bills and help keep your home warm and comfortable all year round.
When energy costs are high, finding ways to reduce your bills while keeping your home comfortable is more important than ever. The good news is that there are lots of simple changes you can make, many of them completely free, that can help lower your energy usage and save you money.
This guide brings together practical tips from National Energy Action and our own advice to help you make your home more energy efficient.
Free and easy changes you can make today
These tips cost nothing to implement and can start saving you money straight away.
- Turn your heating down by one degree. This simple adjustment could save you up to £80 a year. Your home will still feel comfortable, and you'll notice the difference in your bills.
- Switch off lights when you leave a room. This basic habit could save you around £30 per year. It takes seconds and adds up over time.
- Turn appliances off at the plug. Save around £70 a year by switching off appliances completely instead of leaving them on standby. Things like TVs, games consoles, and chargers all use electricity even when they're not actively being used.
- Don't leave your phone charging overnight. Unplug it once it's fully charged. This saves energy and is better for your battery life too.
- Keep showers to four minutes. Shorter showers could save a typical household £65 a year on energy bills. Consider using a timer or playing a four-minute song to help keep track.
- Only boil the water you need. Avoid overfilling the kettle and save yourself around £14 a year on your electricity bill. If you're making one cup of tea, only fill the kettle with one cup of water.
- Use a bowl to wash up. Rather than running the tap continuously, use a bowl and you could save up to £25 a year.
- Close your curtains at dusk. Closing curtains as soon as it gets dark helps trap heat inside your home, reducing the amount of energy needed to keep rooms warm.
- Bleed your radiators. Bleeding radiators removes trapped air pockets, making them more efficient and helping your home warm up faster. This means you don't need to turn the heating up as much, which can reduce your energy costs.
Low-cost changes that make a difference
These tips require a small upfront investment but can lead to significant savings over time.
Draught-proofing doors and windows is one of the cheapest and most effective ways to save energy in any type of building. You could save around £30 a year just by sealing up gaps that let cold air in and warm air out. Simple draught excluders for doors and windows are inexpensive and easy to fit yourself.
If you can't afford double glazing, secondary glazing creates a similar effect on windows to prevent draughts and keep warm air in. This is a more affordable alternative that still makes a noticeable difference.
Washing and drying
- Wash clothes at 30 degrees. Using your washing machine on a 30-degree cycle instead of 40 degrees can save you around £9 a year. Modern detergents work just as well at lower temperatures.
- Reduce your washing by one load per week. Cutting back by just one wash per week could save you around £5 a year, or £36 if you also reduce tumble dryer use.
- Air-dry your clothes. Dry your clothes on racks inside where possible or outside in warmer weather. This could save you up to £75 per year compared to using a tumble dryer. If you do use a tumble dryer, make sure clothes are well spun first to reduce drying time.
Heating and hot water
Almost half of your energy bills goes towards heating and hot water, so this is where you can make the biggest impact.
- Service your boiler annually. Annual boiler maintenance is essential to keep it running efficiently and safely. A well-maintained boiler uses less energy and is less likely to break down when you need it most.
- Lower your combi boiler's flow temperature. All boilers are more efficient when the return temperature is low. Lowering the flow temperature can save you energy and money without affecting your comfort. Check your boiler manual or ask a heating engineer for guidance on the right setting.
- Use heating controls effectively. If you have a thermostat and timer, use them to heat your home only when you need it. Heating an empty house wastes energy and money.
Insulation
About a third of all the heat lost in an uninsulated home escapes through the walls, and a quarter is lost through the roof. Properly insulating your home will keep it warmer and significantly lower your heating costs.
- Loft insulation. If your loft isn't insulated or the insulation is thin, topping it up to the recommended 300mm can make a huge difference to heat retention.
- Cavity wall insulation. If your home has cavity walls (most houses built after 1920 do), filling the cavity with insulation prevents heat escaping through the walls.
- Solid wall insulation. For older properties with solid walls, internal or external wall insulation can help, though this is more expensive. It's worth investigating if you have an older home with high heating bills.
While insulation requires a larger upfront investment, the long-term savings can be substantial. There may also be grants and schemes available to help with costs.
Energy Performance Certificates
When you're buying a property, check its Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). An EPC contains information about a property's energy use and typical energy costs, and gives recommendations about how to reduce energy use and potentially save money.
A good EPC rating means the property is already relatively energy efficient, which can save you money from day one. If a property has a poor EPC rating, factor in the potential cost of improvements when deciding whether to buy.
Find out more about Energy Performance Certificates.
Estimated annual savings
Here's a summary of how much you could save each year by making these changes:
| Annual savings | |
| Turn heating thermostat down by one degree | Up to £80 |
| Turning off appliances on standby | Around £70 |
| Air-drying clothes instead of tumble drying | Up to £75 |
| Shorter showers (of up to four minutes) | Around £65 |
| Washing clothes at 30 degrees and reduce loads | Around £14 |
| Switching to LED bulbs | Between £4 to £13 per bulb |
| Switching off lights | Around £30 |
| Draught-proofing doors and windows | Around £30 |
| Using a bowl for washing up | Up to £25 |
| Avoiding overfilling the kettle | Around £14 |
Small changes add up. Making several of these adjustments could save you money each year, while making your home more comfortable.
Help with energy costs
Need help?
If you're a Co-Ownership customer and struggling with energy costs or rent payments, contact our team today. We're here to support you and can signpost you to additional help and advice.
