Energy efficiency advice

Switch appliances off when you’re not using them. Appliances like your TV, stereo and computer continue to use electricity when they’re in standby mode. Turning them completely off when they're not being used could save you as much as £45 a year.

By switching off lights when you're not using them, you can save around £7 a year on your energy bills.

Switch to LED bulbs and save more on your lighting – you could save around £40 each and every year on bills.

Your kitchen is filled with simple ways to save. Here are just a few examples: 

Using your washing machine at 30°C instead of at a higher temperature and reducing your washing machine use to one run per week could save you around £24 a year. 

Only use your dishwasher when it's full – this'll reduce the amount of water you use. Plus, lowering your dishwasher use by one run per week for a year could save you an extra £12.

Only fill your kettle with the amount of water you need – you don’t need a full one for just one cuppa. This will save you around £10 in energy bills a year. Similarly, when cooking, use the correct size of pans to save energy.

Fit an aerator onto your kitchen tap to reduce the amount of hot water coming out. It's a small, easy to install, cheap gadget with tiny holes that can be attached to the taps – and it could save as much as £19 a year, according to the Energy Savings Trust.

Keeping your shower time to just 4 minutes, in a typical household, could save you £55 a year off your energy bill.

Taking a shower costs less than a bath 

Taking a shower costs less than a bath. You could be saving £9 a year by swapping one bath with a four-minute shower each week.

Draught-proofing is one of the cheapest and most effective ways to save energy and money. Based on a typical gas-fuelled semi-detached property, you could save £40 a year by blocking draughts around windows and doors.

Fitting a hot water cylinder with an insulating jacket will save you £40 a year in heating costs and 110kg of carbon dioxide. It should be at least 80mm thick; if it isn’t, consider buying a new one. Upgrading from 25mm to 80mm thick, using a British Standard jacket, could save you around £40 a year.

By investing in new windows, you can keep warmer and save energy. Installing A-rated double glazing in an entirely single-glazed, semi-detached gas-heated property could save you £135 per year and 330kg of carbon dioxide. If you install A++ rated double-glazed windows to replace single glazing, the savings could be up to £150 per year and 405kg of carbon dioxide.

A quarter of heat is lost through the roof in an uninsulated home. Installing the correct level of insulation for your loft, attic or flat roof can help reduce heat loss and lower your energy bills.

By installing a smart meter, you can see exactly how much energy you’re using to help you use less and save money. The government estimates that a smart meter could typically help reduce a household's electricity use by 3% and gas use by 2%.*

If you’d like help and advice about making your home more energy efficient, contact our energy efficiency line by calling 0333 003 5647.

You’ll be connected to our partner, Scarf, who have a team of trained advisors waiting to give you independent advice.

Scarf delivers energy efficiency advice and services to households and businesses. They may also be able to provide information on publicly available finance to help improve household efficiency.

Energy Saving Trust

A great source of advice and information on the best ways to make your home more energy efficient. 

• Email: [email protected]

• Website: www.energysavingtrust.org.uk

Ways to Save Energy in Your Home (England and Wales)

• Phone: 0800 098 7950

• Website: gov.uk/improve-energy-efficiency
  

Home Energy Scotland 

• Phone: 0808 808 2282 

• Website: homeenergyscotland.org