How to save money on your energy bills

Reducing your energy bill often starts with a few small changes:

• No matter what kind of heating system you have, lowering the temperature of your home by just one degree can save you up to 7% on your energy bill. It's also important to heat each room accordingly. While bathrooms should be heated to about 21°C, you'll often find that 19°C can suffice for a living room. Bedrooms can be even cooler at about 16°C overnight.

• Make sure to air out your whole home every day for at least five minutes to allow excess humidity to escape.

• Do not leave your appliances on standby. When it comes to appliances like TVs, the older the model, the more energy it will use on standby mode. Similarly, make sure you unplug your phone or laptop chargers after every use.

Heating is the single biggest source of energy consumption in the home. In addition to making a few small changes on a day-to-day basis, think about investing in energy efficient appliances where possible.

Use a programmable thermostat

A room thermostat is the most traditional option but a programmable thermostat can be used to reduce the temperature of your home when you aren't there so you won't use your heating system unnecessarily. Better still, a smart thermostat allows you to control your heating remotely from a smartphone, laptop or tablet to match your needs as closely as possible which can lead to savings up of to 20%.

Identify sources of heat loss

With an open fireplace, as much as 90% of the heat produced is lost up the chimney. A heat exchanger can be used to make a fireplace more efficient. A fireplace insert will improve efficiency even further.

Be wary of using old electric heaters as they can be extremely energy intensive. The same goes for older models of boilers. If you have an electric heating system, think about upgrading to the most efficient heaters or radiators available if possible.

Optimise heat transfer

In order for radiators to work optimally, the air must be allowed to circulate freely around them. Do not place anything on radiators and do not place furniture too close to them. Remember to dust radiators regularly and to bleed your central heating radiators at the start of each winter.

Your boiler must also be serviced annually by a registered gas engineer.

Water heating is just behind home heating in terms of energy consumption. But it is possible to cut down on the costs of producing hot water with a few changes:

• Start by lowering the temperature of the water at the boiler to 55° to 60°C. This temperature should be high enough to prevent bacteria growth and scale build-up, while also providing a comfortable water temperature.

• Do not let hot water run unnecessarily when washing your hands or showering.

• Showering instead of taking a bath should mean using three to five times less water.

• If your hot water pipes run through any cold areas (unheated rooms, for example), fit them with insulation to limit heat loss and save money in the process.

Cooking is another major source of energy usage. There are a few ways to cut down on costs in the kitchen:

• Install an induction hob. These hobs use about 30% less energy than ceramic hobs and 50% less than a standard hob.

• A fan-assisted oven can be used to cook several dishes at a time evenly. Using your microwave to reheat small portions is much more energy efficient than turning on the oven.

• Unless you have an induction hob, turn off your burners a minute or so before you are finished cooking to make use of the residual heat.

• Fridges and freezers are affected by exterior temperatures so do not place them too close to sources of heat. Be sure to leave adequate space above and behind these appliances to allow air to circulate freely. Do not leave the fridge or freezer open for too long and never place warm food in the fridge as the appliance will have to work harder to get back down to the right temperature. Finally, be sure to defrost the freezer regularly.

• Clean gas burners regularly to allow them to work as efficiently as possible. A yellow flame indicates that the burner is not getting enough oxygen.

• Use a kettle to boil water rather than boiling on the stove. Finally, cover up your pots while cooking to trap heat.

While washing machines, dishwashers and tumble dryers are getting more efficient all the time, they are still very energy-intensive appliances. Our advice:

• Tumble dryers use the most amount of energy of all home appliances. It is best to dry your clothes outdoors whenever possible. Otherwise, try to pick a model with a moisture sensor to automatically adjust the length of your drying cycles.

• Washing machines also come with a variety of settings. Low temperature cycles can handle most washing tasks and use up to three times less energy than washing at higher temperatures.

• Dishwashers tend to use less water compared to washing dishes by hand, especially if you leave the tap running while you wash. However, be sure to select 'eco' mode to save energy.

• Don't forget to clean the filters regularly.

• If you have a time-of-use tariff, make use of less expensive off-peak hours. This cheaper rate lasts around seven to eight hours and generally falls between the hours of 11pm and 8am. Using your most energy intensive appliances during this time can help you to make significant savings.

Energy ratings

All appliances in the home use energy. Pay close attention to energy labels and select the most efficient appliances available. Energy labels are divided into several ratings. In the past, the classification ranged from A+++ to D. Appliances made after 1 March 2021 will feature the new system which runs from A to G. The new ratings currently only apply to household refrigerators and freezers, wine storage refrigerators, washing machines, washer-dryers, dishwashers and televisions.

Energy-efficient bulbs

While the ideal option is to rely on natural light as much as possible, it's important to note that LED bulbs and CFL bulbs use much less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs. Look out for energy labels on the bulb packaging for more information on efficiency.

Adopting a few simple habits on a daily basis can help you to avoid using energy unnecessarily. This includes things like remembering to turn off the light when you leave the room and dusting your bulbs regularly.

Save money with insulation

As much as 30% of heat can be lost through a poorly insulated roof. A further 25% of heat loss can be traced back to poorly insulated walls and 13% for old windows. Improving insulation is therefore an excellent way to save on your energy bill. A number of grants are available in the UK to improve insulation including the ECO scheme.

Changing energy supplier

Changing your gas or electricity supplier should be a fairly quick and easy process. While there may not be much difference between providers currently, it's still a good idea to look around at other suppliers to see if there is a better deal out there. If you feel a bit lost with all the suppliers and tariffs on offer, use a price comparison site to find the best option for your home.