26/01/2025
10 ways to keep your energy costs down in winter
Itâs cold and most of us are stuck inside all day...whacking the heating on and getting all cosy and warm is a very appealing thought. Tempting as that may seem, itâs also a surefire way to ramp up energy bills.
Fear not, weâve drawn up a list of money-saving tips that will help you stay warm while keeping an eye on costs.
1) Focus the heat
If youâre spending all your time in one room, think about turning off the heating in other parts of the house.
2) Bleed your radiators
If you switch on your radiator and the top of it stays cold, it means it needs bleeding. Donât worry, itâs not as daunting as it sounds. A quick google will reveal plenty of easy âhow toâ guides.
3) Invest in a room thermostat
Think about investing in a room thermostat, programmer and thermostatic radiator valves. Theyâre a good way to have different temperatures in specific parts of your home. According to Which? It could save the typical home around ÂŁ75 a year.
4) Plug the gaps
Draughts can be a costly annoyance. Luckily, theyâre easily fixed. It might require a bit of handiwork, but getting a draught-proofing kit from your local (or online) DIY shop is easy and pretty cheap. Plus, it will save you around twenty quid a year.
Make sure to look for gaps around your door and window frames. Chimneys and fireplaces are also a big source of draughts. The Energy Saving Trust predicts that closing an open chimney could save you ÂŁ15 a year. Not bad.
5) Insulate
If you have the time and money, itâs a good idea to insulate your loft and any cavity walls. It could shave off up to ÂŁ315 from your yearly bill.
6) Recycle heat
Thereâs a couple of easy, free ways that can maximise the warmth thatâs already in your house.
One is to leave your curtains open when itâs sunny during the day (to let the heat in) and shutting them as soon as it gets dark (so it doesnât escape again).
Another is to consider leaving the oven slightly ajar after youâve cooked, releasing the heat into the kitchen â take all the necessary precautions when doing this.
7) Doing the washing
Itâs a cliche, but itâs true: baths do use up more hot water than showers. And obviously, the shorter the shower, the more energy you save.
When washing clothes, think about using a shorter cycle and lower temperatures. Most germs are killed at 40 degrees, meaning you donât need to go any higher when doing the laundry.
đ Layer up when possible
Weâre not advocating piling on 6 jumpers and 3 pairs of trousers instead of switching on your radiators for a couple of hours a day. However, there may be times when you can save some pennies by turning down the heat a little and pulling on your favourite sweater instead.
9) Boiling water
As a nation, we drink a lot of tea â 73 billion cups of it every year, apparently. And long may that tradition last. However, overfilling the kettle when brewing a cuppa uses up unnecessary energy. It might seem like nothing at the time, but it all adds up in the end.
In a similar vein, stick a lid on pots when cooking. Dinner will be ready quicker and youâll save on gas. Win win.
10) Think about your electricity
Lastly, donât forget to be as efficient as possible with your electricity usage. Turn off consoles when theyâre on stand by, you could pay ÂŁ35 less every year. All money that can be used to heat up the house that little bit longer on frosty mornings instead.
