The Energy Price Cap, which determines the amount households pay for energy, fell by 12% on Monday 1 April 2024. Despite this, energy prices can still be hard to budget for.
That’s why we’ve got a dedicated team of energy advisers to support you. They can give you energy saving advice to suit your lifestyle, helping you save money in the long run. They can also help access benefits or apply for energy bill support when you need it most.
There are lots of small things we can do every day that can save energy. A few pence saved every day adds up to hundreds of pounds over the course of a year!
Below are our top tips for using energy more efficiently in your home, to help you save money today.
Video: Tips for saving energy at home
Nine top tips for saving energy at home
1. Use a microwave
Cooking in a microwave uses less power, and it takes less time to cook food. Using your microwave instead of your oven, where possible, can be cheaper in the long run.
Another option would be to use a slow cooker, as it takes less power to use.
2. Pay attention to EPC ratings
Always check the Energy Performance Certificates, or EPC ratings, when shopping for new appliances. The EPC rating shows how energy efficient an appliance is. The higher the number, the more energy efficient it is. This means it costs less money to use.
3. Turn off appliances at the plug
Despite how small the red standby light is, it costs money to keep it on! Appliances on standby still use electricity, so always remember to turn them off at the plug when not in use.
The same goes for phone and laptop chargers. Remove your device when charged and remove the charger from the plug socket when not in use.
4. Turn off the lights
Always turns the lights off when you leave a room. It sounds simple, but it's easy to forget.
Leaving a standard 60-watt light bulb on for 12-hour costs around 20p and can add up to £72 per year!
5. Swap light bulbs to low energy, LED bulbs
You can buy these at most supermarkets and DIY shops. They provide the same amount of light but use 90% less electricity than most standard bulbs. A quick win for saving energy and saving money.
6. Hack your heating controls
If you're not sure on how to use your heating controls, we have tutorials on how to use your heating programmer and setting your thermostat.
Using your heating controls effectively can save money. Even lowering your thermostat by 1 degree can save you around £80 - £85 per year.
7. Wash at 30°c
For everyday cleaning, washing at a lower temperature can save as much as 40%. It's also kinder to your clothes, as they'll will have less wear and tear from repeated washes. 30°c is an eco-friendly way to save energy, add longevity to clothing, and save you money.
8. Spend less minutes in the shower
An average electric shower uses 7.5 kilowatts – 10 kilowatts of electricity. This costs around 31p – 41p every 10 minutes. Limiting the amount of time spent in the shower can save around £14 per month.
You can estimate your energy usage to find out how much you can save just by reducing the amount of time spent in the shower.
9. Use draught excluders
No matter how energy efficient your home, sometimes a cold breeze can still work its way in. Use draught excluders to make sure your home retains heat but also shuts the cold out.
Energy advice
Our energy team consists of seven advisors who are trained to provide you with information and advice on how to save money and energy in your home.
Find out more