The current energy crisis is a result of an ongoing shortage of energy across the world, and its effects can be seen in rising household energy bills. While the Government stepped in with a six-month Energy Price Guarantee in October 2022, reducing energy consumption and making homes more energy-efficient remains a key consideration for most families as we head into the winter months.
In a recent poll with YourHomeStyle.UK instagram followers, 91% of those surveyed are aiming to set a heating schedule to help save on heating this winter, with 41% planning to heat only the rooms in use, and 59% unplugging unused devices. Looking for more ways to save energy around the house? The experts at British Gas suggest the following ideas, and the good news is, they don’t cost a penny:
Five free energy-saving tips to reduce energy bills
- Dial it down: It sounds obvious but turning your thermostat down by just one degree will help to reduce your heating bill.
- Bleed your radiators: Ensure all your radiators are working at full capacity by carrying out this simple task. Unsure how to do it? Follow this British Gas guide on how to bleed a radiator.
- Unplug devices: Another simple solution, but by encouraging the family to turn off devices and appliances rather than leaving them on standby, will make a difference.
- Got a combi boiler? Most combi boilers have a default boiler flow temperature of 70 degrees. Drop the temperature to 55-60 and you’ll help your boiler work more efficiently. You could save up to 6% of your energy use, and you won’t even notice the difference. It might sound complicated but it’s not – watch a British Gas engineer explain how.
- Switch off lights: Get into the habit of turning off the lights when you leave a room – it’s easy to do and will reduce your energy bills.
Another simple solution, but by encouraging the family to turn off devices and appliances rather than leaving them on standby, will make a difference.
Once you’ve ticked these off the list, there are plenty of other options to consider, too. Quick-and-easy solutions include switching to LED and smart bulbs, which do cost more than traditional bulbs but save money in the long run as they use less energy. Changing your showerhead to a low-flow design will help as it uses less hot water. And, if you’re confident with a bit of DIY, try fitting inexpensive radiator reflector panels to direct more heat back into rooms, draught-proofing windows and doors with strips of foam, and insulating your loft to prevent heat from escaping.
For more ideas, check out British Gas’ guide on how to save on energy bills.
Save £564 per year on your household energy bill (England, Scotland, Wales; Northern Ireland) *
The Energy Saving Trust has estimated how much money an average household can save if they take these quick-and-easy actions:
- Switch off standby SAVE £65 / £30
- Draught-proof gaps SAVE £127 / £100
- Turn off the lights SAVE £25 / £12
- Wash at 30 degrees and reduce use by one wash a week SAVE £34 / £12
- Avoid using the tumble dryer SAVE £70 / £35
- Take a 4-minute shower SAVE £95 / £90
- Swap one bath a week for a shower SAVE £20 / £19
- Don’t overfill the kettle and fit a tap aerator SAVE £43 / £36
- Reduce your dishwasher use by one run a week SAVE £17 / £8
- Insulate your hot water cylinder SAVE £70 / £65
* Northern Ireland prices for gas and electricity are based on an average of supplier tariffs as of October 2022, discounted further according to the Government’s Energy Bill Relief Scheme. Oil prices are based on an average 1,000 litre purchase in October 2022
FAQs:
What is the energy price cap?
Given the soaring energy prices, the Government are supporting households with an Energy Price Guarantee, which means they have set a cap on energy costs until March 31, to prevent them from escalating uncontrollably. They’re also offering an Energy Bill Support Scheme, or discount, which will be applied on every household’s bill, which equates to a saving of around £700 this winter – although this will vary depending on how many in a household and how much energy they use.
Want to learn more? British Gas explains more about what is the energy price cap.
How is my bill calculated?
According to British Gas experts understanding the information on your energy bill can go a long way to helping you get to grips with your energy use at home - in fact, when we asked YourHomeStyle.UK instagram followers, 38% admitted bills can be confusing. In a nutshell, you’ll see two main charges on your bill:
- Unit rate – Calculated as pence per kilowatt hour (kWh), this is based on how much energy you’re using every hour when you run appliances like heating, lights and the TV. It will also clarify whether this is from estimated or actual meter readings, which have been sent manually or via a smart meter. Some suppliers have separate rates for the day, night, and weekend.
- Standing charge: In other words, the cost incurred to be connected to the network. Some companies might incorporate this into their Unit rate, so check your bill to find out more.
Still have questions? Check out British Gas’s guide to understanding your electricity bill.
Top Tip:
Don’t forget to send monthly meter reading to make sure bills are as accurate as possible.
What is the average power use in a home?
According to Ofgem an average UK household of 2-3 people uses 2,999 kWh of electricity and 12,000 kWh of gas per year. However, this will change depending on how much energy you use. To help provide a rough idea of average costs and help families budget over the coming months, British Gas has calculated the costs of a typical domestic home using the default tariff covered by the Government’s Energy Price Guarantee rates of 1 October 2022 **.
- Flat or 1-bedroom house with 1-2 people using 8,000 kWh of gas and 1,800 kWh electricity will pay annual charge of £1,712.25
- 3-bedroom house with 2-3 people using 12,000 kWh of gas and 2,900 kWh electricity will pay an annual charge of £2,499.87
- 5-bedroom house with 4-5 people using 17,000 kWh gas and 4,300 of electricity will pay an annual charge of £3,492.90
* Electricity unit rate 34.037p per kWh plus standing charge of 46.356p per day and gas unit rate 10.330p per kWh plus standing charge of 28.485p per day. Values might not match exactly due to rounding.
For more information, check out this handy guide from British Gas on the average power consumption of a house.