Surprising Ways to Cut Energy Costs in the UK

Many UK households are trying to find good ways to lower energy costs as energy prices go up. While it’s common to turn off lights and lower the thermostat, there are some less obvious tips that can help save a lot on electricity bills, gas bills, and overall energy consumption.

According to Ofgem, the average UK household pays £1,717 each year for energy bills. You can cut some of these costs with easy, surprising changes. These changes help your appliances and heating systems work better. Here are six surprising ways to lower energy bills and improve your home’s energy efficiency.

1. Insulate Your Windows with Bubble Wrap to Prevent Heat Loss

Government data reveals that 18 percent of heat loss happens through windows. Homes with single-glazed windows lose heat twice as quickly as those with double glazing. While putting in new windows can cost a lot, using bubble wrap is a surprisingly effective and cheap way to insulate them.

How It Works

Bubble wrap can keep heat from escaping. It works by trapping air in its bubbles, which helps warm air stay inside. This is especially handy in the winter. It is very useful for homes with older windows or single glazing.

How to Apply Bubble Wrap to Windows

1. First, measure the window glass and cut the bubble wrap a bit bigger than the glass.
2. Next, spray a light layer of water on the window. This helps the wrap stick better.
3. Then, press the bubble side of the wrap onto the glass.
4. If needed, use double-sided tape to hold the edges in place.

Using this easy trick can cut heat loss through windows by as much as 50 percent. This could help families save between £20 and £50 each year on heating bills. The exact amount saved depends on the size of the windows and how well they are insulated.

2. Use Aluminium Foil Behind Radiators to Reflect Heat Back Into the Room

A lot of heat from radiators gets taken up by the outside walls instead of making the room warm. Instead of turning up the heating, you can make your radiators work better. Just put aluminium foil behind them. This will help reflect heat back into the room.

Why This Works

Heat always goes to cooler places. This means that if a radiator is near an outside wall, a lot of the heat it produces gets taken in by the wall, instead of warming the room. Putting aluminium foil on the wall can help. The foil reflects the heat back into the room. This makes the heating work better.

How to Do It

• Cut sheets of aluminium foil slightly larger than the radiator.
• Place the foil behind the radiator with the shiny side facing the room.
• Secure it using double-sided tape if necessary

Using foil or special radiator reflector panels can make your heating work better. This can improve heating efficiency by as much as 10 percent. You could save £25 to £50 each year on heating bills in an average UK home.

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3. Clean Household Appliances to Reduce Energy Consumption

Many home appliances use extra energy if they are not kept clean. By cleaning important appliances often, you can use less electricity. This practice can also help them last longer and lower energy bills.

Fridge freezer coils

Dust and dirt can collect on the coils of your fridge freezer. This makes it work harder to stay cold. Cleaning these coils once a year can help it run better and use less energy. You might save up to 25 percent on energy use, which is about £20 a year.

Cooker heating rings

Grease and food bits can stick to heating rings. This causes the stove to absorb heat and work less well. Cleaning them often helps heat move better. This can cook food faster and use less energy.

Dryer vents

A blocked tumble dryer vent limits airflow. This can cause your clothes to take longer to dry. To improve how well it works, clean the lint filter after you use it. Also, check the outside vent once a month. Doing this can help save up to £30 every year on energy costs.

Light bulbs

Dust on light bulbs can make them less bright. This may cause people to use more lights than they really need. If you clean the bulbs often, they will shine brighter. This way, you use the right amount of electricity.

Regularly taking care of your appliances can help you save up to £75 each year on energy costs.

4. Use a Dry Towel in Your Tumble Dryer to Speed Up Drying Time

Tumble dryers use a lot of energy at home. A simple way to save energyand reduce drying time is to add a dry towel to the load in the tumble dryer.

How It Works

When you put clothes in a tumble dryer, it takes out moisture with heat and airflow. A dry towel in the dryer catches some of this moisture. This helps the clothes dry faster and uses less energy for each time you run the dryer.

How to Do It

• Put a clean, dry towel in the tumble dryer with your wet clothes.
• Let the towel stay for the first 10 to 15 minutes of the drying cycle.
• Take out the towel when it has soaked up moisture to avoid over-drying.

This easy tip can lower drying time by up to 30 minutes. It can also help cut tumble dryer energy consumption by 25 percent. Families who often use their tumble dryer might save up to £60 each year with this method.

5. Lower the Temperature of Your Hot Water to Save on Energy Bills

Many homes set their boiler or hot water cylinder to a higher temperature than needed. This causes energy waste. By adjusting the temperature settings, you can lower energy consumption. This change will not lessen your comfort.

How to Reduce Hot Water Energy Costs

• If you have a combi boiler, check the temperature settings. Lower it to about 60°C. Doing this can cut gas billsby as much as 8 percent each year.
• If you have a hot water cylinder, use a British Standard jacket to insulate it. This helps stop heat loss and lowers the cost of reheating.
• Install thermostatic radiator valves. This can help you control the temperature in different rooms and stop them from getting too hot.

Lowering the temperature of your boiler flow and boosting hot water insulation can help save an average home around £100 to £150 each year.

6. Hang Clothes Indoors Without Blocking Radiators

Many people hang wet clothes on radiators in winter. This practice can lower heating efficiency and raise energy costs. Wet clothes stop warm air from moving freely. This makes radiators work harder to warm the room. A better choice is to use a drying rack or a retractable washing line inside.

Best Practices for Indoor Drying

1. Place a drying rack close to a heat source, but not directly in front of it.
2. Choose a space with good air flow to stop dampness and condensation.
3. Spin clothes faster in the washing machine to get rid of more moisture before drying.

By choosing to air dry clothes instead of using radiators or tumble dryers, people can save about £50 to £80 a year.

7. Turn Your Heating Smarter – Without Replacing Your Boiler

Most people think that to save on energy costs, they need to buy a new boiler or spend a lot on renewable energy. But there are some simple tricks that can actually help you use less energy. You can also improve your heating controls and lower your carbon footprint without spending a lot of money on upgrades.

Use a Smart Meter to Track Hidden Energy Waste

Many homes do not know how much energy they use from standby power. This is when appliances still use electricity even when they are off. A smart meter can help you spot these energy drains. With this information, you can manage your electricity bill better.

• If you unplug devices that are on standby, you could save as much as £65 each year, based on the information from the Energy Saving Trust website.
• A smart meter lets you see how much energy you use in real-time. This way, you know how much you spend while running appliances.
• By checking your smart meter during busy times, you can move heavy energy tasks, like using the washing machine, to cheaper hours when energy costs less.

Reduce Your Hot Water Tank Temperature Without Noticing

Many homes in the UK still set their hot water tank temperature too high. A simple way to save energy is to lower the temperature of the water in the hot water cylinder from 70°C to 60°C. This change is easy and it won’t affect your comfort.

• Lowering the hot water temperature by 10 degrees can help a typical household save £100 a year on gas bills.
• Covering your hot water tank with a British Standard insulating jacket stops heat loss. This helps keep the water warm longer, reducing the need to reheat.
• If your hot water is too hot to touch, it may be wasting much energy. Adjusting it is an easy way to lower energy bills.

Only Heat the Rooms You Use – Without Freezing the Others

It may feel normal to turn off radiators in empty rooms. However, this can lead to condensation, dampness, and higher heating bills over time. Instead of turning them off completely, just lower the temperature a bit. You can do this with thermostatic radiator valves.

• Keeping radiators set low in rooms you do not use stops moisture from building up. It also keeps heat moving well.
• Smart thermostats let you manage different areas in your home. This way, you don’t waste money heating rooms you don’t need.
• If your boiler is old, using smart heating controls with it can save you up to 30% on energy costs. You won’t have to replace the system.

FAQs About Cutting Energy Costs

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