How Can I Reduce My Electricity and Gas Bills?

March 24th, 2017
How Can I Reduce My Electricity and Gas Bills?

Are you searching for ways to lower your electricity and gas bills? You can save a lot of money each year by switching to the cheapest supplier at FreePriceCompare.com. If you want to cut down on energy usage, improve your heating controls, or change to a smart meter, we are here to help.

What Are the Best Ways to Lower Your Energy Bills?

Potential Savings from Energy-Saving Actions

Energy-Saving Measure Potential Annual Savings
Lowering thermostat by 1°C Up to £100
Installing a smart thermostat £50 to £75
Insulating home and hot water tank Up to £200
Switching to LED bulbs £75

There are several ways to lower your energy bills. You can make small changes in your daily routine or use smart technology. Using these tips can help you save a lot of money:

  • Switching suppliers: Use Free Price Compare’s tool. Just enter your postcode. It will compare all available tariffs. This helps you find the best deal for your electricity and gas.
  • Smart thermostats: A smart thermostat can automatically control your home’s flow temperature. This helps reduce wasted energy.
  • Insulate your home: You can stop heat loss by filling gaps in windows and doors. This keeps your room temperature steady and lowers heating costs. This is very important in older homes that might not have good insulation.

Best Ways to Lower Your Energy Bills

How Can a Smart Meter Help Reduce Energy Costs?

A smart meter gives you real-time details about your energy use. It takes away the need for estimated bills by sending exact meter readings straight to your energy supplier. With a smart meter, you can see how much energy you use in kilowatt-hours (kWh). This helps you change your usage habits and reduce your energy bills.

  • Statistics: Households with smart meters can save about £50 to £75 each year. This is because they manage their energy better.

You can save more energy by keeping an eye on your energy use as it happens. This helps you manage your heating controls, how you use appliances like your tumble dryer, and even the boiler flow temperature.

What Simple Changes Can I Make to Reduce Energy Bills?

Even small changes in your daily routine can help cut down your energy use and lower your bills. Here are some of these changes:

  • Shorten shower time: Cutting your shower time by 2-3 minutes can save water and the energy used to heat it.
  • Switch to LED bulbs: LED bulbs use 75% less energy than regular bulbs and last 25 times longer.
  • Run appliances efficiently: Always run your washing machine and dishwasher with a full load to use less energy.

Does Preventing Heat Loss Help Lower Bills?

Preventing heat loss is important to cut down your energy use. In the UK, most energy goes to heating. So, making sure your home stays warm is necessary for lower energy bills.

  • Lower the thermostat by only 1°C to notice a change in your heating bill.
  • Make a draught-proof space. Close gaps around windows, doors, walls, and floors using foam strips and glues. This will keep cold air out and warm air in, lowering the energy you need for extra heating.

Tip: Putting a hot water cylinder jacket on or insulating your hot water tank is an easy way to stop heat loss. This helps save energy over time.

What Role Do Smart Thermostats and Combi Boilers Play?

A combi boiler heats water whenever you need it. This means you don't need a hot water tank. It can help save energy. Getting a new boiler can also lower your energy bills. A new boiler works more efficiently.

Smart thermostats automatically change your home’s temperature to fit your schedule. This way, you won’t heat your home more than you need to.

Pro Tip: If you lower your boiler flow temperature by a few degrees, it can greatly reduce energy use. This change will not take away from your comfort.

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Is It Worth Switching to Online Payment Methods?

Yes, using online payment methods like Direct Debit can help you save a lot. Usually, people can save about £50 to £70 every year by paying bills online. Direct Debit payments cut costs and make paying bills easier. They help you pay on time and might even give you extra discounts.

How Does the Warm Home Discount Scheme Help?

The Warm Home Discount Scheme is a government program. It helps eligible households by giving them money to use during winter. This payment is a one-time benefit. You can use it to help pay for heating bills. It lets you stay warm without the stress of rising costs.

How Can Central Heating Systems Improve Efficiency?

Most homes in the UK use central heating to stay warm. You can use thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) to control the temperature in each room. This helps to save energy. By changing the temperature settings for each room, you can only heat the rooms you are using. This practice can save you energy and money.

For most homes, using central heating and TRVs is a great way to lower heating costs. You should set the temperature of the water in your boiler to the most energy-efficient level.

How Can Water Usage Impact Energy Bills?

The water you use affects your energy bills. If you use less hot water, you can save energy and money. For instance, heating less water in the kettle or spending less time in the shower can reduce the energy needed to heat water.

According to the Energy Saving Trust website, you can save money by using less water and changing the temperature settings on your boiler. If you live in Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland, or England, making these changes can help lower your bills.

Appliances and Energy Efficiency

Household appliances, like the fridge and freezer, use energy all the time. It is important to have good ventilation around these appliances so they can work better. You can use a timer to turn off devices that are on standby. Also, check your usage with smartphone apps or smart thermostats.

Gas units to kWh converter

This ranges from 37.5 to 43.0, and is set by National Grid for each distribution zone. Use 39.3 default for a rough answer.
*Check your latest bill for the exact value*

kWh

Your estimated number of kilowatt-hours used will be displayed here.

Water Usage Impact Energy Bills

FAQ About Reducing Gas and Electricity Bills

How often should I read my energy meter?

If you do not have a smart meter, it is a good idea to send in your meter readings every month. This helps to ensure that your bill shows your real energy usage and keeps you from paying estimated charges.

Can using less water help lower energy bills?

Yes, using less water means less energy is needed to heat it. For instance, cutting down on shower time or washing clothes in cooler water can save you money on both water and energy bills.

What’s the benefit of lowering boiler flow temperature?

Lowering the flow temperature of your boiler helps it use less energy to heat water. This is especially helpful if you have a combi boiler that heats water as needed.

How can I reduce heating costs in older homes?

In older homes, insulation is very important to stop heat loss. Make sure your windows and doors are draught-proof. Also, insulate your floors and seal your chimneys when they are not in use. This will help keep warm air inside.

Are tumble dryers energy-efficient?

Tumble dryers use a lot of energy, mainly if you use them often. To save money, try using the dryer at a lower setting. Even better, air-dry your clothes whenever you can.

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