Energy saving tips to reduce gas and electricity bills
Everything uses electricity, and we often leave our telly on standby or overfill the kettle for our morning cuppa. But we have some handy energy-saving tips to help you save money by doing the smallest things around your home.
Did you know?
Heating and hot water account for over half of your energy bill, so it’s a good idea to keep track of your usage
Setting the washing machine and dishwasher at 30⁰C could reduce your energy usage by 40%
An immersion heater only needs to be on for an hour for you to have enough hot water for the whole day
How can I save energy?
Adjust your daily routine at home with our tips and you could start saving money on your energy bills.
Heating
- Turning your thermostat down by 1 degree, you could save up to 10% on your energy bill. Smart thermostats allow you to control your heating from your smartphone or tablet.
- Cover your hot water tank with an insulated jacket, and you could save up to £50 a year.
- Install thermostatic radiator valves so you can control the temperature in each room. Keep them low around 2-3 when you aren’t in the rooms or out of the house.
- Reducing your boiler flow temperature to 55-60 degrees could cut £65 a year off your gas bill.
- To reduce heat loss, draught-proof your home, and during colder winter months close your blinds and curtains to keep the heat in the inside.
Our top tip: The weather changes daily and so should the temperature on your thermostat setting.
Kitchen
- Use a slow cooker or an air fryer - with a slow cooker you can cook a meal for about the same cost as powering a lightbulb.
- Meal prep – cook as much as possible in one go to save time and energy. Just pop the rest in the freezer ready for the week, and you’re good to go.
- Upgrade to an energy-efficient fridge freezer. Check the energy rating on your appliances - A-rated are the most energy efficient. The lower the rating, the more it will cost to run.
- Defrost your fridge freezer regularly to avoid it using more energy than it needs.
- Keep your fridge at 5°C and freezer at -18°C – no need for it to use more energy than it needs.
Laundry
- Save up to £60 a year if you dont use a tumble dryer. Air dry your clothes or hang them on a washing line outside if it’s sunny. And if you do need to use it, wash a full load.
- If you wash clothes just once a week and reduce the temperature on your cycle to at least 30°C, and you could save up to £29.
General
- Keep track of your spending with a smart meter and spot energy-guzzling appliances
- Switching electronics off instead of leaving them on standby can save you up to £55 a year.
- Cut your shower time to just 4 minutes and you could save up to £70 a year.
- Switch to LED lightbulbs they use up to 80% less energy.
Understanding your electricity bill
Running cost of everyday appliances
| Common appliances and running times: | Approximate usage in units | Approximate running cost [1] |
|---|---|---|
| Washing machine (40 degrees for an hour) | 2 | £0.51 |
| Tumble dryer (an hour) | 3 | £0.77 |
| Electric cooker/oven (30 minutes) | 1.5 | £0.39 |
| Dishwasher (an hour) | Up to 1.8 | Up to 0.46 |
| Kettle (5 minutes) | 0.1 | £0.03 |
| Toaster (5 minutes) | 0.1 | £0.03 |
| Electric shower (15 minutes) | 2.5 | £0.64 |
| Electric hob (15 minutes) | Up to 0.4 | Up to £0.10 |
| TV (an hour) | 0.2 | £0.05 |
| Games console (an hour) | 0.2 | £0.05 |
| PC/laptop (plugged in, one hour) | 0.2 | £0.05 |
Running cost of 24/7 appliances
| Appliances commonly running 24 hours | Approximate usage in units | Approximate running cost [1] |
|---|---|---|
| Fridge freezer | 2.5 | £0.64 |
| Wifi router | 0.5 | £0.13 |
| Set top box (Sky/Virgin Media etc) | 0.5 | £0.13 |
| Separate chest fridge/freezer | Up to 1.5 | Up to £0.39 |
| Alexa | 0.1 | £0.03 |
| Wifi booster | 0.1 | £0.03 |
| Wine/drinks fridge | 2.4 | £0.62 |
| Security camera | Up to 0.4 | Up to £0.10 |
What is a kilowatt hour (kWh)
A kWh stands for kilowatt hour – the unit used to measure energy use. 1 kWh will power a 40 watt light bulb for 25 hours.
Read our helpful guide to learn more about what a kWh is and how it’s calculated.
How we can help?
Here are some ways we can help you manage and save energy.
Tracking your energy
If you have smart meters, log in to your account to see how much energy you are currently using on a daily basis.
It's easiest to check in the mobile app
Smart meters
Monitor how much energy you use with a smart meter, and save time as they automatically send your meter readings to us.
PeakSave
Join hundreds of thousands of customers using their smart meters to save money with PeakSave Sundays.
Struggling to Pay?
We don’t want anyone to struggle. If you can’t pay your energy bill or think your bill might be wrong, we’re here to help.
Additional information
Figures are taken from Energy Saving Trust, based on the April 2024 price cap rates and a customer with typical usage, paying by Direct Debit. Rates and standing charges vary by region and payment method.