How to Save Energy at Home This Winter

Simple Energy Saving Tips That Actually Work

As winter seems to have arrived after a reasonably mild start (though very wet and windy), it seems like a good time to recap what we can do as energy consumers to be more frugal and save as much money as possible on our gas and electricity bills. Some of these are obvious, and others may not have occurred to you, but they will likely save us money. Here are some of my favourite energy-saving tips, including small changes that can make a difference.

Energy Saving Tips

• I know it's obvious, but I will say it anyway: if you leave a room and nobody is there, turn off the lights! See, I told you it was obvious, but if your house is anything like mine, you may well find yourself going upstairs to see lights flickering like the Las Vegas Strip! Make sure everyone knows that every light has a cost; if you turn it off, the cost decreases, so the obvious thing to do is to keep them off when not needed!
  

• Lightbulbs - Lightbulbs - If you are still using traditional incandescent light bulbs, now is a great time to upgrade to more energy-efficient options, such as LEDs. These types of lightbulbs use a dramatically smaller amount of energy, which you will notice on your energy bills when you've swapped over. It might cost you a few quid to get the bulbs, but they are a great way to increase your home's energy efficiency and will soon start to reduce your bills. To take things further, working with experts from a reputable smart home technology company can help you integrate intelligent lighting solutions that automatically adjust based on occupancy, time of day, or available natural light. This not only reduces wasted energy but also enhances comfort and convenience throughout your home.

• If you are using outdoor lights, consider switching to solar lights, which will be free to run. My parents use solar lights in their bathroom, and they charge during the day by leaving them next to the bathroom window in direct sunlight. Then, at night, the sensor turns the lights on when they enter and off again when they leave, meaning they don't have to pay to light up the bathroom!
  

• Turn down the temperature on your hot water and heating; just a couple of degrees will make a difference!
  

• Are you heating every room in your house? If so, do you need to? Do you have a spare bedroom that doesn't get used? If so, turn off the radiator in that room; it's costing you money to heat a room that isn't being used, which isn't very energy-efficient. Your heating system is expensive to use, so being selective about which radiators operate will help lower your energy costs.

• If you have water radiators, bleed them every few months. By doing this, air leaks out of the radiator, and the space is filled with water, which, when heated, increases the room's heating efficiency.

• You may want to use a Smart Home system or a smart thermostat, such as Hive or Nest, to control your heating via an app or website. I use Hive, which lets me monitor the house's temperature and turn the heating on or off from anywhere in the world. Using the app easily allows me to put our heating on a timer, so it's only on when we are there and not when we're out and about; therefore, I'm not paying to heat an empty house, and those energy savings can really add up, (the cat can look after itself, after all, it does have fur!)

• If you feel cold, then instead of instinctively heading for the thermostat to turn it up, so instead of messing with the temperature settings, put on some additional clothing first; it costs nothing to add an extra jumper or another pair of socks, but it does cost money for you to heat your house! Maybe use a blanket, an electric blanket, or a duvet when you're sitting on the sofa watching TV; this will keep you warm and cosy, and won't cost you a penny. An electric blanket is very energy-efficient and does a great job of warming you up.
  

• Regarding turning up your thermostat, raising the temperature won't make any difference to how quickly your home warms up! The water-heating system will only operate at the same speed, no matter how high you turn the dial, so don't adjust it; you're wasting your time and money! If you need immediate warm air, consider using space heaters or fans for a quick warm-up. It is worse for your electric bill, but in some situations, such as older homes or homes with poor insulation, it can be easier to use such a device to heat just one room. Remember to close the doors! This includes air conditioners. If you have an air-con (like the split-type aircon Manila) system, then make sure to only use it when absolutely necessary, and if you do, try to limit its use and keep the temperature pleasant, but not tropical!
  

• Ensure to use draught excludes around window frames and doors if you notice cool air coming in from outside. The letterbox is often a problem area. Make sure you close doors around the house to keep the heat and cold where you want them, and tuck your curtains behind the radiator so the heat radiates into the room, not the window. Proper insulation will really help your energy bill by reducing heat loss. Attic insulation will make a big difference, but the more you do, the more expensive it is. Of course, the savings on your heating bills and your lower energy usage may make this more cost-effective than you think over time.
  

• Make sure your washing machine is full, and that you're not just washing a couple of items. It's perfectly reasonable to wash your clothes at 30°; they'll still be clean, and you'll reduce your electricity costs.

• When it comes to clothes dryers, we all know they cost a fortune to run, and needless to say, if you don't have to use them, don't! That said, I have been using mine over the winter, purely because I live in a really old house that's always cold, so trying to dry clothes on a clothes horse doesn't really work. Clothes stay damp and don't smell good, so instead I'll put the clothes on an extra spin cycle on the washing machine, which means they tend to come out drier, and so take up less time in the tumble dryer.

• Cheap dryers are notoriously expensive to run, so if, when buying a tumble dryer, you have the opportunity to pay a little bit more for a better-rated machine, the initial extra cost will definitely be cost-effective, as you will use less energy with a higher-rated machine. This applies to all household appliances: get the most energy-efficient ones you can afford, and they will make a difference. I've just upgraded my washing machine from a D-rated appliance to an A-rated, and just a few weeks in, we're already seeing a dramatic decrease in the energy we are using, plus as the washing machine drum is bigger, we are using it less, as we can get more in the machine, and we are using less water and the efficiency of the programmes the machine offers, means we can wash at a lower temperature, with no effect on the cleanliness of the clothes, so a win all round! Who knew clothes washers could make such a difference?

• If you need to use the tumble dryer, consider using it for only 50% of the drying time. You could use the tumble dryer for the first half of the drying process, then remove the clothes and finish drying them another way to reduce how much you spend. It makes sense to run the spin cycle on your washing machine again once the programme has ended, as it removes excess water and makes it easier/quicker to dry the clothes!
  

• If your dishwasher has an eco-mode, use it; it uses less energy. Make sure you only use the dishwasher when you have a full load before you start it. Don't be put off by a longer cycle time; it doesn't always mean it costs more to run. Most eco modes have longer cycles!
  

• Turn off your TV and connected equipment at the plug when they're not in use. Devices left on standby continue to draw power, which may seem minor but can add up over time. With options such as custom Savant integration for California properties or elsewhere, home entertainment systems can be programmed to shut down automatically when not in use, reducing wasted energy while keeping everything simple and convenient to manage. This type of smart control not only helps lower electricity costs but can also extend the lifespan of your devices by minimising unnecessary power draw.
  

• In the kitchen, you can also save money by measuring the water you put into a kettle. I think we're all guilty of just turning on the tap and filling up the kettle to boil when in fact, we are probably adding far more water than we are actually going to use, so if you're making a cup of tea, simply measure out one cup of water and put that into the kettle, not only will it save electricity and save water, it will also boil faster as well!

  
  

  It can cost up to a pound a day to boil water for your cup of tea, depending on how much you drink, so maybe make use of a thermos, boil a kettle of water and fill the thermos with it, then use this water to make your brew, as this means you're only heating the water once, and the thermos will keep the water hot for ages.

• When it comes to cooking, gas is actually cheaper than electricity. In fact, gas can be three times cheaper. Therefore, try using gas appliances such as your hob for cooking, as this will give you an overall saving.

• It's definitely worth using a slow cooker or a rice cooker where possible, as they're dramatically cheaper to run (up to 90% cheaper). Plus, a slow cooker is great for cooking cheaper cuts of meat, saving you money by letting you spend less at the supermarket!

• Invest in a vegetable steamer—not the electric ones, the traditional style. That way, you can cook your veggies using just one pan and, more importantly, one gas burner, which will most certainly save you money.
  

• Once you've used your oven to cook something, as long as health and safety allow it (no kids running around), leave the oven door open. The oven's heat will help warm the house, so you are not wasting the hot air you have paid for!

• I know most recipes tell you to preheat your oven, but it's really not necessary unless you're baking cakes or pastries. Preheating your oven uses energy for nothing, so there is no reason you can't put food into a cold oven and let it warm up as the oven heats up; it may actually cook faster, but it will most certainly be cheaper!

• I hadn't thought of this, but it makes perfect sense. Always use the lid on a saucepan! It really does speed up heating or boiling, so you're not wasting energy keeping something hot for an excessive amount of time.

• If you only cook something small in the oven, consider adding something else at the same time. Jacket potatoes are an excellent option. You can cook them today and then reheat them for dinner tomorrow, saving an entire cooking cycle's worth of energy. Plus, it saves you time for tomorrow night's dinner and is cheap, too!

• It sounds obvious, but limit the time the freezer or refrigerator door is open. The longer it's open, the warmer the appliance will get, and the more energy it will take to bring it back to the correct temperature!
  

• Ask yourself if you really need to iron those clothes! I'm sure we're all looking for an excuse not to iron our clothes, but actually, it's much more cost-effective not to iron unless you absolutely have to.

• Additionally, some appliances may experience issues that cause them to use more electricity than usual, leading to higher bills. For instance, if you notice any problems with your refrigerator, dishwasher, or other appliances, it might be a sign that they need repair. When appliances are not functioning properly, they can draw excessive power, which may spike your electricity bill. Therefore, whenever you notice any issues, consider hiring professionals in your locality or searching online for "appliance repair near me" This proactive approach could help resolve any problems and allow you to enjoy a cozy winter without the worry of malfunctioning appliances.

Ultimately, these tips are pretty basic; none of them will have a massive impact on the recent energy price increases, but they will all add up over time and help you save at least some money. 

There are some things you can't control, such as the standing charge for your gas/electricity, but you can control your usage, and that's the key. You just need to be more aware of how you are spending your energy and do everything you can to reduce it. There are some things you can't control, such as the standing charge for your gas/electricity, but you can control your usage, and that's the key. You just need to be more aware of how you are spending your energy and do everything you can to reduce it.