9 Simple Tips To Help You Save Money On Your Energy Bills

Written by Ed Fleming | 22 November 2024


The cost of household energy bills has always fluctuated, but over the last few years, it’s felt like they’ve only gone up. Now, energy bills during the summer months are expensive, but bills during the winter months are astronomical.

So, any opportunity to cut energy costs should be snapped up. And the great thing is, you don’t need to make big, drastic changes or buy a dozen oodies to wear all at the same time. There are plenty of easy ways to make sure you pay less.

In this article, we’ll let you know how to save money on your energy bills with the help of nine simple tips, so you can keep nice and toasty while reducing energy, minimising your impact on the environment and – most importantly – keeping the cost of your energy bills down.


1. Upgrade your appliances

You might have had your old faithful appliances for a while now, but did you know that they might be energy inefficient, which could be costing you a lot of money? For example, old refrigerators typically use 66% more energy than new ones. That means, by replacing those old models, you can save energy and cut the cost of running your older appliances by a third – that’s huge! Of course, it does mean having to spend some money, but the money you’ll save in the long run will definitely mean it’s worth it.


2. Improve your insulation and seal gaps

You lose around 35% of your home’s heat through poor insulation and gaps around windows and doors. That’s more than a third, so it’s vital that you improve your insulation and seal any gaps that are forcing you to unintentionally use more energy. And it doesn’t have to be a big and expensive job, either. There are DIY ways to add weatherstrips to your doors and insulation to your loft. Even closing your curtains while the central heating is on can help stop heat from escaping, which boosts energy efficiency.

Smart thermostats are a fantastic way to track your energy usage and control your home’s temperature with minimal effort. You can make tiny tweaks to your temperature and schedule, and even boost your central heating while you’re out to make sure your home is nice and welcoming from the moment you walk in the door.

Liz Hunter, Director at Money Expert, shares more energy-saving tips for your heating bills.

*“Having an energy-efficient heating system that can be controlled easily will help reduce heating bills as it won’t need to work as hard to heat your home. In addition, turning the thermostat down by just one degree could save you around £80 a year on your heating bills.

“When heating your home, a cheap way to help keep the heat in is to add some reflector panels behind your radiators. These will help spread the heat around quicker as the panels reflect the heat back into the room, keeping you warmer for longer."*


3. Unplug electronics when not in use

Have you ever heard of phantom energy? This is the energy used by electronics when they’re plugged in and on standby mode, but aren’t actually in use. By leaving things on standby, you unwittingly increase your energy consumption, and therefore your energy bills.

Data shows that 10% of energy bills are due to phantom energy. That means, if you switch things off when not in use, you’ll save energy which will make a big difference in what you pay. So, switch off the kettle between cuppas, put the TV to bed when you go to bed and unplug the microwave when you’re not using it – do you even use the clock on there, anyway?


4. Use LED light bulbs

Where possible, switch out those old lightbulbs and replace them with LED bulbs. Not only are they up to 90% more energy efficient, but they’ll also last far longer – if they’re switched on for eight hours a day, they should last around 20 years! That’s two ways to save money in one small change alone.


5. Get good at switching off lights

The cost to run a regular old light bulb is around [0.012p per hour,] https://www.homegroup.org.uk/manage-my-home/renters/money-benefits-and-wellbeing-support/help-with-your-energy-bills/understanding-your-energy-usage which doesn’t sound like a lot, but when you consider how many light bulbs you have in your house, you can see why having the lights on can soon become expensive. It sounds simple enough, but many of us are guilty of leaving the lights on when they’re not needed. So, try to get good at switching off the light when you leave a room. Even if you intend to come back shortly, those little things all add up and eventually become big savings.


6. Wash your clothes on a cooler setting

A lot of laundry brands now have products that wash your clothes just as well on a cold setting as they do on hot. That makes it easier than ever to stick on a load, wash it on an eco setting and save energy. Doing this and washing your clothes on a 30-degree setting can save you as much as 57%. That means you can do three washes for the price of two – that’s a huge saving, and your clothes will be just as clean and fresh.

Ciara McGurk, C0-founder of laundry shampoo and conditioner brand [Tallow + Ash,] https://www.tallow-ash.com/ says “Space your clothes apart to allow air to circulate, which helps them dry evenly. For thicker items like towels or blankets, consider hanging them up on a line for better air circulation."


7. Regularly service your boiler

One of the major advantages of regularly servicing your boiler is that it will save you money by making it more energy efficient. But on top of that, there are several other major benefits to getting a professional to take a look at your boiler at least once a year. These include:

  • Making sure your boiler stays under warranty
  • Helping to prevent costly breakdowns
  • Lengthening the lifespan of your boiler
  • Keeping you safe

So, not only can servicing your boiler ensure you make it more energy efficient, but you can also save money by preventing avoidable repairs and even the need to replace it sooner than necessary.


8. Consider switching your energy provider

No matter what changes you make, it’s inevitable you’ll want to stick the central heating on through the winter. So, it’s always worth keeping an eye on different energy providers to make sure you’re getting the best deal. It can be super easy to just sit tight with whichever supplier you’re with now for the sake of a quiet life, but it’s actually surprisingly simple to switch to someone new. If you’re currently on the cheapest tariff, you might not see much benefit, but if you’re not, then you really have nothing to lose. Sites like Uswitch make finding and making the switch a breeze, so take a look and see if you can save some money with a new supplier. Here at Savoo, we also have a selection of up-to-date Uswitch voucher codes meaning you can save even more money.


9. Save money on your energy with help from Savoo

It can feel like you’re stuck between a rock and a hard place when it comes to how much you pay for your energy, but it doesn’t have to. With some relatively small changes, you can make a positive impact on your energy bills.

Here at Savoo, we provide up-to-date voucher codes so you can save energy and even more money with big brands such as EDF, Scottish Power and Uswitch.

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