Save energy and money around the home

With heating and hot water accounting for over half your energy bill it’s a good idea to know what you are using, where, and how you can cut back.

For example, ask yourself if you need to put the heating on or can you layer up whilst you’re at home as soon as you start to feel cold.

If you can make some adjustments, no matter how small, to your routine and ways of doing things at home, you could start saving money on your energy bills.

Below are some handy tips that could help you save money whilst cutting your carbon emissions.

infographic showing cost savings from home changes. Text reads: Save energy and money, 1620 small changes, one big impact. £80 saved a year by draught proofing windows, £55 saved by reducing shower time to 4 minutes, £50 saved by turning off plugs at the wall, £45 saved by reducing tumble dryer usage, £7 by turning off lights

Heating your home

  • Turning your thermostat down by 1 degree could save you 10% on your energy bill
  • If you install a smart thermostat, like HIVE, you can have more control over your heating, adjusting the temperature and time it’s on in a convenient and easy-to-manage way
  • If you have a hot water tank, by covering this with an insulated jacket you could save up to £50 a year
  • Installing thermostatic radiator valves means you can control the temperature in each room
  • Reducing the boiler flow to 55-60 degrees means you could reduce your gas bill by up to £65 a year, and could also save around 173 KG Co2e
  • Draught-proof your home

In the kitchen

  • Setting your washing machine and dishwasher to 30 degrees could reduce your energy usage by 40%
Green background with graphics of boiler thermostat. Text reads: turning down your boiler flow temperature from 80 to 60 degrees can reduce your annual carbon emissions annually by 173kg
  • Avoid using the tumble dryer where possible, instead dry your clothes using an air dryer
  • Use a slow cooker or air fryer, this is a cost-effective way of making food, using a slow cooker can cost the same as powering a lightbulb
  • Meal prep – cooking in bulk will save overall energy
  • Energy-efficient appliances – check the energy rating on your appliances, A-rated are the most efficient. Next time you need to upgrade try and buy an A-rated appliance as these will be cheaper to run in the long run
  • Defrost your fridge-freezer regularly to ensure you don’t use more energy to run this than you need
  • Avoid overfilling the kettle and save £10 a year on your energy bill
  • Consider fitting an aerator onto your existing kitchen tap to reduce the amount of water coming out without affecting the way the tap works. This could save you £19 a year

Around the house

  • Switch off at the plug instead of leaving items on standby, this could save you £45 a year
  • Make sure you log off and switch your laptop and computer fully off at the end of the day
  • Only charge electronic items when you need to, don’t keep them on charge throughout the day, this uses more energy and will cost you more
  • Switch to LED lightbulbs as they use up to 80% less energy
    Turn the light off when you leave the room
  • Fit radiator reflector panels behind your radiators to reflect heat back into the room, this could save you up to £25 a year

In the bathroom

Pink background with three white laptops showing on, off and unplugged. Text reads: turning your computer off and unplugging at the end of the day saves 69kg CO2e per year.
  • Install a water-efficient shower head
  • Cut your shower time – having a 4-minute shower can save you up to £70 a year
  • Have more showers and fewer baths

Let us know what you are doing to save energy, save money and reduce your carbon footprint this winter at communications@growthco.uk

(Information is included from British Gas and the Energy Saving Trust)