Saving money on electricity and heating

Here are some ways you can save on electricity and heating bills:

1. Insulate your home and yourselves very well, keeping heat inside your home and body as much as possible.

• Seal windows, doors, and all entrances and exits of your property (e.g. using draft excluders), to prevent heat from leaving.
• Wear warmer, and/or multiple, layers of clothing so that you won’t need to use heaters as much to stay warm.
• Consider installing insulation inside the walls of your home, to further trap heat inside the home, reducing the amount of energy required to maintain a comfortable temperature. This can be expensive upfront but there may be subsidies available that will lower the initial cost and save you money in the long-term if you’re intending to reside in the property for a long time.

2. Increase your blood circulation and muscle movement, generating heat from inside your body. You are more likely to feel cold when staying idle on a chair or sitting still for an extended period. This happens because your body generates less heat when you're not moving. Physical activity helps to raise body temperature by increasing blood flow and muscle activity, which generates warmth.

3. Switch off devices when you are not using them.

• It’s easy to fall into the trap of leaving things powered on when they don’t need to be, for example leaving lights on in a corridor when no one is there.
• Using smart thermostats to automatically reduce/increase the temperature when you’re in the house can save money.
• Plug-in timers (aka timer switches) cost around £5 and consume a little bit of power but often less than most electrical devices, so over time, by controlling when appliances turn on/off automatically, could save you money.

4. Switch to more energy-efficient devices and appliances.

• LED lighting is typically more expensive upfront but over time will save you more money than filament bulbs, so making the switch especially in areas where you have more than one bulb (e.g. in lounges having chandeliers or multi-light fittings) is a good idea.
• In 2020 the UK introduced Energy labels, and you might find these on the appliances you use at home. The most energy efficient appliances have the A+++ rating, and the least efficient have the G rating. When you’re replacing an appliance, picking a more energy efficient appliance for the same features and price is an easy choice.

5. If you’re on an energy tariff that give you cheaper rates at night time then:

• • Shifting most of your energy usage to happen at night time (e.g. delaying laundry, dishwashing, etc) will save you money, and/or;
  • Installing a battery at home and setting it to charge during the cheaper off-peak period, can save you money in the long-term if you’re intending to reside in the property for 10+ years. Always consult with one of the qualified electricians on our website for an energy calculation.

If you’re not on such energy tariffs, it’s best to do a calculation first before changing tariffs otherwise you could end up paying more!

Author: Jehan Rajendra, Reviewers: Daniel Barrett of Zap Electrical, Thomas Dewe of New Flow Plumbing & Heating