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Energy saving tips: Five ways to cut costs this winter Energy saving tips: Five ways to cut costs this winter
(2 months later)
The new energy price cap has set the amount suppliers can charge customers this coming winter. The energy price cap, or the amount suppliers are allowed to charge for each unit of gas and electricity, will increase by around 5% from January 2024, the regulator Ofgem has said.
Typical bills have fallen back from last year's levels but there are other ways you may be able to reduce your costs. This means the typical household will pay £94 more each year, although your bill will depend on how much you use, where you live and how you pay.
Actual savings will vary for different households. While this rise will put additional pressure on many households, there are ways to reduce your costs.
The figures in this article, calculated by experts at Cambridge Architectural Research (CAR) and Nesta, are based on the energy price cap figures announced for January-March 2024.
Since prices are lower until the end of 2023, you may see slightly reduced savings until then.
What is the energy cap and what's happening to bills?What is the energy cap and what's happening to bills?
Who is getting extra cost-of-living payments?Who is getting extra cost-of-living payments?
What can I do if I can't pay my energy bill?What can I do if I can't pay my energy bill?
1. Using the thermostat and timer could save you about £150 Save £125 by using the thermostat and timer
Most of the energy we use at home goes on heating.Most of the energy we use at home goes on heating.
Turning the thermostat down by just one degree could save about £150 annually. Turning the thermostat down by just one degree - from 19C to 18C - could save you about £113 annually.
You can also use your boiler's timer - if it has one - to ensure your heating switches off when the house is empty. You can save an additional £12 each year by using your boiler's timer - if it has one - to ensure your heating switches off when the house is empty.
While it might be tempting to reduce your heating to save money, the government recommends a room temperature of at least 18C. Older people and those who are ill or disabled may need it to be warmer.  While turning down the thermostat could be a quick way to save money, the government recommends a room temperature of at least 18C. Older people and those who are ill or disabled may need it to be warmer.
If your house is too cold it could encourage damp - which can lead to mould. People living with mould are more likely to suffer from respiratory illnesses, infections, allergies or asthma. If your house is too cold, it could also encourage damp, which can lead to mould. People living with mould are more likely to suffer from respiratory illnesses, infections, allergies or asthma.
What does an unheated room do to your body?What does an unheated room do to your body?
How this saving is worked out: Experts at Cambridge Architectural Research (CAR) found that turning the thermostat down from 19C to 18C would save 13% on an average annual gas bill - that was worth about £157 in winter 2022. CAR suggests 68% of homes could benefit. Its findings are based on estimated energy use in 12,300 homes questioned by the English Housing Survey in 2012. The Energy Saving Trust previously estimated a saving of £145 a year, if temperatures were reduced from 22C to 21C in main living areas. Save £70 by reducing your combi boiler flow temperature
2. Reducing your combi boiler flow temperature to 60C could save you about £100    If you have a combi boiler, try reducing the flow temperature for the water going to your radiators to 60C.
If you have a combi boiler, try reducing the flow temperature for the water heating your home to 60C. This is the temperature of the water the boiler sends to the radiators.
A higher temperature will heat your home faster, but it could also mean bigger bills.A higher temperature will heat your home faster, but it could also mean bigger bills.
Combi boilers tend to capture and recycle heat less efficiently at higher temperatures - meaning it requires more gas to heat your home.Combi boilers tend to capture and recycle heat less efficiently at higher temperatures - meaning it requires more gas to heat your home.
If you have a conventional boiler, such as a system with a hot water tank, you could try setting it to 65C. It's important not to set it any lower as it could create a health risk - legionella bacteria could develop in the water.If you have a conventional boiler, such as a system with a hot water tank, you could try setting it to 65C. It's important not to set it any lower as it could create a health risk - legionella bacteria could develop in the water.
If you want to consider adjusting the flow temperature, the Energy Saving Trust has more information and the Nesta charity has a guide to walk you through the process. If you want to consider adjusting the flow temperature, the Energy Saving Trust has more information and Nesta has a guide to walk you through the process.
If you rent your home you might want to check with your landlord before making changes. If you rent your home, you might want to check with your landlord before making any changes.
How this saving is worked out: CAR modelled the potential savings from reducing the temperature of combi boilers from 75C to 60C, in 2022. It found this would save 8% on an average annual gas bill - about £97 in winter 2022. CAR suggests 38% of homes in the UK could save money with this measure. Save £70 by changing your showerhead
3. Installing a water-efficient showerhead or having showers in four minutes could save you about £90 Investing in a more water-efficient showerhead - worth about £10 - could save you around £71 over the year. They work by restricting the amount of water coming through the head, meaning you use less water for the same length of shower.
There are a couple of ways to save money when you shower. You can also save some £61 by cutting the length of your showers from seven to four minutes.
Firstly, cutting the length of your shower from about seven minutes to four could save about £84 a year. Doing both will save you even more, though slightly less than the combined total as you'll be using less water overall.
Secondly, you could consider buying a water-efficient showerhead - available from about £10. (Check they are compatible with your shower first). Turning down radiator valves in less used rooms could save you around £50
These work by restricting the amount of water coming through the head. This means you use less hot water for the same length of shower. This could mean a saving of about £98 a year even if you don't have shorter showers. Save £50 by turning down radiators in less used rooms
How this saving is worked out: CAR assumed that each household took two showers a day, that an average shower lasted seven minutes, used eight litres a minute and had a temperature of 41C. It says four-minute showers would save an average of 24 litres of hot water, resulting in an energy saving of 1.1 kWh per shower, or around 800 kWh per year for a household. CAR also estimated that a low-flow shower head would save an average of 28 litres of hot water, resulting an energy saving of 1.3 kWh per shower, or around 950 kWh per year for a household. Many radiators have valves that control the temperature in each room.
4. Turning down radiator valves in less-used rooms could save you about £70 Consider turning the valve on radiators in rooms you use less often to the midway point, often three out of five.
Radiators in many homes have valves which control the temperature in each room. This should still heat the room to 18-20C, while saving the typical home some £50 per year.
If used correctly, these thermostatic radiator valves - often numbered one to five (sometimes up to six) - can save you money.
In rooms you use less often, consider turning the valve to the midway point (this should still heat the room to 18-20C).
Keeping doors closed will also help trap heat.Keeping doors closed will also help trap heat.
How is the saving worked out: CAR's study found that homes with radiator valves are likely to have partially adjusted them so that rooms outside the main living area are already 1.5°C cooler. However, reducing the temperature by a further 1.5°C could save 5.5% of the total gas bill (a saving of £68 in winter 2022). Its modelling found that 76% of UK homes could save with this measure. Save even more by draught-proofing your home
Turning down radiator valves in less-used rooms could save you around £70
5. Draught-proofing doors, windows, chimneys and floors could save you up to £215
Poorly insulated homes lose heat more easily and are harder to keep warm.Poorly insulated homes lose heat more easily and are harder to keep warm.
Draught-proofing is one of the cheapest and most effective ways to save energy.Draught-proofing is one of the cheapest and most effective ways to save energy.
To stop cold air getting in and heat escaping, consider:To stop cold air getting in and heat escaping, consider:
adding draft-proofing strips around doors and windows adding draught-proofing strips around doors and windows
adding strips along the edges of external doors and a brush at the bottomadding strips along the edges of external doors and a brush at the bottom
installing a letter-box coverinstalling a letter-box cover
using sealant to close gaps between suspended floorboards and skirting boardsusing sealant to close gaps between suspended floorboards and skirting boards
adding a chimney draft excluder to unused chimneys adding a chimney draught excluder to unused chimneys
But do not block extractor fans, wall vents and airbricks. These are necessary for ventilating certain rooms (like your kitchen and bathroom). But do not block extractor fans, wall vents and airbricks. These are necessary for ventilating certain rooms, like your kitchen and bathroom.
The cost depends on which areas you want to draught-proof and how you want to do it. A professional draught-proofing service could save more energy. The Energy Saving Trust has further advice.The cost depends on which areas you want to draught-proof and how you want to do it. A professional draught-proofing service could save more energy. The Energy Saving Trust has further advice.
How this saving is worked out: The saving is based on a typical three-bed gas heated, semi-detached house using a gas price of 10.3p/kWh and electricity price of 34.0p/kWh. The Energy Saving Trust's figures are based on the government's methodology for energy modelling in homes.
What help can I get with home insulation?What help can I get with home insulation?
Note: All savings figures are based on a typical gas-heated home in Great Britain with an annual usage of around 12,000 kWh of gas and 2,900 kWh of electricity, using a gas price of 10.3p/kWh and electricity price of 34.0p/kWh (based on Energy Price Guarantee October 2022). How we've worked out the figures
Combining all measures could potentially save a typical household £530 per year, according to Nesta/CAR/Energy Saving Trust calculations. Due to the potential for double counting, this is less than the £625 total of adding up each individual measure in this article. There are dangers in overly severe energy rationing - underheated and damp homes come with health risks. All the savings listed above are based on what Ofgem, the energy regulator, calls a typical household in Great Britain - a three-bed, gas heated, semi-detached house.
These tips have been chosen in collaboration with UK broadcasters - including the BBC, ITV, Sky, Channel 4 and Channel 5 - as well as Citizens Advice, the Climate Change Committee, Energy Saving Trust and Nesta. In numbers, that's a house that uses 11,500 kWh of gas at a cost of 7.4p per kWh, and 2,700 kWh of electricity at 28.6p per kWh each year. If you use more, or less, your savings will change accordingly.
Energy costs are set for January to March 2024 and are likely to change again from April, meaning the amount you'll save will also change.
Combining all the measures in this article could save a typical household around £400 a year. Due to potential double counting, this is less than what you would get by adding up each individual measure.
Some people will have already implemented some of the measures listed above, meaning they'll see smaller savings. Severe energy rationing could also lead to unwanted effects and dangers - underheated and damp homes come with health risks.
These tips have been chosen in collaboration with UK broadcasters - including the BBC, ITV, Sky, Channel 4 and Channel 5 - as well as Citizens Advice, the Climate Change Committee, the Energy Saving Trust and Nesta.
Related TopicsRelated Topics
Home insulationHome insulation
Cost of livingCost of living
Efficient energy useEfficient energy use