Energy saving tips

Turn your thermostat down.  

Reducing your room temperature by 1°C could cut your heating bills by up to 10 percent. 18-21°C is a comfortable temperature for most people. Always turn off the lights when you leave a room. 

Washing your clothes at a lower temperature uses less electricity. Washing at 30ºC rather than 40ºC could save you a third of the cost.  

Fill up the washing machine, tumble dryer or dishwasher: one full load uses less energy than two half loads.  

Spend less time in the shower – an electric shower is a high energy user as it heats the water instantaneously. Spending one minute less in the shower each day will save a typical household an estimated £45 per year, a well as saving on water costs.  

Reduce the heat loss in your home. Keep internal doors closed, at night shut curtains or blinds and use draught excluders at the bottom of doors to prevent draughts. 

Use energy saving lightbulbs. They last up to 10 times longer than ordinary bulbs, and using one can save you around £55 over the lifetime of the bulb.

Only boil as much water as you need. The more water in the kettle the more electricity used. 

On a sunny day, opening your curtains will let warmth into your house, but when it’s colder or the sun goes down don’t forget to close them to keep that heat in.  

Unplug electrical devices when not in use. 

Understand how your heating and hot water system works. Your home may have a thermostat and programmer controls. Make sure you know how to use them to run the system in the most energy efficient way.