Despite the energy price cap falling by 7% at the start of October, fuel bills continue to be higher than normal for most households.

With winter creeping up on us, it’s vital for many families to cut costs wherever possible as the country continues to struggle with the current cost of living crisis.

However, according to the latest Energy Consumption in the UK (ECUK) report, the average household containing four occupants now uses an average of 13 appliances (including TVs and laptops), so it’s not always easy to see where savings can be made.

In this blog, we’ve identified some quick and easy steps you can take now to help cut the cost of your energy bills.

1. Turn your thermostat down by one degree

A report by Cambridge Architectural Research (CAR) found that turning your thermostat down from 19C to 18C would save 13% on an average annual gas bill.

Last Winter (2022), that would have been worth £157.

However, while it may be tempting to turn your thermostat down lower than this, the Government recommends keeping a room temperature of at least 18C, although some may need it to be significantly warmer than this.

2. Check if your boiler has a timer

If your boiler has one, the timer setting means that you can ensure your heating is switched off when no one is home, which can lead to significant savings on your energy bills.

3. Turn down radiators in rooms you don't use

Many homes have radiators with valves fitted so you can control the temperature in each room (often numbered between 1-5).

By turning down the valve to between 1-3 in rooms you don’t use, or don’t use too often, you could cut a further £68 on average off your annual gas bill (based on Winter 2022 average prices).

4. Draught-proof your home

Insulating your home by draught-proofing doors, windows and letter boxes is an easy way to keep the heat in your home and significantly cut the cost of your energy bills.

Simple ways you can draught-proof your home:

5. Take a 4 minute shower to save over £80

The average time someone will use the shower in a UK household is seven minutes according to CAR.

By reducing this to four minutes per person, you could save around £84 a year on your energy bills. This is due to less hot water being needed and therefore, less boiler use.

6. Use a water-efficient shower head

If you don’t want to reduce the amount of time spent in the shower, then another solution could be to buy a water-efficient shower head.

These are available from around £10, and could save you an average of 28 litres of hot water every time you use it.

7. Wash less clothes and reduce to 30C

The average four-person household in the UK washes between 8 to 10 loads of laundry each week. By washing your clothes less frequently, and reducing the temperature you wash at to 30C instead of 40C, you’ll benefit from significant savings due to less hot water and energy being used.

8. Wash dishes in a bowl

By washing up dirty dishes in a bowl rather than under a running tap, you could save around £25 a year.

Top Tip: Turn off appliances
By turning appliances off at the socket rather than leaving them on "standby", you could save an average of £30 a year.

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