Seasonal Energy Saving Guides

Aim for 18–20°C in living areas. A single degree cuts heating demand noticeably without most people noticing the difference in comfort.

Estimated saving: £80–£150 / year

Programme heating to come on 30 minutes before you need it and off before you leave or go to bed. Heating an empty house is wasted money.

Estimated saving: £60–£120 / year

On a combi boiler, setting flow temperature to around 60°C keeps it running in efficient condensing mode through the heating season.

Estimated saving: £60–£100 / year

Sealing gaps is the cheapest cold-weather fix there is. DIY draught-proofing kits cost under £30 and take an afternoon.

Estimated saving: £40–£60 / year

Curtains cut heat loss through glass overnight, and furniture pushed against a radiator absorbs heat that should be warming the room.

Winter usage is where under-payment builds into debt. Check your monthly payment is reasonable for your actual annual cost before the peak.

Once outside temperatures hold up, switch heating off entirely instead of leaving a low schedule ticking over on mild days.

Tumble dryers are among the most expensive appliances in the house to run. From spring onwards, outdoor drying is free.

Estimated saving: £60–£140 / year

If your loft has under 100mm of insulation, taking it to 270mm is the highest-value improvement most homes can make. Spring gives you time before next winter.

Estimated saving: £150–£250 / year

Fixed deals and switching decisions are easier to judge in a quieter market. Check where you stand before autumn.

A British Standard 80mm jacket costs around £15 and pays for itself within a few months — worth doing while the heating is off.

Estimated saving: £35–£45 / year

UK households waste an average of £65 a year on devices left on standby. Smart plugs make switching whole clusters off effortless.

Estimated saving: £45–£65 / year

Anything above 60°C wastes energy and risks scalding. 60°C is hot enough to kill bacteria and meet normal daily demand.

Estimated saving: £30–£60 / year

Heating water is the energy-intensive part of a wash. Modern detergents work fine at lower temperatures, and eco dishwasher cycles use less water and heat.

Estimated saving: £25–£35 / year

Long evenings mean lights can stay off for hours longer. Switching remaining bulbs to LED locks that saving in year-round.

Estimated saving: £35–£55 / year

Insulation, solar and heat pump installers have far shorter lead times in summer, and the work is easier in dry weather.

An efficient, properly circulating system uses less gas for the same warmth. Do it before the first cold snap, not during it.

TRVs let you control each room individually so you stop paying to heat rooms nobody uses.

Estimated saving: £40–£75 / year

Programme timers before you need them. Households that heat reactively almost always heat for longer than they need to.

Estimated saving: £60–£120 / year

Going into winter on estimated readings is how surprise bills happen. A reading now gives you an accurate starting point.

Fixed tariffs give price certainty through the expensive months; variable tariffs track the price cap. Judge it against the outlook.

A quick assessment highlights the specific weak points in your home worth fixing while there is still time.