Energy-saving tips library
Practical, step-by-step ways to use less energy at home. Search by keyword or narrow down by the device, the problem you have, or the topic.
22 tips found
Air-dry instead of tumble drying
Tumble dryers are among the most expensive appliances to run. Drying outside or on a rack costs nothing.
Tumble dryerHigh electricity billsCheck for cavity wall insulation
Uninsulated cavity walls let a large share of a home's heat escape.
Loft & wallsCold or draughty homeHigh heating billsConsider a heat pump
Air source heat pumps are much more efficient than gas boilers at turning energy into heat, but whether one suits you depends on your home.
Heat pumpBoilerHigh heating billsConsider Economy 7 if you can shift usage
Day/night tariffs charge less overnight and more by day, so they only help if you can move enough usage overnight.
Electric vehicleSmart meterChoosing a tariffHigh electricity billsCut standby power
Devices left on standby keep drawing electricity. Switching them off at the wall stops it.
Smart plugStandby wasteHigh electricity billsDraught-proof doors and windows
Gaps around doors, windows and letterboxes let warm air out and cold air in.
Windows & doorsCold or draughty homeHigh heating billsFit thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs)
TRVs let you set each room's temperature separately, so you stop heating rooms nobody is using.
Radiators & TRVsHigh heating billsGet a smart meter
A smart meter sends automatic readings and its in-home display shows when and where you use energy.
Smart meterConfusing billHigh electricity billsInsulate your hot water cylinder
An uninsulated cylinder loses heat all day. A fitted jacket keeps stored water hot for longer.
Hot water cylinderHigh heating billsMake the most of natural light
Using daylight well delays the point when you need to switch lights on.
Light bulbsWindows & doorsHigh electricity billsOnly boil the water you need
Overfilling the kettle means paying to heat water you then leave to go cold.
KettleHigh electricity billsReduce your combi boiler's flow temperature
Combi boilers run in their more efficient condensing mode when the water they send to radiators is cooler.
BoilerHigh heating billsReview your standing charges
Standing charges are a daily fee you pay regardless of use, and they vary by region and supplier.
Confusing billChoosing a tariffSet heating timers and schedules
Heating an empty home wastes energy. A schedule makes the heating come on when you need it and go off when you don't.
ThermostatBoilerHigh heating billsSet your hot water cylinder thermostat to 60°C
Water stored hotter than 60°C wastes energy and raises the risk of scalding, while 60°C is hot enough to control bacteria.
Hot water cylinderHigh heating billsSwitch all bulbs to LED
LEDs use far less electricity than old incandescent and halogen bulbs and last much longer.
Light bulbsHigh electricity billsTop up loft insulation to 270mm
If your loft has little insulation, topping it up to the recommended 270mm cuts the heat escaping through your roof.
Loft & wallsCold or draughty homeHigh heating billsTurn your thermostat down by 1°C
Lowering the room temperature by a single degree reduces how hard your heating works, and most people barely notice the difference.
ThermostatHigh heating billsUnderstand fixed vs variable tariffs
Fixed tariffs lock your unit rates for a set period; variable tariffs move with the Ofgem price cap.
Choosing a tariffUse timers and motion sensors for lights
Lights left on in empty hallways and outdoors waste electricity. Sensors and timers switch them off for you.
Light bulbsSmart plugHigh electricity billsUse your dishwasher's eco setting
Eco programmes run longer but use less water and heat, cutting the energy used per cycle.
DishwasherHigh electricity billsWash clothes at 30°C
Heating water is the most energy-hungry part of a wash. Modern detergents clean well at lower temperatures.
Washing machineHigh electricity bills
