The need to save money where possible has become a daily endeavour. Petrol costs are nearly double what they were during the pandemic and sit at a record high. Everyday items like milk, bread, fruit and veg are more expensive now than ever. Added to these basics, our energy costs are set to rise again in the autumn, just as we need to think about being home more and putting the heating on.
If you have already had a look at your energy deal and compared to make sure you have the cheapest option, then the biggest tool at your disposal may be the simple small saving. If we make a lot of small savings, it will add up to a significant amount. Here we explore some small measures you can employ to keep your energy bills in check.
Table of Contents
1. Lighting
The simple way to save money on lighting your home is to flick the switch off. A lot of the time, we allow lights to illuminate empty rooms. While a one-off here and there will do little to increase your bills, a general household habit of leaving lights on can begin to add up.
It is often true that these small behaviours can lead to more established attitudes. In other words, if we are conscious of turning off lights and encouraging this in the family, it is more likely they will be more thoughtful when using any energy in the home. Therefore, insisting that lights are switched off will impact the household and serve children well into the future.
There are more practical methods you can use to save money on lighting. For instance, you can change your bulbs from halogen to LED. Halogen bulbs are cheaper, though they last a third as long as LED bulbs. Consequently, even though the upfront investment is more, they are cheaper in the long run. LED bulbs also use less energy. Over a year, you will save about £10 on each bulb in your home. When you add this up, it becomes quite a significant saving.
2. Heating
The most expensive cost to your household bills comes from heating the home. It is also where you can do most to manage the cost.
First, you could lower the thermostat by a single degree. While you won’t feel much temperature difference, you will save about £80 on your annual bill for that one notch on the dial.
You can also do much to retain the heat in your home. Good insulation is a must in the modern home. If you live in a new build property, your house is likely insulated well. However, older housing stock is likely going to need some upgrades. You lose about 40% heat through the roof and another 40% through your walls and windows. Making sure there is as little airflow between the outside and inside during colder days will ensure that your home stays warmer using less energy.
If you want a small gain here, you should buy heavy-draped curtains. Then, on an early winter evening, draw the curtains and place the fabric behind the radiator. This covering to the window, which is behind the heat sources, will help keep the heat in your home. Equally, you can buy radiator reflectors that sit behind it and bounce the heat back into the room rather than being sucked into the wall.
3. Sockets
Undoubtedly, we live in a world that relies heavily on being charged. Our phones, laptops, tablets, smart speakers, televisions, game consoles, washers, dryers, dishwashers, and more, are all plugged in and happily leaching power you are paying for. Even when not in use, your toaster pulls power from the mains.
Therefore, learning how to flick the switch on the socket and not allow things to be on standby will make a significant difference to your bill. The little red light on your TV costs you money as it waits for you to resume pictures. Charging your phone overnight is a waste, as it takes no more than an hour to get 100% battery on a current model phone, and yet we leave it for eight times longer than needed.
If getting into good habits here is hard, you can buy smart sockets that allow you to time when the sockets come on and off. It is likely a wise investment, especially in a family home.
Final Thought
While there are big changes you can make, buying all sorts of new tech, the small behaviours are costing you more money than you need to spend. Remember that each mini decision adds up to a major saving.
