Energy saving tips to reduce gas and electricity bills
Everything uses electricity, and we often leave our telly on standby or overfill the kettle for our morning cuppa. But we have some handy energy-saving tips to help you save money by doing the smallest things around your home.
Energy saving facts
Heating and hot water account for over half of your energy bill, so it’s a good idea to keep track of your usage
Setting the washing machine and dishwasher at 30⁰C could reduce your energy usage by 40%
An immersion heater only needs to be on for an hour for you to have enough hot water for the whole day
How can I be more energy efficient at home?
Adjust your daily routine at home with our tips and you could start saving money on your energy bills.
Save energy on your heating
- Turning your thermostat down by 1 degree, you could save up to 10% on your energy bill. Smart thermostats allow you to control your heating from your smartphone or tablet.
- Cover your hot water tank with an insulated jacket, and you could save up to £50 a year.
- Install thermostatic radiator valves so you can control the temperature in each room. Keep them low around 2-3 when you aren’t in the rooms or out of the house.
- Reducing your boiler flow temperature to 55-60 degrees could cut £65 a year off your gas bill.
- To reduce heat loss, draught-proof your home, and during colder winter months close your blinds and curtains to keep the heat in the inside.
Our top tip: The weather changes daily and so should the temperature on your thermostat setting.
Save energy in the kitchen
- Use a slow cooker or an air fryer - with a slow cooker you can cook a meal for about the same cost as powering a lightbulb.
- Meal prep – cook as much as possible in one go to save time and energy. Just pop the rest in the freezer ready for the week, and you’re good to go.
- Upgrade to an energy-efficient fridge freezer. Check the energy rating on your appliances - A-rated are the most energy efficient. The lower the rating, the more it will cost to run.
- Defrost your fridge freezer regularly to avoid it using more energy than it needs.
- Keep your fridge at 5°C and freezer at -18°C – no need for it to use more energy than it needs.
Save electric doing the laundry
- Save up to £60 a year if you dont use a tumble dryer. Air dry your clothes or hang them on a washing line outside if it’s sunny. And if you do need to use it, wash a full load.
- If you wash clothes just once a week and reduce the temperature on your cycle to at least 30°C, and you could save up to £29.
General energy saving tips
- Keep track of your spending with a smart meter and spot energy-guzzling appliances
- Switching electronics off instead of leaving them on standby can save you up to £55 a year.
- Cut your shower time to just 4 minutes and you could save up to £70 a year.
- Switch to LED lightbulbs they use up to 80% less energy.
Calculating how much electricity your appliances use
How much do everyday appliances cost to run?
| Common appliances and running times: | Approximate usage in units | Approximate running cost [1] |
|---|---|---|
| Washing machine (40 degrees for an hour) | 2 | £0.51 |
| Tumble dryer (an hour) | 3 | £0.77 |
| Electric cooker/oven (30 minutes) | 1.5 | £0.39 |
| Dishwasher (an hour) | Up to 1.8 | Up to 0.46 |
| Kettle (5 minutes) | 0.1 | £0.03 |
| Toaster (5 minutes) | 0.1 | £0.03 |
| Electric shower (15 minutes) | 2.5 | £0.64 |
| Electric hob (15 minutes) | Up to 0.4 | Up to £0.10 |
| TV (an hour) | 0.2 | £0.05 |
| Games console (an hour) | 0.2 | £0.05 |
| PC/laptop (plugged in, one hour) | 0.2 | £0.05 |
How much energy do appliances running 24/7 use?
| Appliances commonly running 24 hours | Approximate usage in units | Approximate running cost [1] |
|---|---|---|
| Fridge freezer | 2.5 | £0.64 |
| Wifi router | 0.5 | £0.13 |
| Set top box (Sky/Virgin Media etc) | 0.5 | £0.13 |
| Separate chest fridge/freezer | Up to 1.5 | Up to £0.39 |
| Alexa | 0.1 | £0.03 |
| Wifi booster | 0.1 | £0.03 |
| Wine/drinks fridge | 2.4 | £0.62 |
| Security camera | Up to 0.4 | Up to £0.10 |
What is a kilowatt hour (kWh)
A kWh stands for kilowatt hour – the unit used to measure energy use. 1 kWh will power a 40 watt light bulb for 25 hours.
Read our helpful guide to learn more about what a kWh is and how it’s calculated.
How we can help
Here are some ways we can help you manage and save energy at home.
Tracking your energy
If you have smart meters, log in to your account to see how much energy you are currently using on a daily basis.
It's easiest to check in the mobile app
Smart meters
Monitor how much energy you use with a smart meter, and save time as they automatically send your meter readings to us.
Save more with PeakSave
Join hundreds of thousands of customers using their smart meters to save money with PeakSave Sundays.
Struggling to Pay?
We don’t want anyone to struggle. If you can’t pay your energy bill or think your bill might be wrong, we’re here to help.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to use your washing machine at night?
Most homes across the country pay a 'flat' or single rate for electricity. This means the cost is the same whatever time of day you’re using it. Some homes are on a tariff called Economy 7 - which does give you seven 'off peak' hours in the night when your electricity is cheaper. Our handy guide explains everything you need to know about off-peak electricity.
If you have a smart meter you can sign up for PeakSave. It doesn’t matter what tariff you're on. And by joining, you get half-price electricity on PeakSave Sundays and with our new PeakSave Green Flex events too. Perfect for tackling the laundry.
When is the cheapest time to put the heating on?
If you use gas to heat your home: The cost is the same regardless of the time of day. You’ll likely need heating in the early morning and evening when temperatures drop. Setting your heating to turn on just before you return home from work, or a day out can be very effective.
Working from home? Then it could be worth just heating a single room where you do all your work. That way you won’t be spending money heating empty rooms.
If you use electricity to heat your home: This depends on who supplies your energy and your tariff. If you're on an Economy 7 or 10 tariff, (also with some specialist EV tariffs), you'll pay less for energy you use during the night, but a higher rate than average during the day. If you're on a single-rate tariff, you'll pay the same amount regardless of what time of day it is.
When is the cheapest time to use the tumble dryer?
The cheapest time to use the tumble dryer is during off-peak hours when electricity rates are lower. You’ll need a smart meter to take advantage of off-peak electricity times and rewards, like PeakSave Sundays, from your energy supplier. Read our guide to understand more about off-peak electricity.
- Other tips to save money when using your tumble dryer:
- Let your clothes dry more naturally, weather permitting, so they take less time in the dryer
- Wait until you have a full load, so you run less cycles
- Make use of any low heat or eco cycles on your dryer.
What are the best boiler settings for saving money?
Reducing your boiler flow temperature to between 55 and 60 degrees and turning your thermostat down by 1 degree can help you to save money on your energy bill. Servicing your boiler once a year is also important to help maintain its energy efficiency.
Save more by covering your hot water tank with an insulated jacket (if you have one). Also, draught-proofing your home and close your blinds and curtains to keep the heat in when it’s cold.
Investing in smart home technology like the Hive Thermostat means you can control your heating from your smartphone or tablet. And installing thermostatic radiator valves allows you to control the temperature in each room. Keep them low around 2-3 when you aren’t in the rooms or out of the house.
Does turning your radiators off save gas?
Turning off radiators in rooms that are not in use can help you to save on your energy bills. You can also install thermostatic radiator valves which allows you to control the temperature in each room, keeping them low when you aren’t in the rooms or out of the house.
Does turning the kettle off at the wall save electricity?
Small changes to how you use electricity can add up. Unplugging appliances like kettles and other appliances instead of leaving them on standby are good habits to get into and every little counts towards lower energy bills.
Is it cheaper to have the heating on all day?
According to the Energy Saving Trust, it’s usually not cheaper to leave the heating on all day. Leaving your heating on low all day uses more energy – because your home generally loses a certain amount of heat throughout the day. How much is lost depends on the quality of insulation that you have.
Investing in smart home technology like the Hive Thermostat means you can control your heating from your smartphone or tablet. Installing thermostatic radiator valves allows you to control the temperature in each room.
Should you leave your heating on if you're going away?
The Energy Saving Trust recommends you leave the heating on to some degree during winter, even if you're not there. This helps avoid frozen pipes, which can cause costly damage The general rule is to keep your heating at a minimum 12°C (but some say home insurance policies recommend at least 15°C), rather than switching it off completely.
Additional information
Figures are taken from Energy Saving Trust, based on the October 2024 price cap rates and a customer with typical usage, paying by Direct Debit. Rates and standing charges vary by region and payment method.