Energy Savers Week: Practical tips to help reduce your energy usage

This week marks Energy Savers Week, a period dedicated to helping households find practical ways to reduce energy consumption, lower bills, and make homes more energy efficient. Whether you’re trying to save money or reduce your environmental footprint, these tips and resources provide sustainable changes you can make around the home.

1. Layer up
   Wear layers at home. If you are at home most of the day, it may be worth investing in a heated blanket or portable heater to help you stay warm without turning on your central heating.
2. Check your radiators
   Don’t forget to bleed your radiators if you notice cold spots to help them work efficiently. Turn down radiators and shut doors in rooms you are not using, being careful of any condensation this may cause.
3. Draught-proofing
   Self-adhesive foam strips are easy to fit on windows. Draught excluders, keyhole covers, and letterbox brush strips can be cheap to buy and quick to fit.
4. Heat your home, not your walls
   You can buy foil insulation to put behind radiators to reflect heat back into the room.
5. Limit your tumble dryer use
   Hang washing outside, or find warm spots indoors, making sure it’s well ventilated to avoid condensation. Use tumble dryer balls, and empty the lint tray, for maximum efficiency.
6. Wash clothes at a lower temperature
   Where possible, wash at 30°C. Washing a full load each time could reduce the number of washes you need to do per week.
7. Have shorter showers
   Showering for 4 minutes can help save money on both your energy bill and your water bill if your property has a water meter.
8. Reduce your costs in the kitchen
   Batch cooking meals for the week ahead will reduce your oven use and means you can buy groceries in bulk. Items like slow cookers and air fryers can be more energy efficient than a traditional oven but don’t forget to do your research for what suits you best.
9. Check your thermostat settings
   Set your main room thermostat somewhere between 18°C and 21°C, a temperature comfortable for most people. It’s also a good idea to use a timer to turn it on and off when you need the heating most.
10. Get the help you’re entitled to
    You may be eligible for help with your energy bills. The British Gas Energy Trust offers energy debt write-off grants of up to £2,000 for British Gas and non-British Gas customers. The Trust also supports organisations across the UK that give free and impartial money and energy advice. Help includes income maximisation and benefits checks, energy efficiency, tariff switching and budgeting.

Looking for more energy saving ideas?

These videos contain 20 tips to help you reduce your energy usage this winter.