People are advised to follow several steps to reduce their energy costs ahead of the coming winter.
Daragh Cassidy from comparison website Bonkers.ie suggested that people go back to the basics in order to meet hefty expenses later this year. He recommended that people take caution in particular when using their ovens.
"Firstly, make sure you use a timer when turning on the oven so that you know exactly when it's reached the right temperature. And when you hear the alarm sound, make sure you put your food in immediately so you're not wasting money heating an oven with nothing in it," Daragh said.
READ MORE: Fears of fuel limit and work-from-home rule amid severe shortage warning
He cited overfilling the kettle as another classic error made by households and recommended that people only boil a full kettle once a day to avoid ramping up the energy bill. The solution for tea lovers would be to pour any leftover water into a thermos, keeping it warm for the duration of the day.
Daragh also advised consumers to pull the plugs on their laptops and electrical devices before heading to bed as this so-called 'vampire' electricity contributes up to 10 per cent of all electricity usage.
Recent ESRI research revealed an increased demand for electric heating in Irish homes will see costs rise by as much as 46 per cent in the coming years. The survey showed that the retrofitting of heat pumps, a method often used to tackle household emissions, is an expensive move that could impact Irish households.
The ESRI study coincides with increasing concerns surrounding fuel shortages due to the ongoing war in Ukraine. The government has emergency plans in place to limit the amount of fuel available at filling stations in the event of a worst case scenario.
The proposed changes would only come into effect if fuel shortages were to impact healthcare settings. The restrictions would include limiting drivers to buying 15-20 litres of fuel per visit to a garage or pump.
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