Many people are feeling the pressure from the cost of living crisis as prices rise on various fronts – including and especially energy costs.
Today, energy regulator Ofgem has announced that bills will rise from the beginning of April. They announced the new energy price cap, which is the maximum amount that suppliers can charge for a typical house in Great Britain.
The new cap which will apply from 1 April to 30 September means energy bills will rise by a whopping 54%.
With fears mounting that many households won't be able to afford their bills anymore, here are five simple tips that can help you reduce your energy bills.
Use your washing machine on a 30-degree cycle
You can save around £20 a year by being careful with your washing machine. Turn your washing machine on a 30-degree cycle instead of higher temperatures as this helps save mountains of money on energy.
Another tip is to wash your clothes only when you have a full load. If you're able to reduce your washing machine use by one run per week for a year this could save you an extra £10.
The Currys website advises that you figure out your washing machine’s energy efficiency rating to be aware of how much energy you're consuming on each use.
It says: "The amount of energy the machine uses is calculated (in kilowatt hours) over 100 cycles. The measurements are based on energy consumption during what’s called an ‘Eco 40-60 wash."
"An Eco 40-60 wash is good for cleaning your standard soiled materials like cotton, linen or mixed fibres. And it’s the most efficient programme for energy and water use too. So that makes it a good and fair cycle to test energy ratings for."
Turn your appliances off standby mode
You can save around £40 a year just by turning your appliances off standby mode. Almost all electrical appliances can be turned off at the plug without upsetting their programming.
Make sure to check instructions for your appliances as some satellite and digital TV recorders may need to be left plugged in so they can keep track of any programmes you want to record.
It be also be worth investing in a standby saver or smart plug which allows you to turn all your appliances off standby in one go.
Avoid overfilling the kettle
Kettles are often one of the most used appliances in our kitchens. We all have a tendency to fill the kettle with more water than we need or are going to use.
By simply avoiding overfilling the kettle you can save yourself £8 a year on your electricity bill.
You can also consider fitting an aerator onto your existing kitchen tap to reduce the amount of water coming out without affecting how it washes or rinses.
These small gadgets which attach to the spout of taps are cheap as well as easy to install, and could end up saving you £14 a year.
Avoid using a tumble dryer
Once you've washed your clothes, choose to dry clothes on racks inside where possible or outside in warmer weather. By avoiding the use of a tumble dryer for your clothes, you could save £40 a year.
Run your dishwasher only when it’s full
Similar to your washing machine, run your dishwasher only once it's full. By reducing your dishwasher use by one run per week for a year, you could save £10.
Cutting down your dishwasher use makes it more energy efficient as the energy ratings on dishwashers are calculated by how much water they use, compared to the amount of energy they consume over 100 cycles.
The Currys site explains: "This is tested using the Eco programme on things like cups, pots and plastic utensils. So the test is basically mimicking how you’d use your dishwasher at home."
