The Government has launched a new campaign to help households reduce their energy bills.
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has spent £18 million on the It All Adds Up energy-saving campaign, issuing advice that it claims can help households cut their energy bills down by hundreds of pounds a year. The tips range from "quick and easy" free steps that people can take to home improvements that involve an upfront cost but can help save money in the long run.
It comes after Chancellor Jeremy Hunt confirmed in October that the Energy Price Guarantee scheme, which currently caps energy bills at £2,500 a year for the average household, will be cut from April 2023 - despite previous Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng initially pledging that it would last for two years. The Government has repeatedly come under criticism for failing to do enough to support vulnerable households amid the cost of living crisis.
As well as free advice, the Government also suggested some "low-cost home improvements" that can be made around the home by spending between £10 and £150 to help reduce bills in the longer term. These included draught-proofing by blocking gaps around windows and doors, switching to energy-saving lightbulbs, and installing a smart meter to check your energy usage.
Here are the Government's seven "quick and easy no cost actions" households can take to reduce the amount of energy they use without spending any money:
Turn down your boiler's flow temperature
According to the Government's advice, turning down the flow temperature - the temperature of the water that your boiler sends to radiators - on your combi boiler can save up to £100 a year on energy bills. The recommendation is to turn the temperature down to 60°C, or 65°C if you're older or have health conditions - this can help to save cash without noticeably reducing the temperature of your home.
Turn down radiators in rooms you don't use
If there are any rooms of your home that you aren't using or don't spend a lot of time in, the Government recommends turning the radiator valves in these rooms down to a setting of between 2.5 and 3, which is roughly 18°C, to save up to £70 a year on energy. The advice states that turning the radiators down is more energy efficient than turning them off altogether, as your boiler will have to work harder to increase the temperature when they are turned back on.
Turn appliances off at the wall
Ensuring that you switch your electrical appliances off at the socket can also cut your energy bills by up to £70 a year, according to the Government campaign. "Almost all" electronics in the home such as TVs, computers and gaming consoles continue to draw power if they are left on standby, so switching them off at the wall when you're not using them will help stop energy being wasted.
Wash your clothes at a lower temperature
Take a look at your washing machine settings to save up to £40 a year by cleaning your clothes at a lower temperature. The Government says that switching from 40°C to 30°C means that you can do three loads of washing at the lower temperature for the same amount of energy you would use in two loads at the higher setting, depending on what model of machine you have, and your clothes will be just as clean.
Cut down on using your tumble dryer
They may be convenient, but tumble dryers are one of the biggest culprits of driving household energy bills up and cutting down on your use of one could save you up to £70 a year. The Government suggests using a clothes airer instead, and ensuring you have a full load when you do have to use your tumble dryer - this is around three-quarters of the drum, which shouldn't be overfilled as this can increase drying time.
Close curtains and blinds at night
Making sure you pull your curtains and blinds shut when it gets dark will help stop the warm air in your home from escaping through windows and reduce heating costs. This is particularly true if your radiators are positioned underneath your windows.
Keep track of your energy use
If you have a smart meter, there are apps such as Utrack by Uswitch which is free and allows you to track your hourly energy use over days, weeks, months or years. This can help you find the best ways to reduce usage and save on your energy bills in a safe and manageable way.
The Government also suggested some "spend-to-save" home improvements that require more money upfront, but equally can yield significant savings on energy bills in the longer term as well as reducing damp, mould and condensation issues. These were:
- Insulating your hot water cylinder - saves up to £70 a year
- Installing smart thermostats and heating controls - saves up to £60 a year
- Installing roof and loft insulation - saves up to £355 a year
- Installing solar panels on your roof - saves around £455 a year
- Upgrading to double glazing - saves up to £235 a year
- Installing underfloor insulation - saves up to £110 a year
- Upgrading to more energy-efficient appliances - can energy use by 25% or more
- Replacing your boiler with a heat pump - the Government offers grants of up to £6,000 for the cost
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