BRITS could save thousands of pounds on their energy bills each year with these easy hacks around the home.
The government has compiled a list of handy hacks to save money as part of the ‘Help for Households’ scheme.
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The cost of living crisis is hitting the nation hard, especially over the festive period.
Downing Street has already ploughed another £1billion into the Household Support Fund to help Brits battle their bills.
Households can receive energy vouchers worth up to £300 to put towards their soaring expenses.
But if you are in need of immediate action to reduce costs, why not try some of these simple tips.
The government claim the easy hacks can help save you a whopping £1,305 on your energy bills each year.
From closing your curtains to installing installation, there are over a dozen helpful hints to take inspiration from.
REDUCING BOILER TEMPERATURE
Turning your combi boiler flow temperature down to 60C could save you up to £100 a year.
Reducing the heat of the water sent from your boiler to your radiators improves efficiency while cutting down your bills.
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Changing the flow temperature is different to lowering the thermostat and won’t noticeably reduce the warmth in your home.
However, it could increase the time it takes to reach the target temperature on your thermostat.
If you are over 65, or have pre-existing health conditions, you may want to set a slightly higher flow temperature of 65°C to ensure your home warms more quickly.
TURNING DOWN RADIATORS
Savvy homeowners could save up to £70 a year by simply turning down radiators in redundant rooms.
You could curb your energy costs by lowering valves down to between 2.5 and 3 (roughly 18°C) in unused areas of your home.
Turning them off completely works out less energy efficient, because your boiler has to work harder to increase the temperature again than if kept at a low setting.
But it is recommended to keep a minimum temperature of 18C indoors – especially for people over 65, children under 5 and those with pre-existing health conditions.
TURN OFF APPLIANCES
Appliances are known to continue to suck electricity from the socket like vampires unless they are unplugged.
But you could save up to £70 a year if you switch off your staple household gadgets.
Brits should remember to turn off the power switch at the socket or unplug them when they are not in use.
WASH CLOTHES ON COLDER TEMPS
Lowering the temperature of your washing machine while doing your laundry could save you up to £40 a year.
Modern appliances are equipped to clean clothes effectively, even without scorching water.
Changing from 40°C to 30°C means you could bag an extra cycle than you usually would in two washes, while using the same amount of energy.
Depending on your washing machine, tweaking your settings will save you a substantial amount of money.
DITCH THE TUMBLE DRYER
As millions of Brits are forced to use their tumble dryers instead of washing lines, their energy bills have spiked.
However, you could save up to £70 a year by merely relying on the appliance less – as it is one of the most energy-intensive devices in the home.
Instead, ensure you only switch it on when you have a full load, but be careful not to overload it as this could extend the drying time.
Alternatively, you could dry your garments on an airer or inside with a window open for ventilation.
SHUT OUT THE WORLD
It turns out closing your curtains and blinds is a money-saving hack as well as a way to avoid the neighbours.
Brits can help contain the heat inside their homes by trapping it inside behind their drapes.
This will stop warm air escaping while dually reducing heating costs – especially if you have radiators situated below your windows.
TRACK YOUR ENERGY USAGE
Tracking your energy usage via an app will help you budget for your bills as well as assessing your household’s trends.
If you have a smart meter, you can monitor your energy use with apps such as Utrack by Uswitch.
The free system will help you 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.
BANISH DRAUGHTS
You could save up to £60 a year by finding and fixing draughts around your home.
It is one of the cheapest and most effective actions you can take to stop or prevent heat escaping, which in turn reduces your energy bills.
Block unwanted gaps around windows, doors, chimneys and floors that let the cold air in and warm air out.
You could also add a layer of window film – a form of temporary secondary glazing – to help stop heat escaping through glass.
ENERGY SAVING BULBS
Swapping out your standard or incandescent light bulbs for energy saving ones could save you up to £55 a year.
Installing the likes of LEDs will keep rooms well lit while decreasing your energy bills each year.
LED lightbulbs also last longer than traditional bulbs, saving on maintenance costs.
The amount of light or colour of the light, is not linked to a bulb’s energy usage, so you can get the same light at a much lower energy cost.
INSTALL A SMART METER
By getting a smart meter installed, Brits can monitor what they’re spending each month.
They provide near real-time information about how much energy you are using via an in-home display, which you can use to track your spending and have greater control over your usage.
Smart meters provide automatic readings to your energy supplier, meaning an end to estimated bills and enabling easier budgeting.
Contact your energy supplier, who can arrange to install a smart meter free of charge.
INSULATE YOUR HOT WATER CYLINDER
For those who have a hot water tank, why not treat it to a hot water cylinder jacket to keep it cosy.
Insulating the cylinder will reduce the amount of heat lost and keep the water hot for longer, making them more efficient and cheaper to use.
You can pick one up in most hardware shops as well as online.
GET SMART THERMOSTATS AND HEATING CONTROLS
You could save up to £60 a year by adding smart thermostats and heating controls in your home.
They offer greater flexibility and control over your energy use – as they are connected to the internet.
Smart controls operate the same way conventional heating controls do, but offer more mobile control.
You can adjust your temperature settings even when you are not home via your smartphone.
ROOF AND LOFT INSULATION
Insulating your roof and loft could easily save you up to £355 each year.
According to Energy Saving Trust, if you don’t have any, adding 270mm thickness could save you £355 a year.
If you already have 120mm, increasing this to 270mm could save you £35 a year.
You can either do this yourself, or enlist the help of a professional for this simple saving trick.
ENERGY EFFICIENT APPLIANCES
Upgrading your electrical appliances to energy efficient models will help bolster your bank balance.
All home gadgets such as fridges, freezers, washing machines, dishwashers and TVs have an energy rating A-G, with A being the highest.
A higher rating means the device is more energy efficient.
The efficiency labelling on appliances allows you to compare models by how much electricity they use.
For example, upgrading from a C-rated washing machine to an A-rated one could reduce the energy you use to wash your clothes by 25%.
SOLAR PANELS
Sucking up the sunlight with solar panels to power your home could save you around £455 per year, according to the Energy Saving Trust.
They capture the sun’s energy and convert it into electricity that you can use in your home.
Sunlight is free, so once you’ve paid for the initial installation, you can generate your own renewable electricity and reduce your electricity costs.
GET DOUBLE GLAZING
Splashing out on double glazing could benefit you in the long run – to the tune of £235 a year.
The Energy Saving Trust say upgrading from single to double glazing could significantly reduce the cost of your bills.
It will also reduce cold draughts and sound pollution from outside.
SWITCH TO A HEAT PUMP
The government is encouraging Brits to replace boilers with a heat pump by enticing them with a grant.
You can get up to to £6,000 off the cost of a heat pump to properties across England and Wales.
They use cleaner electricity and are significantly more efficient than traditional boilers so will reduce your home’s energy usage.
You can check if you’re eligible for a heat pump grant here.
UNDERFLOOR INSULATION
You can enjoy another £110 in your pocket each year by installing underfloor insulation.
As well as making floors feel warmer and more comfortable in your home, it can also help reduce your heating bills.
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This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk
