MILLIONS of households can slash their energy bills by making eight simple changes to the way they use water.
Water UK, which represents industry, is calling on people to make small changes which could save a family of four £472 a year.
1
The Energy Saving Trust estimates the average household uses around 17% of its total energy consumption heating water.
So by reducing the amount of water you use in your home, you’re saving on your energy bills as well as water bills.
Of course, how much you can save will depend on how many of the eight tips you’ll employ.
But you could save close to £500.
Wash your clothes at a lower temperature
You don’t always have to wash your clothes at the maximum 60 degrees.
Running it at 30, and only using it once a week will save you £34 a year on your energy bill.
Sun reporter Harriet Cooke even tested how much cheaper it would be to drop even further and wash her clothes at 20 degrees as opposed to 30.
Most read in Money
She estimated the change saved her 8p a cycle, which, if you do one a week, could save you just over £4 a year.
Take a shorter shower
You might enjoy taking your time in the shower, but cutting down your usage could save you hundreds.
Water UK estimates taking a four minute shower could save a household of four £165 a year on their energy bills.
Plus, you’ll save an extra £100 on your water bills as well.
What a-butt one of these for your garden
If you have a garden and regularly water your plants or bushes, investing in a water butt could really save you some pounds.
The average roof collects 85,000 litres of rain a year, enough to fill a water butt 450 times.
So by using a butt instead of relying on your hosepipe, you’ll save on money and water.
We looked online and found a 210 litre water butt available from Charlies for £29.99 and a 227 litre one at EvenGreener on sale for £53.99.
Fix leaks in your home
In July, Ofwat, which regulates the water and sewerage industry, found industry wide leaks had dropped by 11% since 2017/18.
But members of the public can do their bit as well.
A leaky loo wastes between 215 and 400 litres of water per day.
So not only will fixing any broken leaks stop water from going to waste, it will save you a few pounds as well.
Of course, it’s worth bearing in mind if you can’t fix the leaks yourself, you might have to pay to get a plumber out.
The average cost of fixing a toilet is between £50 and £100.
Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth
We’ve all been there – leaving the tap on while brushing our teeth.
But all that wasted water can see your bills rack up.
If each person in a household of four were to run the tap while brushing their teeth for two minutes, Water UK estimates that would waste a shocking 24 litres a day.
Across a whole year, that’s £40.
Only use full appliances
Washing machines use on average 60 litres per cycle, while dishwashers use 10 litre of water each time.
So it goes without saying that you’ll be getting the most out of each cycle by only using them when they’re as full as possible.
Switch up your shower head
Aerated shower heads blend water with air to create larger droplets of water – using less water and saving you on your bills.
Martin Lewis has previously shared how using one can save you money.
And Water UK estimates making the switch could save a household of four £75 on their energy bills and £45 on their water bills every year.
You can get aerated shower heads for £27.50 at Victorian Plumbing or £29.99 at Screwfix.
You can also get them for free via savewatersavemoney.co.uk.
Only boil what you need
Rather than filling your saucepan or kettle to the brim to boil water, only heat up what you need.
If you don’t want to guesstimate, try using a measuring jug to pour out the exact amount needed.
Water UK said making this change could save a household £13 a year on their electricity bill.
How else can I save on my water or energy bills?
There are other ways to save on your water bills beyond Water UK’s recommendations.
Investing in a water meter could save you hundreds a year, like one mum from South Gloucestershire.
However, water meters charge you for the amount you use – so it might not be that cost-effective if you do go through a lot.
If you’re thinking about getting one, the Consumer Council for Water offers a free water meter calculator that’ll tell you how much you could save.
Washing your dishes could see you waste money too so it might be worth buying a dishwasher.
Plus, plenty of water companies offer free water-saving devices that shave pounds off your bills.
Contact your supplier for more information or check out savewatersavemoney.co.uk.
Companies offer a range of financial support to struggling families too, including caps on bills for large families and help for those where someone has a medical condition through the WaterSure scheme.
To qualify, you need to already have a water meter installed, and prove you need to use a lot of water.
In other news, Martin Lewis has issued a stark warning to households to not go into debt just to finance Christmas.
Plus, a major mobile network is offering customers on certain benefits, including Universal Credit, a social tariff for £12 a month.
