A SAVVY woman has revealed how she slashed her energy bill by £150 a year using a bargain high street find.
Deirdre Mc Gettrick, 36, couldn’t believe how the simple solution could dramatically reduce the amount of time she needs to have the heating on during the colder months.
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With the cost-of-living on the rise, the entrepreneur started to think about areas of her home where she could cut back to lower her energy usage last year.
She told The Sun: “When I realised that my heating was one of the most energy-guzzling appliances in my apartment, I was determined to do something about it.”
Deirdre, who lives in a two-bedroom flat in Woolwich, south-east London, with her husband, Ray Wright, 42, spotted curtain lining in Dunelm for just £24.
She said: “By lining my curtains, I’ve been able to ditch my central heating at night during the winter.
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“It also means I use it a lot less during the day.”
The extra insulation was added in the couple’s living room, which has full floor to ceiling windows.
It’s also where they spend most of their time, and so stood to make the biggest saving by avoiding heating it.
She has also boosted energy efficiency around her home by investing in a mix of curtain linings and thermal curtains.
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These are heavier versions which help keep the heat in your rooms for longer.
They can be a worthwhile investment for a sitting room or bedroom.
While the price cap is due to fall from the start of October – from £2,074 to £1,923 – many are still worried about high gas and electricity bills as they are still far higher than in previous years.
But Deirdre, who’s the co-founder of furniture retailer comparison site ufurnish.com along with husband Ray, says forking out is well worth it, and you don’t have to spend a fortune.
“It’s possible to do all this on a budget,” said Deirdre.
“Dunelm is a great place to buy linings, with lots of options for under £30.
“You can also get some great lined thermal curtains from La Redoute, available in multiple colours, costing from £35.
“And, at Argos, there’s a great ‘over-the-door’ option for £30.”
According to The Eco Experts, a comparison website, high-quality thermal curtains will cut the average three-bedroom home’s heating bill by more than £300 per year.
As Deirdre lives in a two-bed apartment, the energy specialist reckons she will save just under £150 a year on her bills.
Separate findings from SaveMoneyCutCarbon, a money saving platform, show that around 25% of heat is lost from windows and draughts around the home.
Thermal curtains and blinds work by reducing heat loss.
From draughty to crafty
To boost savings even further, get into the habit of drawing your curtains at dusk to help keep the heat generated inside your rooms.
Also remember to keep doors and windows closed when the heating is on.
Lining her curtains is not the only step Deirdre has taken to help keep a lid on bills.
The savvy businesswoman has made further changes, including investing in a higher-tog duvet.
“This helps keep me warm at night when temperatures drop,” she said.
“I’ve also bought draught excluders for my kitchen-dining area to reduce the amount of heat escaping under my doors.
“These make my apartment feel cosier, as less heat escapes and less cold air is let in.”
For something a bit quirky, Deirdre picked out the caterpillar version for £22.50 at M&S, though there are plenty of fabric ones you can pick up from the like of Amazon or Etsy for less than a tenner.
Better still, why not save even more by fashioning your own from a blanket, towel or old pair of tights stuffed with rags, as this won’t cost you a penny.
The money-saving whizz added: “Until recently, my heating had been costing me a fortune.
“But investing in a few clever furnishings, such as curtain linings, draught excluders and a high-tog duvet, has really helped reduce costs.”
According to Uswitch, based on typical consumption, the average household with gas central heating spends around £400 for three months of heating.
Deirdre added: “Now, when the temperature drops, I only need to turn my heating on very occasionally.
“I’ve seen my energy bills almost cut in half from not needing to turn my heating on as often.”
Another simple tip from Deirdre is to only fill the kettle with the amount of water required when making a hot drink.
“I no longer over-fill it,” she said. “I put in just enough water to make one or two mugs of tea or coffee, so I’m not wasting energy.”
According to figures from Electricityprices.org.uk, boiling a full kettle once per day can cost you 4p per usage, whereas a half-full kettle costs 2p a time.
Other simple energy-saving tips include switching off your appliances at the mains.
While you’re at it, rather than leaving your mobile charging overnight, it’s good to get into the habit of charging your device for a couple of hours in the evenings.
Also be disciplined about turning off lights when you leave a room.
Figures from National Energy Action show that leaving one standard 60W light-bulb on for 12 hours could cost you 24.5p per day – a huge £89.50 per year.
At the same time, try turning your thermostat down by just one degree. This could save you £100, the Energy Trust says.
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Another quick win for anyone looking to cut energy spend is ditching the tumble dryer and pegging clothes outside to dry instead.
If you don’t have any outdoor space, a heater airer indoors will still work out a lot cheaper than turning on the heating to dry washing on radiators.
