Money Bite-Size Read:
- The water, electricity and gas in your home costs money to run.
- These regular bills quickly add up and are a significant household expense.
- Here’s 20 tips to save money on energy bills to save money on your energy costs.
The MoneyBites Take:
We show you 20 ways to cut costs on your energy bills, reducing one of your biggest living expenses so you can use this money elsewhere in your budget.
How much was your last energy bill?
The interesting thing about these bills is they change over time. Your water, electricity and gas bill amounts depend to an extent on how much you use them. There are also market forces at work, which will contribute to lower electricity bills in 2021, despite households using 10% more electricity when working from home under COVID lockdowns.
This means you can help drive your energy bills up or down through your habits.
You can take action by changing how and when you use energy. Market forces may not always be within our control, and there are fixed costs associated with connecting your energy supply. However, you can control the variable costs to pay less for your energy each quarter.
Here’s 20 tips to save money on energy bills:
1. Do a bill audit
If you want to save money on energy bills, start with looks at your past statements. Look through your recent bills to save money on your electricity costs by moderating your usage.
2. Compare providers
Many of us pick an energy provider when we move in and stick with them. It could be worth using a comparison website to see whether you could get a better deal elsewhere.
3. Use energy-efficient appliances
Most appliances have an energy-efficient rating on them. Check this on your current devices and ask about it when you next buy a new appliance.
4. Switch to air drying
To save money on drying your clothes, invest in a drying rack. Clothes dryers cost money to run, so use the sun for free and pop your clothes on the line to dry instead.
5. Wash full loads only
You can reduce your energy usage by waiting until you have a full load before turning on your washing machine or dishwasher.
6. Use cold water
On average, 21% of your energy bill is spent on heating water so try using a cold wash cycle instead.
7. Switch to an eco-setting
Your appliance will likely have an eco-setting, which you may not have used yet. This eco-setting usually uses less energy, helping you save money and save the planet.
8. Reset your thermostat
Many of us want to make we’re as warm as possible in winter and ice-cool in summer. Instead, change up your temperature setting, including resetting your thermostat when you go to sleep.
9. Insulate your home
If you own your house, it’s worth looking at insulating your roof, floor or walls. Insulation stops heat from escaping your home in winter and entering your home in summer to reduce your energy bills.
10. Use insulation blinds
For the renters, you can still insulate your home by using blinds to keep the heat in during winter and out during summer.
11. Switch it off when not in use
Most appliances have a standby mode, which means they’re using energy even when you’re not using them. Turn a device off at the wall instead.
12. Use power boards
If you want to turn on and off multiple devices at once, try buying a power board, including one with individual switches to keep specific devices on.
13. Clean the filters
When was the last time you cleaned your washing machine filter? You need to clean your filters regularly as a dirty filter will use up more energy.
14. Defrost your freezer
Make sure you regularly defrost the freezer to avoid ice build-up, which impacts your freezer’s efficiency.
15. Don’t leave the heater on overnight
Turn off your heater when you go to sleep. While it may be more comfortable to have the heating on, save yourself the cost and use an extra blanket instead.
16. Check your fridge seal
Your fridge is one of the most expensive appliances to run, so check the seal is still tight. That way, your fridge keeps in the cold air you’re paying for.
17. Take shorter showers
Keep your daily shower to four minutes to keep your shower routine energy efficient.
18. Try a new shower head
You can save money on your water bill by using a water-efficient shower head to manage water flow while you shower.
19. Install energy-efficient lighting
Energy-efficient light bulbs will use less electricity, so could save you money to run over time, despite a higher upfront cost.
20. Get a rainwater tank
If you’ve got a garden, collect your rainwater via a dedicated tank so that you can use nature to water your garden year-round.
By taking a few simple steps, you can shave digits off your energy bills.
You can always explore more expensive options like solar panels as a sustainable consumer spending choice. Whatever your budget, try a few of these tips out to see how you can save money on your energy bills.