As temperatures drop and many households across the country resort to turning their heating back on, an expert has explained how Britons can make savings.
Gas and electricity prices rose at 1.7 percent and 6.7 percent, respectively, in the last year, data from ONS found.
It comes as prices are set to rise despite the price cap having fallen from the current £2,074 to £1,923 from October 1 for the average dual fuel customer.
Last year, the Energy Price Guarantee limited average bills to £2,500 per year and each household received a further £400 over six months to offset soaring costs.
These measures brought the average monthly cost of energy down to £141, but unless further support is announced, average costs from October to December 2023 will rise to £160.
As people prepare for an unpredictable winter, many households across the country will be aiming to cut down on their utility bills.
British Gas estimated that around 23 percent of a home’s electrical use could be eaten up by having devices still plugged in and charging once fully charged or by keeping devices on standby; this equates to around £200 per year.
The benefits of unplugging your devices once they have a sufficient amount is that people will prolong the battery life and longevity of their device, as well as save some cash.
Energy experts at Bionic are urging consumers to use these simple hacks to slash their bills and take control.
Draught-proof your building
If people work on ensuring their premises are well insulated, then there will be less need for expensive heating costs. Draught-proofing doors and windows is a cheap but effective way to save money on gas and electric bills as it limits the amount of heat that can escape and stops cold air from getting in.
Draught excluders are a low-cost method of retaining heat in rooms and preventing cold draughts from bringing down your room temperature, therefore requiring you to use more energy to heat radiators.
People can use a self-adhesive draught seal that can be easily picked up in DIY stores for under a fiver, or use draught excludes which they can pick up from Home stores in designs they want.
Be mindful of your water costs
Around 60°C is the optimum temperature for hot water, so if people notice that they’re running water that’s hotter than that, they can turn it down as it still gets job done and they can slicet their energy bills at the same time.
Additionally, it is vital to know that around 25 percent of the home’s energy consumption is used by heating water, but it is possible to save money while people are in the shower, surprisingly. By reducing the amount of time spent in the shower, it can help to reduce bills massively.
By shaving off a few minutes in the shower, people can save up to £150 each year on their bill. Another way to ensure the hot water is being used efficiently is by adding a water-efficient showerhead into the bathroom, most of which cost between £10-£20.
The showerheads restrict the amount of water coming through the head, and when fitted properly, make sure people have no leaking areas, which could be costing them vital pennies.
Install a smart meter to save money
Smart meters can be an incredibly useful tool when navigating one’s energy usage in their home. They can use it to see when they are using the most energy in the day and also look at how much they are spending in a day.
People can then use the data to make better choices when using appliances and at certain times, for example on their tariff, it may be cheaper to use the washing machine in the evenings instead of at midday.
Similarly, they may decide to only boil half a kettle instead of a full kettle when making a brew.
Switch lights and appliances off
Simply turning off lights when someone leaves an empty room makes all the difference. Many businesses opt to install light sensors in areas like storerooms and toilets because they are places where people aren’t going to be all day. When appliances are left on standby, they’re still using energy.
