Winter Energy Saving Tips

As useful as energy saving tips obviously are, we understand that they can only go so far. If you're struggling to keep up with your bills this winter, please visit our help hub to find out what we can do to help.

As winter sets in and the days get darker, many of us are probably thinking about ways to keep our homes warm and cosy over winter.

For those of us able to work from home under the government’s latest Covid guidance, more time at home also means we’re using more energy to power our devices, boil the kettle, cook meals and keep the lights switched on.

All of this, of course, impacts our bills, as well as our carbon footprint. We’ve put together a list of winter energy saving tips, which can help you keep warm, reduce your energy use, and save money on your bills over the coming months.

Tackle draughts

We’ve mentioned the importance of excluding draughts on our blog previously, as it should be your first port of call when ensuring your home isn’t losing any heat unnecessarily, especially during the winter months when it matters more than ever.

Aside from using basic draught excluders under doors or around windows, it could be worth considering professional draught-proofing if you suspect that your home is losing a fair amount of heat (this is often especially the case in older buildings). Installing draught-proofing for your whole home could save you between £25-£50 a year on energy bills - and if you have a chimney, installing a chimney draught excluder could save an extra £20 a year. The savings may not sound huge, but they’ll add up over the years, and you’ll reap the benefits when you realise how much warmer your home feels.

Install radiator reflector panels

You might not have heard of them before, but reflective radiator panels can help to keep your home warmer by reflecting heat back into the room, which would otherwise be lost through the walls.

Consisting of a thin sheet or piece of foil which is fitted behind the radiator, this simple hack means that heat bounces back into your home rather than escaping outside. You’ll stay warm, and less energy will be wasted - win win.

Replace your boiler

If your boiler is over ten years old, it may well be worth getting it replaced with a newer, more energy-efficient model. Modern boilers are ‘condensing,’ which means that they recover heat from exhaust flue gas and use it to heat the central heating water, making them considerably more efficient than older boilers.

Alternatively, now might be the right time for you to think about installing a heat pump, a low-carbon heating system which in many cases can replace your gas boiler altogether. Weigh up the options available to you, and how much money you could be able to save, here.

Unplug devices at the mains

When spending more time at home - especially over the Christmas holidays or when working from home - it’s likely we’re all using our devices a bit more than usual. It’s important to remember to switch them off when they’re not in use, though.

Appliances such as TVs, games consoles and laptops all use energy when left on standby, with the Energy Savings Trust stating that up to £80 a year is wasted in the average home due to appliances left on standby. Don’t forget to turn them off at the socket to help save energy and reduce your energy bills.

Make sure you’re using energy saving light bulbs

If you haven’t already, switch your bulbs to LED energy saving light bulbs, which use much less energy than traditional bulbs. According to the Energy Saving Trust, lighting makes up 15% of the average UK household electricity consumption, so making the switch could save you money as well as helping the environment.

While you’re at it, make sure that if you’ve got a Christmas tree this year you’re using LED energy saving bulbs, rather than traditional ones. For outdoor lighting you could also consider solar-powered bulbs, which still work in winter and are a great choice for lighting up your garden this festive season.