Here's a few easy ways to save energy in your home and save money on your energy bills.
We also share some longer-term investments to help make your home more energy efficient.
Renting? Find out how you can save energy in your rented home.
Quick Wins
Simple, low-cost ideas to help you start saving energy today.
Homemade double glazing
No double glazing? No problem. Try some secondary glazing film to reduce heat loss and condensation. You could even use cling film!
Kitchen foil isn’t just for the kitchen
Putting kitchen foil behind radiators reflects more heat back into a room. Just mount some foil on cardboard (with the shiny side facing outwards) and you’re all set.
Close the gaps with a draught excluder
Stop cold air coming in through gaps around doors with an easy-to-make draught excluder. Closing your curtains will also help keep the heat in.
Switch it off
Appliances on standby still consume electricity, so switch them off completely when not in use. You should also avoid charging laptops and mobile phones unnecessarily.
Turn heating down a degree
We all agree that the most important thing is to keep warm in winter, but turning your heating thermostat down by just 1°C could reduce your heating bills by up to ten percent – around £80 - £85 a year.
If you go away for a few days during the winter months, leave the thermostat on a low setting to avoid damage from freezing such as burst pipes.
Wash at 30
Wash your clothes at 30 degrees, modern detergents now work just as well at cooler temperatures. Try to always wash a full load too; one full load uses less energy than two half loads.
Boil what you need
When boiling the kettle, only boil the amount of water you plan to use.
Watch your water use
Consider washing dishes by hand and replace or repair leaking taps to avoid wasting hot water.
Low energy lighting
Energy saving lighting such as LEDs use less energy and last longer, saving on both running and replacement costs.
Visit the Centre for Sustainable Energy for even more energy saving tips.
Bristol has pledged to be carbon neutral by 2030. Find out what you can do to help reach this target.
Read our tips for being more sustainable at home.
Longer term investments
Fit double glazing
Fitting double glazing cuts heat loss through windows by almost 50% and will also help to reduce your heating bill. Closing your curtains when it gets dark will also reduce heat loss.
Faulty boiler?
An inefficient boiler can cost you up to £300, so make sure you get yours serviced regularly by a Gas Safe engineer at least every two years.
If your boiler is over ten years old, replacing it with a new high-efficiency boiler is likely to lower the amount that you spend on heating.
Take a look at our tips for getting your boiler ready for winter.
Install heating controls
Heating controls help you heat your home and hot water to the desired level, so that you don’t waste energy creating more heat than needed.
Heating controls include thermostats, programmes to set when your heating and hot water come on and off and cylinder thermostats on your hot water tank.
Live in Bath or Bristol? Gregor Heating can help with boiler replacements and install heating controls.
Check your appliances
You can save on energy bills by choosing more energy efficient appliances for your home when you come to replace them.
All new electrical appliances and gas boilers are rated according to how much energy they use based on size categories. An A+++-rated appliance is the most efficient, while a G-rated appliance is the least efficient, and therefore the most expensive to run.
Read this helpful article from the Energy Saving Trust explaining Energy Performance Certificates.
Insulate
Making sure that your home has a good level of insulation will reduce your energy bills as less hot air will escape through your walls and roof.