Energy is one of the biggest annual costs for UK families. According to Ofgem, the industry regulator, the average household spends around £1,277 a year on heating and power. However, the statistic came out before the price cap increase on the 1st of April and another increase is expected in October.
With such a big chunk of our income being spent on energy bills, it only makes sense to start looking at ways to reduce these costs or at least keep them in check. And while there are quite a few things you can try, many of these ideas involve a substantial initial investment — buying a more efficient boiler, installing double glazing windows, or replacing your existing appliances with a high energy-efficiency rating.
Luckily, there are also a few changes you can make without breaking the bank. Let’s have a look at what these are!
Turn Off Standby Appliances
You can save an average of £30 a year if you turn off appliances at the plug when you’re not using them. Not many people know this, but appliances that are plugged into the socket will still use electricity even if they are turned off. And while it’s a very small amount, it does add up over the year — how many appliances in your house are constantly plugged in?
Wash Clothes at a Lower Temperature
Most clothes don’t actually need to be washed at more than 30 degrees. Higher temperatures will damage the fabric quicker over time, so switching to 30 degree cycles will save you money on two fronts: the electricity bill and during your next shopping trip.
With most of you clothes, you also don’t need to wash them after every use and, for small food stains, you could wash the dirty bit by hand instead of throwing the whole item in the washing machine. Better for your wallet, your clothes, and the environment!
Switch to Energy-Saving Light Bulbs
When your light bulbs need to be replaced, consider buying LED bulbs to save around £180 per year. While this idea does involve an initial cost, it is well worth it in the long run! An LED bulb has a lifetime of 25.000 hours (around 25 years) and an annual running cost of £1.71, while a halogen bulb will last you approximately 2 years (2.000 hours) with an annual running cost of £8.42.
When looking at the numbers, it even makes sense to replace all the light bulbs in your house at once despite the initial cost to enjoy the £180 “discount” at the end of the year!
Keep Track of The Changes You Make
To better see the impact of your changes on your electricity bills, make notes of when you did what — for example, the date you changed all your light bulbs. You can easily do so in your Lifefyle app to stay on top of life admin at all times!
