Saving energy in winter: our top tips
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As we head into the colder months, it’s time to think about how you can save energy and money on your bills.
Heating your home
Radiators can play a big part in saving energy throughout your home. One quick way to save energy is to turn down the radiators in the rooms you aren’t using. If you’ve got thermostatic valves on your radiators, set each one to the temperature you need for each space. If you don’t have these valves – just turn off the radiators in any rooms you don’t often use, or areas which will warm up anyway from air coming from the rest of your home.
Bleed your radiator – this will allow air to escape, helping your radiator work more efficiently. This handy guide will show you how to bleed your radiator.
Close gaps and draughts around doors, windows and other spaces - continuous draught can quickly undo all the good work of your heating and waste energy. Identifying and plugging up draughts can help trap warmth in and make your money go further.
Control your thermostat - tweaking your thermostat (using it as an on/off switch or boost for example) can use more energy. It will be more efficient to set it and leave it on for while you need it. Setting your thermostat to somewhere between 18-21°c is ideal and turning down the temperature by just 1 degree could save you money off your bill.
An easy tip but a worthwhile one: make sure you keep those doors shut. It’s such a simple way to save energy!
Close your curtains before it gets dark - this can reduce heat loss by up to 15%.
Making chores more efficient
Wash your clothes at a lower temperature. Washing your clothes at 30ºC (rather than 40ºC) cuts your costs by 38%, according to Which?.
Say no to the tumble dryer – try air drying instead. Currys estimates that a 9kg vented tumble dryer uses around 5.34kWh for a full load – that costs around £1.54 per cycle.
Try batch cooking – it'll free up time for you in the week as well as saving money on energy and ingredients, as you’ll only have to use the oven once and you can reheat the food in a microwave later.
Check your appliances
Turn off your appliances at the socket. The Energy Savings Trust estimates that the average household in the UK spends £55 per year on appliances left on standby.
Use a microwave to reheat leftovers rather than an oven – they use 80% less energy than conventional ovens.
Get a smart meter and track your usage on your In-Home Display (IHD). Energy Savings Trust estimates that using your IHD can cut electricity usage by 2.8% and gas by 2% - with corresponding CO2 emission savings too. Give our team a call on 0345 555 7100 today to book your installation and find out more.
Extra support available
We have a dedicated team ready to help if you’re worried about paying your energy bills. Just give them a call on 01453 761 350 or freephone 0800 917 9525. We're open from 8.30am – 6pm Monday to Thursday, 8.30am - 5pm Friday and 9:30am - 1pm Saturday, or email credit.support@ecotricity.co.uk.
We also have some free extra support available if you need further help
Priority Services – this is available for customers with specific requirements such as a health concern, a disability, or children under the age of 5 at your property. We can offer priority support in an emergency, advance notice of planned power cuts (where possible) and a regular meter reading service. You can register on our website here or give our team a call on 0345 555 7100.
Warm Home Discount Scheme – if you’re eligible, you’ll receive £150 credit onto your energy account, PAYG smart meter or prepayment top up card by the end of March 2025. For more information, please visit www.gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme or call their helpline on 0800 030 9322.
Citizens Advice and Advice Direct Scotland – these are the official sources of free and independent energy advice, and they can refer you directly to the Extra Help Unit if you need additional support. If you live in England or Wales, go to citizensadvice.org.uk/energy or contact the Citizens Advice consumer service on 0808 223 1133. If you live in Scotland, go to energyadvice.scot or contact Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 196 8660. Calls are free.
Relay UK – this is a service to help people with speech or hearing impairment communicate over the phone. For more information, go to https://www.relayuk.bt.com/.
For British Sign Language enquiries, go to contactscotland-bsl.org.
Household Support Fund – you can get help from your local council with essential living costs, such as food, energy and water bills. Find out more here https://www.gov.uk/cost-living-help-local-council
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