Energy Saving Tips

1. Only boil the water you need. Avoid overfilling the kettle when making hot drinks or cooking.
2. Use your washing machine efficiently. Wait until you have a full load where possible and wash clothes at 30°C when suitable for the items being washed.
3. Fill your dishwasher before running it. Using your dishwasher less frequently by waiting for a full load can reduce energy and water use.
4. Avoid opening the fridge or freezer unnecessarily. Keeping the doors open allows cold air to escape and means the appliance has to use more energy.
5. Defrost your freezer when needed if it is not frost-free.
6. Defrost frozen food safely in the fridge rather than using energy to defrost it in a microwave.
7. Allow hot food to cool before refrigerating it, while following normal food safety guidance.
8. Avoid opening the oven door unnecessarily while cooking, as this allows heat to escape.
9. For smaller amounts of food, appliances such as a microwave or air fryer may use less energy than heating a full-size oven.
10. Use lids on pans where appropriate to help food and water heat more quickly.

1. Heating and hot water account for a significant proportion of household energy use, so using your heating controls effectively can make a difference.

2. Use your heating controls to heat your home when you need it rather than heating an empty home unnecessarily.
3. Set your thermostat to a comfortable temperature. For most people, the lowest comfortable temperature is between 18°C and 21°C. Individual needs vary, so make sure your home is warm enough for your health and comfort.
4. Don't turn the thermostat up to heat your home more quickly. A higher setting won't make your home heat up faster - it will simply continue heating to a higher temperature.
5. Use thermostatic radiator valves if you have them to control the temperature of individual rooms.
6. Avoid blocking radiators with furniture or heavy curtains where possible.
7. Close curtains and blinds at night to help reduce heat loss, making sure curtains don't cover radiators.
8. If you are struggling to keep your home adequately heated because of the cost, contact our Energy Advice team for support.

1. Switch lights off when you leave a room and replace older bulbs with energy-efficient LED bulbs when they need replacing.
2. Switch appliances off standby where appropriate. Check the manufacturer's instructions if unsure, as some equipment needs to remain powered.
3. Use energy-saving or eco settings on appliances where available.
4. Avoid using a tumble dryer where practical. Drying clothes outside when the weather allows can reduce electricity use. If drying indoors, make sure the room is adequately ventilated to help prevent condensation and damp.
5. Keep showers reasonably short, as heating water uses energy.
6. Draught-proof gaps around windows and doors where appropriate, but don't block intentional ventilation such as air vents or extractor fans.

Improving the energy efficiency of your home can reduce the amount of energy needed to keep it warm.

Measures that may help include:

• loft insulation
• cavity or solid wall insulation
• floor insulation
• draught-proofing
• improving windows and doors
• upgrading heating controls
• insulating hot water cylinders and pipes
• installing a more efficient heating system where appropriate.

The most suitable improvements will depend on your property and existing heating and insulation.

Before paying for major energy-efficiency work, consider getting independent advice about which measures are appropriate for your home and whether financial assistance may be available.