The heating is on all day, you’ve lost track of how much washing up you’ve done, and you can’t wrestle the PlayStation controller out of your teenager’s hands. With schools and businesses being closed, our homes are fuller, busier and a black hole for energy, and consequently money.
There are a few things your family can do to help reduce costs:
- Reduce your time in the shower by one minute every day. If you’re a family of four, you could save £76 a year!
- Turn your appliances and electronics off - don’t leave them on standby.
- Close the curtains in the evening to keep the heat in.
- Fill up the washing machine before putting it on. It saves more energy than doing two half loads. This is the same for the dishwasher and tumble dryer.
- Fill up the sink instead of running the tap while you do the washing up.
- Defrost your freezer. The smallest amount of ice build-up can cause the freezer to work harder to maintain its optimum temperature, consequently increasing your bill at the end of the month. Don’t forget to empty it and turn it off first.
- Turn off the light if you’re not in the room.
Descale your appliances and fittings such as the shower head. We live in a hard water area and descaling them could improve the energy efficiency of your home.- Turn down your thermostat by 1 degree to save up to 10% on your energy bill.
- Only boil the amount of water you need, the kettle uses a surprising amount of electricity.
- Unplug your device if it’s had enough charge. It’s a waste of energy to charge it if it doesn’t need it and it’s not good for the battery of your device.
- Turn the tap off when you’re brushing your teeth or shaving, it can waste up to six litres of water per minute
If you think your bills are still too high and you don’t remember the last time you changed your supplier, you might be paying more than you need to. When you join a company, they will offer you a fixed rate for a length of time, for example, £40 per month for a year. At the end of the year, they put you onto an indefinite variable rate, which is often more expensive and subject to change.
Make sure you shop around for the deal that suits you best by using comparison sites, Sevenoaks Switch and Save or contact Citizens Advice.
If you are worried that you won’t be able to pay your bills, there is help available. Visit our Covid-19 advice page or contact your supplier to discuss your options.