As a cold snap hits the UK, we are all reluctant to turn the dial on our thermostats to make it warmer inside due to the cost. Heating homes in the UK has become a seriously expensive business. Following on from my post on how to save money on heating bills, I’ve put together a follow-up piece which details more ways to save money on your gas and electric bills. You can also find lots more ideas on how you can make your home more energy efficient here.
More Ways To Save Money On Your Gas and Electricity Bills
This is a collaborative post
With the energy price cap being increased in April and help for households looking to be reduced, there are a few ways you can help to cut your gas bills, so it’s worth taking a look at them.
Invest in Solar Panels
Solar panels are not cheap to install and this can put off many households that are looking to save money immediately. However, solar panels will save you money in the long run by reducing reliance on mains power and allowing you to harvest free energy from the sun. With enough solar panels, you may even be able to power your whole home and effectively never have to pay an energy bill ever again. If you’re looking to get the best prices on solar panels, try a site like SpotDif who can save you money by comparing suppliers. Maintenance like solar cleaning is necessary. But this doesn’t have to be carried out too regularly and may even be covered by some solar panel installation companies.
Turn Down Your Boiler
If you have a combi boiler, you could save money by turning down the flow temperature to around 60 degrees. The flow temperature is the temperature of the water that is used in your radiators. It means that the water sent to your radiators will be slightly cooler, but it doesn’t stop your house from reaching the desired temperature. You probably won’t notice the difference. You could turn down your boiler and then focus on just heating the rooms you are using the most. A stunning glass hearth in your main living area could be a smart choice. Not only will this heat up your room, but this stylish addition will make your living room look stylish and on-trend.
Close Curtains
If you have curtains or blinds in your home, make sure you use them. Windows can be a real drain on your household temperature and by shutting blinds and curtains you’ll retain more of your precious heat inside your home.
Use a Dehumidifier
Instead of running a tumble drier, you could run a dehumidifier on a laundry setting. Pop your clothes on an airer in one room, turn the dehumidifier on to the laundry setting and you’ll find your clothes will be dry in a few short hours. Running a dehumidifier, especially if it’s an energy-efficient one, can be a lot cheaper than running a tumble drier. A tumble drier is one of the most costly household appliances to run.
Wash Lower and More Energy Efficiently
If you are doing a load of washing, why not wash it at 30 degrees rather than 40? This will require less energy to heat the water and make also result in a shorter washing cycle. If you are running your dishwasher, does it have an eco-mode? Generally, economy modes use less water and less energy to run, so if used regularly instead of a normal mode, you could save yourself money.
Use Your Slow Cooker and Microwave More
Ovens use a lot of energy to pre-heat and then cook your food. With some careful planning, you could pop some ingredients into your slow cooker once or twice a week and save yourself some money. If you are getting a slow cooker, why not buy a large-capacity one and cook a large portion of whatever you are cooking? Once cooled, you can pop it in your freezer and then you can heat it in the microwave for easy leftovers. Microwaves also use a lot less energy than ovens, so if you can cook even a couple of dishes in the microwave, you’ll be saving yourself money.
I hope these additional tips have been useful in helping you to find a few ways to save money on your gas and electricity bills. It’s hard enough to keep warm in the winter, let alone without having to worry about the cost of it. Let’s hope for a warm spring and summer – although not too hot…
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