Ten ways to save energy & water

At Citizens Advice we have joined with the Money Advice Trust and Stepchange to urgently increase protections for people with energy arrears. Our clients tell us stories of having to heat only one room in the house or do their washing at a relatives because they’re already in the red with their bills.  If you are in arrears for with your gas, electricity or water, please contact your local Citizens Advice for further advice on how to manage your debts.

If you’re just about keeping your head above water but worried about the impact of the price cap increase in October, there are other steps you can take to save energy/water:

• Switch off Standby – you can save up to £55 a year by remembering to turn your appliances off standby mode. Find out which appliances use the most money.
• Take a maximum 4 minute shower – keeping showers to less than 4 minutes instead of long showers or leisurely baths can save the average household a whopping £70 a year.
• Run your appliances on full – make sure you only use your washing machine or dishwasher when you have enough for a full run. You could save up to £50 a year by using these appliances more carefully.
• Use a lower temperature – make sure you use your washing machine and dishwasher on a lower temperature or “eco” setting. It’s estimated that you can save between 20 and 40% of your energy and water by doing this.
• Turn off the lights – that will save you around £20 per year. Better yet, change your lightbulbs for LED bulbs which can save you even more.
• Use water-saving gadgets – you can use an aerator on your tap or a water saving device in your toilet cistern. Find more on these gadgets here.
• Set your fridge between 3 and 5 degrees – This will ensure that your food & drink is stored at the correct temperature so it doesn’t freeze or get too warm thus spoiling your fridge contents.
• Turn your thermostat down – this is one of the easiest ways you can save on your energy bill. For every degree it’s turned down, the average household saves around £65 per year.
• Bleed your radiators – sometimes bubbles of air can get trapped in your radiator causing cool spots which affects the efficiency of your heating system. Bleeding a radiator is a fairly simple DIY job and your Energy Supplier will usually have straightforward instructions on their website.  However, if in doubt, call in a professional you can trust.
• Close your curtains – you can save up to £45 a year by draught-proofing your windows and doors professionally or even DIY. Find out more about the cheapest and most effective way to save on bills.

Author: Kash Karimzandi, August 2022