How to save energy throughout your day
Making changes to your daily routine can make a big difference to your energy consumption and bills. Whether you own your home or rent, there are lots of simple, quick and affordable ways to reduce energy waste.
Here’s how you can save energy from morning until night.
Morning routine – start your day efficiently
Only boil what you need
Kettles are one of the most used appliances in the kitchen, but many people boil the kettle with more water than they need. If you’re making tea or coffee, just fill the kettle with enough water for the cups you’re using. It’s quicker and saves energy too.
Take shorter showers
Keeping showers to just four minutes can cut your bills and water use. You could also install a water-efficient shower head too, especially if your household has multiple people.
Air dry your clothes
Wash full loads at 30°C to save energy.
Once clean, avoid tumble drying and instead dry clothes outside or on an indoor rack.
To help them dry faster indoors, consider using a dehumidifier. This allows the moisture within the clothes to evaporate more quickly, resulting in shorter drying times.
Heading out
Check your heating settings
Set your heating to turn off when you leave the house and come on shortly before you return.
Turn off lights when you leave rooms
Get into the habit of switching off lights in rooms that you’re not using. It’s a quick and simple tip, but over time it makes a difference.
Switch off standby
Appliances still use electricity when left in standby mode. Turning off devices like TVs, consoles and microwaves at the plug can save around £45 a year.
You can also try using a standby saver. This is a device that lets you turn off multiple appliances at once, helping you to save more energy with ease.
Midday habits
Use microwaves, air fryers and slow cookers
These appliances use far less energy than ovens. If you’re using the oven, cook food in batches and use the residual heat for the final few minutes of your cooking time.
Evening routine
Layer up
Before extending the time you have your heating on, try using a blanket or adding layers of clothing.
Only run the dishwasher when it’s full
Running the dishwasher only when it’s full means you use it less often. Reducing by one run per week could save you money over the year.
Keep a look out for draughts
Many homes lose heat through draughts. Look out for gaps around doors, windows, floors or chimneys. Getting a professional to draught-proof your house is the number one way to save money on your energy bills in the UK.
Before bed
Check your devices
Make sure all appliances are switched off at the wall and that no devices are charging unnecessarily overnight. This helps prevent energy waste and improves safety.
Use heavy curtains or thermal blinds
Thick curtains and blinds trap heat and keep your rooms warmer through the night.
New habits
Remember, you do not have to do everything at once. Start with a few small changes that work for you. Over time, you’ll reduce your energy usage and save money on your bills.
Interested in learning about more ways to save energy in your home?
Our Energy Saving Home Improvement Tool helps you to find ways to make your property more energy efficient and save money in the long term.
It’s powered by Energy Saving Trust and creates a personalised plan for you. All you need to do is answer a few questions about your property.
Create your plan using our Energy Saving Home Improvement Tool.
Energy Saving Trust
Learn more on the Energy Saving Trust’s top 10 energy saving tips article.
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