Brits are being offered clever ways to reduce their typical energy usage around the home to save money as the government announces the energy support scheme will be ending this month.
The penny-pinching pros at NetVoucherCodes.co.uk are advising households on simple ways to save on energy usage at home to help cut back on bills.
Last autumn, the government announced an energy support scheme where households would have roughly £66 taken off their monthly bills to reduce financial stress.
However, in April the scheme is set to come to an end, meaning millions of homes will see a significant rise in their annual energy bills.
To help deal with the rising costs, the consumer experts at NetVoucherCodes have researched practical solutions to lower the high price, such as installing a water alarm and checking loft insulation.
John Stirzaker, online consumer expert from NetVoucherCodes.co.uk said: “With Britain bracing itself for another rise in energy bills, we wanted to offer simple advice to those who are worried about the steep price increase.
“Many homes will see a serious rise in their monthly payments due to the energy support scheme coming to a close.
“This has helped Brits save around £396 overall since the scheme was first introduced five months ago.
“But now with the support for homes ending, we wanted to explore 15 ways to help people cut the costs of their energy bills so they’re able to handle the rise in costs.
“Making simple changes around the home such as installing smart metres and using eco-settings on devices such as washing machines and dishwashers, can make a huge difference to the monthly costs.”
Here are NetVoucherCodes.co.uk‘s top ways to reduce energy usage around the home:
- Install smart devices
Having the visual costs in front of you will help to realise how much energy the devices around the house use. Smart metres and app-controlled lights are effective methods to reduce energy wastage.
- Give the radiator space
Keep the sofa and any other furniture at least four inches away from radiators when they’re turned on as boilers can become overworked if the airflow is blocked, causing the costs to shoot up.
- Invest in a digital budget planner
Prepare for the end of the scheme early by allocating spending money ahead of next month. Having the figures laid out in front of you can help to visualise where you can allow for extra money to be put into a savings pot and which costs can be reduced if need be.
- Check your loft insulation
Go in the loft for insulation conditions to check if heat is escaping through your home. Solid insulation will keep the house warmer and reduce the need to turn the radiators on.
- Swap to LED bulbs
LED bulbs are one of the best options to use less energy at home and they last longer compared to alternatives such as halogen. Another tip is to make the most of natural light as we head into the brighter months.
- Less heat in carpet-fitted rooms
Fitted carpets can retain more heat in the room compared to those with wooden flooring. It’s worth turning down the radiators in rooms with carpets as you can get away with heating them less.
- Install a water alarm
Purchasing a water sensor will help detect any water leakages which have been covertly driving up household bills. Placing it around household appliances will help you quickly act on any leaks to prevent further costs.
- Make the most of eco settings
If your washing machine, dishwasher or even your TV has an eco setting/energy-saving function, make sure to use it to save on monthly costs. The devices will cost less to run as they will use less water and energy, but still manage to work just as well.
- Solar power banks
Instead of leaving the chargers on all day to burn energy, invest in solar power banks as an efficient solution to using less electricity. Use this stored energy to power up devices in the evening.
- Invest in energy-efficient appliances
Check what your devices are rated between A-G on the energy rating scale and if possible, swap for a more efficient alternative. It could be that your TV is rated at the highest level at G which is causing the energy costs to soar.
- Seal air leaks
Getting on top of air leaks helps to prevent heat from escaping the room and reduces the need to turn the radiator on as much. Any cracks around windows and doors should be sealed – draught excluders are a great choice to invest in for this problem.
- Switch off the plugs
Take five minutes before leaving the house and before going to sleep to turn off all plug sockets to prevent standby devices from draining energy. Even if the device appears to be off, the devices plugged in and with the switch turned on will continue to drain power.
- Use 30ºC washes
Lowering the temperature of a washing cycle can help to cut down on annual energy costs without sacrificing the quality of clothes after they come out of the machine. Washes on 30ºC cycles work just as effectively as those on 40ºC and are much cheaper annually.
- Apply for energy grants
You can apply on the government website for an energy grant to help make your home cheaper to heat up. One of the grants involves upgrading your existing boiler to a more energy-efficient version to lower costs long-term.
- Check externally
If you struggle to keep heat in your home, you may need cavity wall insulation to help retain the warmth. This will help to keep the costs down in the long run when turning on the heating.
For more ways to save on household energy usage, visit NetVoucherCodes.co.uk.
