How to cut your energy bills this winter

As temperatures drop, energy bills tend to rise. Nick Daws shares tips on how to reduce costs this winter.

With the coldest winter months fast approaching, energy bills can quickly become a significant financial burden. 

With smart planning and simple changes, however, you can reduce your energy costs and keep your home warm without breaking the bank. 

Here are some tips to assist you.

1. Insulate your home

Proper insulation is one of the most effective ways to reduce heat loss, keeping your home warmer and reducing the need for constant heating. Consider the following:

Loft insulation: Up to 25% of heat is lost through the roof. Installing or topping up loft insulation can significantly reduce this.

Wall insulation: If your home has cavity walls, insulating them could save a substantial amount on your heating bills.

Draught-proofing: Seal gaps around windows, doors and chimneys to prevent cold air from entering and warm air from escaping. Draught excluders, weather stripping and door sweeps are inexpensive and effective.

2. Upgrade your heating system

Boiler efficiency: If your boiler is more than 10 years old, it might be time to replace it with a more efficient model. Modern condensing boilers are more energy-efficient and could save you hundreds of pounds annually.

Smart thermostats: Install a smart thermostat to control your heating more efficiently. These devices learn your schedule and adjust the temperature accordingly, ensuring you only use energy when you need it.

3. Be smart with heating

Turn down your thermostat: Lowering your thermostat by just 1°C can cut your heating bills by up to 10%. Aim to keep your living room at around 18-21°C and bedrooms slightly cooler at 16-18°C.

Use heating zones: If possible, only heat the rooms you use regularly. Close doors to unused rooms to keep the heat where it’s needed most.

Time your heating: Set your heating to turn on 30 minutes before you wake up and off 30 minutes before you go to bed. This ensures warmth when you need it without wasting energy.

4. Maximise natural heat

Open curtains during the day: Let the sunlight in to naturally warm your home. Close them at dusk to keep the heat in.

Use reflective foil: Place reflective foil behind radiators on exterior walls to bounce heat back into the room, reducing heat loss through the walls.

5. Cut electricity usage

Switch to LED bulbs: LED bulbs use up to 80% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs and last much longer.

Unplug stand-by devices: Devices left on standby can account for up to 10% of your energy bill. Unplug electronics or use a smart power strip to turn them off completely.

Use energy-efficient appliances: If you’re replacing appliances, choose ones with a high energy efficiency rating. They may cost a bit more up-front, but will save money in the long run.

6. Consider renewable energy options

Solar panels: Although the initial investment can be high, solar panels (as discussed in this article) can significantly reduce your energy bills over time. The government offers financial incentives for renewable energy installations, which can help offset the cost.

Government grants: Check if you qualify for government grants or schemes like the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) to help cover the cost of energy-efficient improvements.

7. Monitor and compare energy prices

Switch energy providers: Regularly compare energy providers to ensure you’re on the best tariff. Websites like Uswitch or MoneySuperMarket make it easy to compare deals.

Smart meters: If you don’t already have one, consider getting a smart meter. It provides real-time data on your energy usage, helping you identify opportunities to cut back.

Off-peak tariffs: Some energy companies (e.g. Octopus Energy) – offer cheap off-peak tariffs. These can deliver substantial savings if deployed correctly. Typically overnight rates are much cheaper – so if you run appliances such as washing machines at these times you may be able to cut energy bills substantially. If you have a home storage battery you can charge it at off-peak rates for use at other times when electricity is more expensive.

8. Develop energy-saving habits

Wash clothes at lower temperatures: Washing at 30°C instead of 40°C can save energy and money. Only run the washing machine with full loads.

Avoid using tumble driers as they consume a lot of electricity. Hang clothes outside to dry or use an airer.

Avoid overfilling the kettle: Only boil the amount of water you need. Overfilling wastes energy.

Shorten showers: Reducing your shower time by just a minute can save money on both your water and energy bills, especially if you have an electric shower.

9. Seek financial help if needed

If you’re struggling to pay your energy bills, you may be eligible for assistance:

Warm Home Discount: This is a one-off discount on your electricity bill, usually given between October and March. You’re eligible if you get the guarantee credit element of pension credit or you have a low income and high energy costs. For more details, visit the Warm Home Discount information page.

Winter Fuel Payment: If you were born before 23 September 1958, you could get £200 or £300 to help pay your heating bills. But as from this year (2024/25), only those on pension credit or certain other benefits will be eligible. Visit this government website for more info.

Cold Weather Payment: You may get a payment if the average temperature in your area is recorded as, or forecast to be, 0°C or below for seven consecutive days. Again, only those receiving certain benefits are eligible. See this web page for more info.

Help from the Household Support Fund: This is money provided to councils by the government to assist pensioners and others on very low incomes. You will need to contact your local council to check if you are eligible.

10. Plan ahead

Finally, start thinking about next winter as soon as possible. Energy-saving home improvements made during the spring and summer can help spread the cost and ensure your home is ready for the next cold season.

By taking the steps above, you can keep your home warm and cosy this winter without seeing a dramatic increase in energy bills. Small changes can make a big difference in energy efficiency and financial savings.

As always, if you have any comments or questions about this article, please do leave them below.Nick Daws writes for Pounds and Sense, a UK personal finance blog aimed especially (though not exclusively) at over-fifties.

Photo credits: Pexels