Prime Minister Liz Truss recently announced that the typical UK household will pay no more than £2,500 a year for energy for the next two years from October as the UK Government responds to soaring gas and electricity prices. However, it’s worth noting that if you use more energy, you will pay more and if you use less, then you will pay less.
The average household energy bill would have increased by 80 per cent in October from the current £1,971 to £3,549 a year under Ofgem's latest price cap, but Ms Truss has announced that a new Energy Price Guarantee will supersede the existing price cap until 2024 - the year the next General Election is expected.
The £2,500 Energy Price Guarantee will apply in Scotland, England and Wales from October 1 and the £400 energy rebate will still be applied as a discount over a six-month period. The new support won’t ease the pressure of winter bills entirely, prices are still going up, but there are several things every household can start doing now which could become daily habits and help reduce costs.
Simple ways to change your daily energy habits to save money
Switch off and unplug
Households should now have done a complete check of every power outlet, unplugging anything that is not necessary and turning devices off standby mode - and getting into the habit of doing this regularly.
Energy Saving Trust calculates that you can save around £55 a year just by remembering to turn your appliances off standby mode.
Almost all electrical appliances can be turned off at the plug without upsetting their programming. You may want to think about getting a standby saver or smart plug which allows you to turn all your appliances off standby in one go.
Check the instructions for any appliances you aren't sure about. Some satellite and digital TV recorders may need to be left plugged in so they can keep track of any programmes you want to record.
Check your boiler
A recent report by the Heating and Hot Water Council found that households can save around 6% to 8% on their gas bill just by turning down the heating flow temperature on their condensing combi boiler.
Doing this will allow the boiler to run more efficiently and could save around £200 off an average energy bill.
You need to go to the controls on the front of your boiler. To be clear this is not your room thermostat, this sets the flow temperature for the boiler.
The way in which you adjust the flow temperature and the display information available varies a great deal. There is a handy online guide on how to do this at theheatinghub.co.uk.
Another easy saving is to turn off the pre-heat mode on the boiler, which could mean hot water taps taking longer to heat up, but could save hundreds of pounds a year - find out more about this saving here.
Wash clothes on a lower temperature setting
Washing your clothes at cooler temperatures, and for less time, can greatly increase your machine’s energy efficiency - a 30 degree cycle can cut your washing machine’s energy use in half, in comparison to a 40-60 degree cycle.
It’s more cost-effective to save your hot washes for any bedding, towels and sportswear, as these items are most likely to host a multitude of bacteria. For even further savings, use the eco setting on your washing machine, if it has one.
When it comes to drying your laundry, it’s also more efficient if you run a cooler cycle - even if this means it will take longer to dry, your overall energy consumption will be much lower and you will also be less likely to over-dry your clothes - if your clothes come out warm to touch, they’ve been in for too long.
Fill your washing machine with the right loads
It’s much more efficient to do a large load of laundry rather than lots of smaller ones, so make sure you fill your machine with a suitable load.
An overfilled washing machine may not wash your laundry thoroughly enough, and an overpacked dryer can take too long to dry your clothing.
A good way to ensure that your machine will run as efficiently as possible is to check if you can still touch the top of the basin after filling either machine with your laundry. If you can’t fit your hand in and amongst your clothing, the machine is overpacked.
Also, make sure to untangle your laundry before putting it in the washing machine or dryer, as smaller items could become stuck or wrapped up in larger items, (such as duvet covers or pillow cases) which can prevent them from getting properly washed or dried.
Forget about your tumble dryer and use other appliances wisely
Tumble dryers are massive energy drains, so on windy autumn days hang clothes outside to dry instead and invest in a drying rack for winter.
Only run your dishwasher when it is full and use eco settings if possible.
Avoid overfilling the kettle
It's an old one, but very true - only boil the amount you need.
Defrost your fridge and freezer
Remember to regularly defrost your fridge and freezer as the more they ice up, the more energy they will use.
A full freezer is more economical to run. With a full freezer, the cold air doesn't need to circulate as much, so less power is needed. If you have lots of free space, half-fill plastic bottles with water and use these to fill gaps. BBC Good Food suggests you fill the freezer with everyday items you are bound to use, such as sliced bread, milk or frozen peas.
Turn off lights
Turn your lights off when you're not using them or when you leave a room. Replacing all the lights in your home with LED bulbs could help you save even more.
Keep windows closed during hot weather
The obvious thing to do when homes warm up is to open all the windows. However all this does is fill the house with hot air.
It's best to use blinds and curtains to block direct sunlight during the day and then open the windows at night when temperatures drop, helping you to save energy by reducing the need for power-hungry fans.
Get free advice from Home Energy Scotland
If it’s time to think about some new heating, long-term draught-proofing or insulation you can get free impartial advice from H ome Energy Scotland.
It can also help you access financial support worth up to £5,000 for getting the work done.
If you need help or advice about heating your home or rising energy bills, visit the Home Energy Scotland website here or call the Home Energy Scotland helpline on 0808 808 2282.
To keep up to date with the latest energy news, join our Money Saving Scotland Facebook group here or subscribe to our newsletter which goes out three times each week - sign up here.
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