As the weather gets warmer, Scots will be able to slowly reduce their heater usage as households, but energy bills can still remain steep.
While the mornings and nights are still chilly enough to pop on the heating, experts are urging people to turn down the temperature. According to the energy aces at smart meter app Loop, 50 percent of households don't turn down their heating in spring despite warmer temperatures.
The experts explain that reducing the temperature your thermostat is set to by as little as one degree can save you £100 on bills.
Likewise, households who turn their heating off in April save 10 percent on their gas bill compared to those who keep the heating on throughout.
The Energy Doctor, Steve Buckley, from Loop said: "As the weather warms up in spring, you'll naturally use your heating less, particularly during the afternoons when the sun has warmed up your home.
"However, we can still feel a chill in the mornings through the spring months and that’s where the opportunity for savings lies. In the morning, the weather will likely still be cold enough for your heating to come on unless you've changed your settings.
"The next opportunity is to check your thermostat - if it’s still set too high, there's the risk that your heating will run unnecessarily during the day, overheating your home, wasting gas and money."
Five tips to save on energy this spring
- Don’t forget your heating this Spring - Most people adjust their heating according to the weather. But it’s very easy to forget to change it when the weather warms up, especially if your heating is on an automatic timer.
- Save with small changes - If you aren’t ready to turn your heating off completely, turning down your thermostat by as little as one degree can result in savings of 10%. Lowering your thermostat from 21 degrees to 18 can save you around £300.
- Switch off lights - Turning off the lights for just an hour a day can result in a small saving of £24 over the Summer, but you could save even more if you’re yet to make the swap to LEDs.
- Dry clothes outside - As days get warmer, swapping your energy-hungry tumble dryer for drying laundry outside can save £150.
- Better understanding means better control - Gaining a better understanding of how your home uses energy will show you where to focus your energy-saving efforts.
Steve adds: "Our research found that as many as half of households don’t make changes to their heating by mid-April and they're missing out on some major savings when they need them the most, with winter energy support schemes now at an end."
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