There can be no doubt that many households are already beginning to feel the extra financial squeeze brought about by rising energy bills and soaring inflation, with everyone slashing their monthly outgoing spending just to try and stay in the black. The latest predictions from Cornwall Insight is that the price cap will rise from its current £1,971 to an eye-watering £3,245 for those with typical average usage on a standard tariff.
Many people don’t realise that Ofgem’s energy price cap isn’t a maximum amount you will pay, it’s the maximum suppliers can legally apply to standard daily charges, which means the only way to save money is to make the right choices in our homes and according to the experts at GoCompare, many people are following the wrong advice.
GoCompare energy expert, Gareth Kloet, has debunked some of the most common energy myths - which could actually cost you money rather than helping you make a saving.
Is it really cheaper to use energy overnight?
Gareth explained that this one isn’t a total myth, because for some consumers, energy really is cheaper overnight. This is because suppliers sometimes charge you a cheaper rate in off-peak periods, which typically fall overnight - when the majority of people are sleeping and therefore using less energy.
However, he warned that not everyone benefits from these lower rates.
He said: “Firstly, you need a 2 rate meter or a smart meter, which is capable of recording when your energy use takes place.
“And crucially, only people who use a significant portion of their energy in off-peak times will see a cost benefit.”
Does keeping the heating or water on low and constant save energy?
Gareth said: “This is an energy myth - turn them off. The most energy efficient solution is to only heat what you need, when you need it.
“If you have your heating or your hot water on constantly, you will be paying to maintain a certain level of heat - which naturally will always be falling. So, make sure you are around to benefit from the heat you're paying to produce.”
Can a fan actually cool a room, or does it just waste energy?
Gareth explained that while it’s not true to say that a fan cools a room as it actually just helps the air in a room circulate more evenly.
While having a fan on won’t drastically affect the temperature of your room, the moving air may help you feel cooler.
“If you do have a fan, use it wisely as heat rises, the coolest air in your house will be at floor level. So, position your fan on the floor, facing upwards. This will help distribute the coolest air around the room,” Gareth explained.
There are two simple ways to keep your your home cool in the summer that are worth trying:
- Keep doors and windows closed during the day to stop hot air getting in
- Close your curtains during the day as that blocks out bright sunlight which can raise the temperature of a room
Does turning everything off at the socket make a difference?
Gareth said: “In the case of appliances such as kettles and lamps, ‘off’ really does mean ‘off’. For these kinds of common appliances, switching off at the socket isn’t necessary. However, having your devices on standby isn’t the same as turning them off and it could be costing you.”
He added: “If you’re guilty of leaving your TV or games console on standby, consider taking the extra step and switching them off at the plug. It may not seem like much, but they’re still using energy.”
My smart meter will work with any energy provider, right?
Gareth explained that is “not necessarily true”.
He said: “If your energy supplier changes, your smart meter could be compatible, or it might not. This is because early smart meters are often only compatible with the supplier that initially installed it. In this case, a change of supplier can mean you have to go back to taking your meter readings manually.”
The good news is that in recent years, new smart meters have been designed to be compatible with all suppliers. Plus, in the event you do need a new smart meter fitted, your provider will guide you through the process.
You can read more GoCompare energy saving tips on the website, here.
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