Energy bills are already eye-wateringly high and are set to skyrocket with a 54% increase coming in April.
A new report has found that a third of people say they haven't been able to afford to heat their home this winter.
Some people say they skipping meals and taking out loans to cover the costs.
But hope is not yet lost as there are ways to slash your energy bills - with a number of people already recommending things such as turning your thermostat down, wearing warm clothes and keeping curtains closed at night.
But there are also ways to reduce the cost in your kitchen, WalesOnline reports.
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One TikTok user has claimed you would save £400 a year if when you boil your kettle you fill it up, then keep the water you don't use hot in a Thermos.
But experts say the cost of running a kettle each year should only be around £25 anyway.
Kitchen design and retail specialist Magnet took the top 20 most commonly used kitchen appliances across the UK to find which use the most energy and how much they cost to run each year based on their average use time.
With this in mind, the experts at Magnet have also shared their top tips on how to save energy in your kitchen to help reduce your bills, leaving none of the hard work to you.
Magnet calculated the yearly running costs of the top 20 kitchen appliances by combining the average power rating and the estimated number of hours used yearly. This was done at the electricity UK average for June 2021 (19.63p per kWh).
The research shows, your dishwasher is most likely costing you the most when it comes to your yearly energy bills. Although it isn’t on for as many hours as some other appliances, it has a high energy use. In 12 months, the appliance will use up an average of 1,355,063 watts running up a high total cost of £266. This is higher than the cost of 24 hour use of a fridge-freezer, at the cost of £257.94.
Right at the bottom of the list is the blender. The appliance only uses 4,258 watts each year, running up a total cost of 90p. Juicers also won’t break the bank, using an average of 10,646 watts every year, the cost after this will only be £2.09 a year - and that’s even if you use it for five minutes every single day.
Six expert tips to help save energy in the kitchen
If you are looking for ways to save energy (and money) in your kitchen the experts at Magnet have provided six top tips to get you started.
Avoid leaving your appliances on standby or switched on
While understandably some appliances in your home cannot be switched off such as the fridge-freezer, other appliances are sitting around wasting energy. You can save energy just by switching off the plug to avoid appliances such as the dishwasher, microwave or toaster from using phantom energy. Encourage yourself to get into the habit of turning these appliances off when they are not in use and you’ll be instantly saving.
Invest in smart, energy-efficient appliances
One of the best ways to save energy within your kitchen is to invest in smart appliances. Older appliances often use a considerable amount of energy due to their lower efficiency rating so it may be worth upgrading. Although it may cost you initially, you’ll be saving a lot more time, energy and money in the long run.
Use the right size appliance for your needs
Appliances such as fridge-freezers, dishwashers and washing machines are all becoming more energy efficient. However, if your appliances are too big for your needs then they are still going to waste some serious energy. If you live on your own, you’re most likely not going to need a family sized fridge-freezer, so go smaller and save yourself some money and energy.
Use your fridge and freezer efficiently
As Magnet’s research shows, your fridge-freezer is one of the biggest consumers of energy as it’s constantly switched on. An easy way to reduce its energy use is to help the appliance maintain or restore its correct temperature as quickly as possible. You can do this by making sure cooked food is cooled before putting it in the fridge-freezer, not leaving the doors open for long periods of time, closing the doors correctly and making sure the seals are working properly. To check the seal, close a piece of paper in the door - if it can be easily pulled out, it needs to be fixed!
Where you position your fridge-freezer in your kitchen is also important to save energy. Try to keep it away from heat sources such as sunlight and your oven or radiators. Make sure it also has good ventilation by leaving gaps (5-10cm) between the sides, back and top of the fridge-freezer so the hot air that is expelled can escape.
Energy saving cooking
The main reason we use our kitchens is to cook, so why not save energy while doing so. You can reduce your energy use daily just by changing a few simple steps such as covering pots and pans with a lid in order to encourage water to boil quicker and use less energy. Turning off the heat a few minutes before you have finished cooking is also a great way to cut down energy, as heat will retain as the hob cools down.
Cut down on the amount of water you use
To help reduce your bills, you can also focus on reducing the amount of water you waste. It is estimated that 10% of the water we use in the home is used in the kitchen - so it is a great place to start.
You can take small steps to do this by being more efficient with your usage. Despite using more energy, research by Which? found dishwashers use considerably less water compared to hand-washing - with even the least water-efficient models using 50% less. However, you can also take steps to reduce energy and water use together such as making sure you only boil the necessary amount of water needed when cooking or making a hot drink.
Hayley Simmons, director of commercial range at Magnet said: “To save energy in your kitchen, you can start by reducing your usage a little bit every single day using Magnet’s top tips. By sticking with these small changes, you can start to benefit the environment and save money in the long run.
"If you want to make sure you’re saving as much energy as possible, invest in up-to-date technology, smart kitchens and appliances to ensure your home has the best energy rating and reduce your carbon footprint."
