Money saving expert Martin Lewis has said most are running short of options to combat soaring energy bills. During his 8pm ITV show on Tuesday evening Lewis outlined the help available to those receiving benefits and tax credits, but said for those not receiving that there is only one response to the energy crisis.
If you are on benefits or are in receipt of tax credits or a pension, you can see the help on offer to you this winter and next year here. Responding to that, co presenter Angellica Bell asked: “For those who don’t get cost of living payments, what can they do?”
“It’s very difficult,” Lewis told her. “There are very few tools left. The only one that is left is improving the insulation in your home, improving energy efficiency in your home, and changing your behaviour to reduce energy bills. That is all that is left and there are lots of different ways to do that. But that is the only tool left in the arsenal. For those in the middle, you’re not getting cost of living payments, I’m afraid it’s all about lowering your usage.”
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Lewis has spoken extensively before about how to make a home energy efficient. He told viewers to recap his advice two weeks ago when he suggested bill payers reduce their thermostats by one degree among an array of other helpful tips.
“It could save you around 10% on your heating bill,” he said. “If your heating is only kicking in at 15 degrees, and you're heating to 21, actually heating to 20 instead is a really significant saving. Don’t turn your thermostats up, wait for it to get to the heat and you won’t then need to pay much more.”
Lewis is also advising people to use “tactical curtains”. “It’s my poncey way to say when the sun is shining it’s letting light and heat into the house so leave your curtains open, and when it gets dark, it’s not, and you want to keep the heat in, so close them. I know we all know that, but actually doing it rigorously can help insulate - especially if you line them with a fleece and there are lots of tips online on how to do that.”
You could save up to £100 a year too by turning the flow rate down on your combi boiler, Lewis explained. “You’d normally want it around 60 degrees but most are higher and it’s actually really inefficient. Turn your boiler down. It could shave £100 a year off your bill. It’s an absolute no-brainer, everyone with a combi boiler should be trying this one.”
He also advises that your fridge should be at five degrees and minus 18 degrees in the freezer. “If it’s colder you’re wasting too much money,” he said bluntly.
“Don’t run a hot bath and then add cold to it,” he continued through the list. “You’re paying to pump the heat up and then it’s too hot. Even though you’ve paid for it you’re mixing it with cold water to reduce the temperature. It makes no sense. Lower your hot water temperature. 55 degrees is the recommendation on a combi boiler.”
Other snippets include putting your television on a low energy setting, putting tin foil behind your radiator, and ensuring radiators are off in rooms unoccupied. He added that a tumble dryer is the most expensive item in the house, at around £1 for each use. “Minimise use, maximise load, put it on an airer first, and get yourself a dehumidifier that uses a lot less wattage.”
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