How to Reduce Your Energy Bills: 12 Smart & Easy Tips

Take control of rising energy costs with these proven strategies to reduce your energy bills, covering heating, lighting, appliances, insulation, and more.

1. Understand Your Energy Usage

• Monitor your meter monthly to ensure billing accuracy and avoid overpaying. Smart meters make this easier by providing real-time data.
• Track high-usage patterns (e.g., peak hours for laundry, HVAC) and shift appliance use to off-peak times (e.g., running washer or dishwasher early morning or late evening).

2. Dial Back the Thermostat

• Lower the temperature by just 1 °C and save up to 10 % on heating or cooling.
• Target 78°F (26 °C) in summer and around 72°F (22 °C) in winter, adjusting when you’re away.
• Install a programmable or smart thermostat to automate and optimize energy use.

3. Seal Drafts & Improve Insulation

• Seal windows, doors, skirting boards, and attic hatches with caulk or weather-stripping, saving £40–80/year.
• Add loft/floor insulation, lofts alone can save £215/year by stopping heat loss.
• Use thermal curtains at dusk and open them by day for solar gain.

4. Switch to LED Lighting & Smart Controls

• Replace all incandescent/halogen bulbs with LEDs, which use up to 75–90 % less electricity.
• Turn off lights when not needed, using natural daylight whenever possible.
• Install motion sensors/timers for outdoor or infrequently used indoor lighting.

5. Eliminate Vampire Power with Power Strips

• Use switched-off power strips to cut electricity used by devices in standby, saving ~£35–55/year.
• Unplug chargers, game consoles, and smart speakers when idle.

6. Optimize Appliance Use & Settings:

• Refrigerator/freezer: Keep fridge at 37–40°F, freezer at 0–5°F. Don’t overfill, 3/4 full is ideal; clean coils regularly.
• Dishwasher: Run full loads on eco mode, skip heated dry.
• Laundry: Wash in cold (30 °C) and full loads; avoid peak times (4–9 PM). Air-dry when possible.
• Oven & cooking: Use smaller appliances (microwave, air fryer, slow cooker) for efficiency, keep lids on pots, and avoid opening the oven door mid-cook.

7. Maintain HVAC & Water Systems

• Check/replace HVAC filters monthly, and clean outdoor units regularly.
• Service HVAC annually for peak performance.
• Insulate hot water tanks, set water heater to 60 °C (140 °F) to reduce cycling loss.

8. Take Advantage of Incentives & Tariffs

• Switch energy suppliers and plans, look for renewable or off-peak tariffs, smart-meter-based schemes like “Green Flex” and “Saving Sessions”.
• Use timed energy-saving initiatives: run major appliances during off-peak hours to capitalize on lower rates.

9. Track & Adjust Habits Over Time

• Use energy monitors or smart apps to visualize usage and detect waste.
• Set monthly goals, e.g., reduce weekly peak hour energy use by 10 %.

10. Landscaping & Passive Cooling to Reduce AC Load

• Plant shade trees, install awnings, or use pergolas to block the sun and reduce cooling demand.
• Use ceiling fans counterclockwise in summer, allowing the thermostat to be raised without comfort loss.

Final Thoughts

These simple yet effective steps, like lowering the thermostat carefully, sealing drafts, changing to LED, using power strips, optimizing appliances, servicing your HVAC, and monitoring usage, can reduce energy bills significantly. Start small: even cutting just 5–10 % adds up fast!

Need a checklist, local insulation or smart meter comparisons, or tailored advice? Just ask!

Written by Billy Guteng. April 18, 2021

Billy is a content writer for Kukun. He was born in France, and has lived in multiple cities around the world ever since. He loves art, design and architecture as well as construction and real estate.