8 Low-Cost Ways to Cut Your Home Energy Use This Winter
You do not need to spend thousands to bring your heating and electricity use down. These practical, low-cost steps can make a noticeable difference to how much energy your home uses this winter.
1. Check your heating controls
Set your room thermostat to the lowest temperature at which you are comfortable. Many people find that around 18 to 21 degrees is enough, and turning it down by one degree can reduce your heating use. Make sure your timer matches your routine so the heating is not warming an empty house.
2. Lower your boiler flow temperature
If you have a condensing combi boiler, a lower flow temperature lets it run more efficiently. Many boilers are set at 75 degrees or higher from the factory. Your boiler manual or an engineer can show you how to reduce it, and you can raise it again if the house does not warm up properly.
3. Stop the draughts
Gaps around doors, windows, letterboxes, loft hatches and floorboards let warm air escape. Draught strips, brush strips and keyhole covers are cheap and easy to fit. Do not seal up intentional ventilation such as extractor fans, air bricks or trickle vents, because damp and condensation can become a problem.
4. Use your curtains
Thick or lined curtains cut heat loss through glass. Close them at dusk, and open them in the day to let in free solar warmth. Make sure they do not hang over radiators, which would trap the heat behind them.
5. Bleed and balance radiators
If a radiator is cold at the top and warm at the bottom, air is trapped inside. Bleeding it with a radiator key is a quick job. Thermostatic radiator valves also let you turn down rooms that you rarely use.
6. Cut standby and old bulbs
- Switch off appliances at the wall instead of leaving them on standby.
- Swap remaining halogen bulbs for LEDs, which use a fraction of the electricity.
- Use a plug-in energy monitor to find the devices that use the most.
7. Wash and cook smarter
Most modern laundry detergents work well at 30 degrees, and a full load is more efficient than two half loads. Only boil the water you need in the kettle, and use a lid on pans. A microwave or air fryer often uses less energy than a full-size oven for small meals.
8. Keep an eye on your hot water
Shorter showers and a water-efficient shower head reduce the amount of hot water you heat. If you have a hot water cylinder, make sure it is well insulated with a jacket and that its thermostat is not set higher than necessary.
Start with the free changes first, then work through the cheap fixes. Track your meter readings each month so you can see what is working and focus on the steps that save you the most.