COMMENT
Five Ways To Save Money On Your Energy Bills

By Alison Hunt (TMFAlly)
November 29, 2005

I don't know about you, but it seems to me that every day brings fresh news regarding either energy price rises, or the forecasted cold snap this winter. And cutting back on central heating is simply not something that appeals to me very much! However, there are ways that we can all save money on our bills. Take a look at these tips and consider putting some, if not all in place:

1. Switch energy supplier

If, like many people in the UK you have never switched gas or electricity supplier, you may be in for a pleasant surprise!

By using one of the many price comparison websites you can find out which utility company would save you the most, and be switched over in no time. The process is very straightforward and requires no changes to your existing pipe work - all you'll essentially need to do is supply a meter reading. Make sure that you check carefully the savings to be made for taking out dual fuel with one utility company. You may find you save more with two suppliers.

Find out more about switching supplier in our Get out of Debt Centre.

2. Cut back on usage

Of course, you won't get the full money saving benefit from switching supplier if you waste energy like there's no tomorrow. Take a look around your home and note where improvements can be made - there are bound to be some. Here are some tips from the Energy Saving Trust.

(i) Check your thermostat setting - knocking it down by one degree you could shave ten per cent off your heating bills and save you around £30 each year.

(ii) If you seriously risk a third degree burn when you turn the hot tap on, your cylinder thermostat is too high - it only needs to be set at 60°C/140F.

3. Save energy

Try to save energy wherever you can:

(i) Always close your curtains at dusk to prevent heat escaping through the windows

(ii) Only run the washing machine/dishwasher when full.

(iii) Turn off lights when you leave a room.

(iv) Don't leave items on standby, or charging unnecessarily.

(v) Boil only as much water as you need

(vi) When cooking, use a lid and use just enough water to cover vegetables - you'll keep more vitamins, too.

(vii) Fix any leaking taps - a dripping hot tap wastes enough water to half fill a bath in a week.

(viii) Replace light bulbs with energy saving ones - they last twelve times longer and could reduce your lighting costs by £78 each year. If your utility company has sent vouchers for free energy saving bulbs, send off for them!

(ix) Stick to showers where possible - baths use up to five times as much hot water.

4. Pay by Direct Debit

Not only is direct debit a simple and easy way to pay utility bills, you will generally save money too. Utility companies will typically give up to a maximum of ten per cent discount for customer choosing to pay this way.

5. Insulate

Finally, although it will cost you money initially, insulating your home can save you hundreds in the long run. More than 40 per cent of the heat in our homes is lost through the loft space and walls. By insulating cavity walls you can make the biggest potential savings in the home, reducing heat loss through walls by 60 per cent and saving yourself between £70 and £100 each year.

What's more, if everyone in the UK insulated their loft with recommended 250mm loft insulation, the equivalent financial saving would pay the energy bills of 740,000 families for a year!

So here are just a few of the ways that we can each help ourselves reduce energy bills. Take a look at your home and decide how many you can implement immediately, and start saving money right away. And don't forget to check, if you're a keen Tesco Clubcard or Nectar points collector if you can earn points through your supplier.

Find out more in our Get out of Debt Centre.