Things you can do to cut your electricity bill UK⚡

1) Wondering what things you can do to cut your electricity bill? Read on, your Liverpool electrician is here to give our expert advice...

Reducing the cost of your electric bill in the UK (or elsewhere) will mean undertaking several changes in your habits and possibly lifestyle. The following list is a guide on how to achieve this:

2) Price match!💷

First and foremost, the best way of immediately reducing your electric bill without it costing you any money upfront is to ensure that you are with the cheapest energy supplier at the time and on the best deal. There are price comparison websites that may help you to make a decision on who is cheapest to supply your energy and shopping around is a great way to make sure you are getting the best deal. 

3) LED lighting💡

Energy efficient lighting such as LED: If you still have compact fluorescent lamps / bulbs (CFL), or incandescent lamps / bulbs then the quickest and easiest way to make your lighting more energy efficient is to swap these out for LED equivalents. The LED versions of your bulbs will use less energy and output the same or more light intensity at the same time. LED bulbs also generally have a longer lifespan than the other types so replacing these will be less frequent and may cost less too!

4) Energy efficient appliances⚡

Energy efficient appliances: If your appliances are ancient then there is a good chance that they are also not as energy efficient as their modern counterparts. If it is time that these appliances should be replaced then make sure the new ones are A++ rated or better. Generally, the older an appliance the less energy efficient it is causing greater energy consumption and higher electric bills. 

5) Turn it off!⚠️

When equipment is not in use, consider unplugging it: If there is lots of equipment on standby continually in your home then your electric bill will reflect this. Whilst a single appliance will not affect the bill that much, several appliances all on standby can add up to costs that could be saved. 

6) Smart plugs💪

Use smart plugs or timers to ensure that electrical equipment turns on and off when you need it to such as immersion heaters and outdoor lighting. You can set the times that these things come on and go off and how long they are on for, this can save a lot of money especially if you regularly forget to manually turn things off! 😊

7) Only boil what you need☕

When boiling an electric kettle, make sure to only fill to the level required as wasted hot water costs money. There is no point making tea or coffee for 6 if you are the only one in the house.

8) Proper insulation✅

Lagging pipes, insulating the loft, and making sure your windows are modern and draft free is a great way to stop energy escaping from your home. This is especially important if you rely on electric heaters to warm your home as electrical heating is often more costly than other forms of heating. Wear a jumper and trousers before switching the heating on in shorts and t shirts. 

9) Lower that thermostat (if you can)🌡️

Lower the thermostat on your hot water and heating to save energy. Even a degree or two can make a large difference in energy bills. If you rely on electrically heated hot water then make sure that it is only set to come on when needed. There is no point heating up a vast amount of water that will then be left to cool, this is wasted energy and money out of your pocket.

10) Consider an air fryer🍟

Have a look at smaller ovens like air fryers rather than traditional fan assisted ovens. Air fryers can often be a more economical way of cooking that heating up a large oven space for a single meal. 

11) Showers > Baths🚿

Swap baths for showers. This can depend on how you heat your water of course. Heating an immersion tank with an electrical heating element then having a bath is rather expensive whereas taking a shower with gas heated water is about the cheapest way to wash. Electric showers typically use a lot of power and therefore will cost more than water heated by a gas boiler but will likely be cheaper than a bath of water heated by gas. Sometimes it involves some thought. It also depends how long your typical showers are. 😊

12) Avoid the tumble dryer☀️

Avoid using a tumble dryer where possible. In good weather it is often possible to get washing dry outside on a washing line, in bad weather washing will dry on airers given enough time. A little planning may be involved.

13) Fill the dishwasher up!🍸

Fill the dishwasher when it’s time to clean the dishes. This can save a lot of money over a year and means that you get value out of every load. It will also save on dishwasher rinse aid, salt, and tablets. 

14) Check your hot water tank - is it thick enough?♨️

Increase the thickness of the hot water jacket on your hot water tank. This can help keep the water hotter for longer, take less energy to heat the water up and mean that you save money over the year. 

15) Wash shorter & cooler!🧺

Use the washing machine on shorter cycles at lower temperatures. Washing on 30 degrees rather than 40 degrees will save money. 

I hope you enjoyed this short guide on energy saving tricks! If your looking to make your Liverpool home more energy efficient - call today!