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You can reduce your energy bills by making a few simple changes to how you use energy at home. Many energy-saving improvements are quick, easy and low cost, and can help you use less energy without making major changes to your routine.
At a glance:
Some of the easiest ways to reduce your energy use are to:
Read on for practical ways to save energy and money at home.
There are lots of quick, easy and inexpensive ways to reduce your energy use and lower your energy bills. Here are some of our top energy-saving tips.
We know that bills can be confusing. Our guide to how to get the best deal for your energy has information on:
You can save energy and money by turning off appliances such as TVs and games consoles at the plug instead of leaving them on standby. You can switch off most appliances without disrupting their programming, but if you're not sure, check the manual.
If you wash your laundry at eco or 30 degrees when you can, you'll save money and carbon dioxide because less energy is used to heat the water. Always make up a full load to reduce the number of loads and the energy you use.
Tumble dryers are one of the most energy-consuming home appliances. If you can, dry your clothes outside. If you can't, dry clothes on racks inside a well-ventilated room.
Using a dehumidifier is a great way to dry clothes indoors much more cheaply than a tumble dryer, and it will help combat condensation and damp too.
Using a lamp? Turn off the big light to save electricity. Remember to switch off lights when you leave a room to help cut your bill.
You could save even more by using low-energy light bulbs in each fixture too.
When boiling a kettle, make sure you only boil enough water for what you need. If you're only making a cup of tea, you can get kettles that have cup markers to help you fill them to the right level.
Only use the dishwasher when it's full to reduce the number of times you run it.
Don't overfill it. You can find tips online about how to load it properly, and consider using the eco setting. You can also let items air dry at the end of the cycle.
Draught-proofing, for example fitting insulation strips around windows and doors to block unwanted gaps that let cold air in and heat escape, is one of the cheapest and most effective ways to save energy and money.
You can buy the materials required cheaply at most DIY shops, and they're quick and easy to fit.
Some of the easiest ways to save energy are:
Some appliances use more energy than others. On this page we highlight tumble dryers as one of the most energy-consuming home appliances and explain alternatives that can help reduce energy use.
You may be able to reduce the energy used for heating by making the most of your heating controls, turning down radiators in rooms you're not using, matching heating schedules to your routine and reducing draughts around your home.
Washing clothes at 30 degrees when you can will reduce the amount of energy needed to heat water. Always running a full load can help reduce the number of washes you need to do.
If you'd like advice on how to save energy at home, or are worried about your bills, we're here to help.
You can contact Home Energy Scotland free by phone, email or WhatsApp. All our advice is free and impartial.
Did you know that you can get a free, personalised report on how you can make your home more energy efficient?
Complete our home energy check to find out what energy-saving improvements might suit your home and get suggested next steps based on the information you provide.
You'll receive a free report to help you lower your energy bills and create a more comfortable home.
We have lots of blogs and articles that are bursting with easy tips to save energy.
