Get ready for the clocks changing

Get ready for the clocks changing

Get ready to enjoy that precious extra hour in bed this Sunday 26 October. While you might remember to adjust your clocks, it’s also a good time to prepare your home for winter.

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Written by Home Energy Scotland
Published October 2025

Get ready to enjoy that precious extra hour in bed this Sunday 26 October. While you adjust your clocks,  don’t overlook your heating controls and timers! It’s also a good time to prepare your home for winter. Read on to discover how you can save energy as the days get shorter and the temperature drops.

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Adjust your controls and thermostats

Heating controls help keep your home comfortably warm without overheating and wasting energy. They allow you to choose when your heating comes on and, by using the radiator valves, you can control the temperature in each room too. 

By using the controls properly, you could save money, so it’s worth considering when you need the heating to be on. You can time the heating to switch off around half an hour before you leave the house and go to bed – it will still be nice and warm, and you won’t waste energy. If you’ve already been doing this, remember to set the timers back by an hour at the same time you change your clocks.

Turning your thermostat down is another way you can save energy. A common misconception is that turning the thermostat up will heat up your home quicker, but this will only heat your home to a higher temperature at the same rate. Turning down your thermostat from 22°C to 21°C could save you £90 and 300kg of CO2 over a year*. We recommend setting your thermostat between 18°C and 21°C.

Read our guide on thermostat and heating controls to find out how to use heating controls effectively, save money on your heating bills and lower your carbon emissions. 

Reduce heat loss and draughts

You can significantly reduce heat loss and draughts by making small changes in your home.  Some simple tips include:

  • closing your curtains at dusk to keep the heat in
  • putting up thermal door curtains on external doors
  • laying a rug over stone, vinyl or laminate flooring
  • sticking reflective radiator foil behind your radiator to reflect heat back into the room that would otherwise be lost through the wall. 

In addition, remember to turn off appliances when they’re not in use, and switch to energy-efficient LED lightbulbs wherever possible.

Get the best deal for your energy

As it gets colder and darker and you use more energy at home, it’s important to keep an eye on your energy bills. You should also check you’re on the best tariff for your situation.

Your energy supplier must tell you about the cheapest tariff suitable for your energy use - they usually do this by listing the most appropriate tariff for you on your bill. You can also contact them directly to find out about the most cost-effective tariff for you. It could be worthwhile ‘shopping around’ to see if you can get a better deal from a different supplier.

Understanding energy tariffs can be confusing but don’t worry, we can help. Read our guide about how to get the best deal for your energy. 

Take our quiz

You can get more useful energy saving tips by taking part in our energy saving quiz - it’s designed to help you find simple, practical ways to cut your energy use and lower your bills. 

It only takes a few minutes, and you’ll get tailored tips along the way to help you stay warm for less. And as a bonus, you can also enter a prize draw to win £750 to spend on energy-efficient appliances. 

Here to help

If you're worried about your energy bills and would like further advice on how to reduce them, there are lots of ways to contact us. Chat to one of our friendly advisors for some free and impartial advice. 

*Based on a typical three bedroom semi-detached gas heated home, using an average gas price of 6.3 p/kWh and an average electricity price of 25.9 p/kWh. Correct as of July 2025. 

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A picture of a clock on autumn foliage

Get ready for the clocks changing

Get ready to enjoy that precious extra hour in bed this Sunday 26 October. While you might remember to adjust your clocks, it's easy to overlook another essential: your heating controls and timers!
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Take our quiz for money-saving advice

And as a bonus, enter a prize draw to win £750 to spend on energy-efficient appliances.