Save money on your bills

We’re making homes more energy efficient to help our residents save money. We’ve been adding things like:

  • Cavity wall insulation
  • Loft insulation
  • Double glazing
  • Better boilers

These changes help keep homes warmer and bills lower.

You can save energy too. Small changes at home can make a big difference to your bills and help the planet.

Tips to stay warm:

  • Use your heating controls to warm your home only when needed. You can find more information here on how to use your heating controls
  • Close thick curtains or blinds in the evening to keep heat in
  • Keep furniture away from radiators so warm air can move around
  • Don’t dry clothes on radiators. Use a clothes rail near a radiator and open a window a little to stop damp

 

In the kitchen:

  • Use the right size pan and put a lid on it to keep heat in
  • Reheat food in the microwave – it uses less energy than the oven
  • Keep your fridge and freezer about 75% full
  • Let food cool before putting it in the fridge
  • Only boil the water you need in the kettle
  • Use a slow cooker - it uses less energy than the oven
  • Keep your fridge and freezer clean so air can move around
  • Check the door seals: close a piece of paper in the door. If it pulls out easily, the seals may need replacing

Washing and cleaning:

  • Only run the dishwasher or washing machine when full
  • Dry clothes on a rail or line - tumble dryers cost around 59p an hour
  • Wash clothes at cooler temperatures to save energy and help them last longer
  • Clean your windows - more light means less need for lamps
  • Skip the pre-rinse setting - modern machines clean well without it
  • Use the economy setting to save energy and water

Home entertainment:

  • Turn off appliances at the plug to stop wasting energy
  • Don’t charge phones or laptops longer than needed – it wastes energy and harms the battery
  • Some TVs adjust to room light – watching with the lights off can save up to 50% energy
  • When buying new tech, look for the Energy Saving Trust logo or check online on the Energy Saving Trust website.

Broadband and phone services:

Some broadband and phone companies offer cheaper deals for people who get certain benefits. Ofcom has a list of these deals.

You can visit the Ofcom website to find out where you can get these deals.