March 8, 2023 / By Top Vouchers Code

Six Ways to Save Money on Gas and Electricity Bills in 2023 

You’ve probably observed that the price of your energy and gas bills boomed last year. It’s not just you; everyone’s bills are getting more expensive. In the United Kingdom, electricity prices rose by 66.7% and gas prices by 129.4%, and 6 in 10 adults used these resources less because of the rising cost of living. Although the government’s Energy Price Guarantee (EPG) fixed prices and made the typical annual energy bill around £2,500, it’s temporary. Starting in April 2023, some government help with costs ends, and the EPG will rise, making the average energy payment around £3,000 per year. 

Across the EU, energy prices are expected to stay above historical levels this year, too. However, the energy crisis in Europe delivered its latest twist in the middle of January 2023, and energy prices moderated from their highs in 2022. Many factors drive the price surges, including the continued high reliance on fossil fuels and problems with supply and rising demand. But there are also many adjustments that you can make at home if these prices start to put a strain on your budget.  From draught-proofing to monitoring how much electricity your appliances use, here are some of the most notable changes that add to annual savings. 

Stop heat from escaping through a gasp

Draught-proofing is among the cheapest and most effective ways to retain the heat in your home and save energy and money. Unwanted gaps around the floor, doors, and windows let warm air out and cold air in, but by blocking them, you’ll use less energy to heat your rooms. 

For windows that open, draught-proofing strips stick around the frames and fill the gap between them and the windows. There are two types of strips: 

• Self-adhesive foaming strips. They’re easy to install and cheap, but won’t last too long;
• Metal or plastic, with wipers or brushes attached. They resist better over time, but are costlier. 

If your windows don’t open, consider silicone sealant.

For cracks and gaps in your floor, use filler. They come in different colours, both for indoor and outdoor use, but you must pay attention when you apply them and wipe off any excess with a cloth before it dries because they block gaps permanently.

Stop relying on energy to heat your home 

With higher energy prices once the EPG rises and the threat of power cuts, energy independence is a blessing when it comes to heating your rooms. With the necessary wood supplies, you can be ready for any unforeseen event. Wood burners provide the comfort needed without relying on any source of electricity to operate. For this reason, log burners have risen in popularity over the years.  If you already have a traditional open fireplace or chimney in your living room, using its space will reduce the installation cost. Consequently, the cost of installing the log burner will be higher. Other factors like your property’s age and stove type and quality will impact the instalment price. Once the set-up costs are covered, you’ll just need dry wood supplies to warm your rooms, and you’ll begin to see your energy bill decrease. A log burner, just like central heating or a boiler, increases the value of your home by making it more efficient.

Use heating controls 

Heating controls prevent energy waste and offer you more control over your heating. By using them, you can set your hot water and heating to turn on and off according to your needs, set different temperatures for different rooms, only heat some parts of your home, and keep a comfortable temperature without wasting heat. 

According to the Energy Saving Trust, turning your thermostat down by one degree can save you around £145 a year on energy bills, and installing and using heating controls can save you £180 a year. Owing to the installation cost, it might take three years to see significant savings.  If you already have a programmer and a thermostat, you can install thermostatic radiator valves. They’re an easy and cheap way to separately control the air temperature of your rooms. 

Install smart thermostats

Smart thermostats are programmable devices that can be operated remotely through your smartphone, tablet or computer. They control the heating and cooling system and can be programmed to adjust them according to your needs and preferences automatically, making the system more efficient. A smart thermostat is better than the traditional one because it learns your schedule based on when you are home and when you’re away, or it tells what the most used rooms are, so it adjusts the temperature accordingly. If you work a regular 9 to 5 job and the house is empty on weekends, it will lower the heat.

Add insulation 

The more you draft proof and insulate your home, the more money you save on your bills while keeping it cosy. Fitting foam insulation is cheap and reduces both heating and cooling costs and air leakage from doors and windows. In an uninsulated home, around a third of the heat gets lost through the walls. Slab insulation, usually foam board, is added to the bare ceiling or wall, but for this job you’ll need a professional. To keep hot water hotter for longer, insulate your pipes. It’s easy to do it yourself if they’re accessible, but you might also need to contact an expert if they’re hard to reach.

Download energy-saving apps 

Understanding your energy bills and how much using your appliances costs is vital to making savings. There are applications that can give you a clearer view of your energy usage, like the Energy Cost Calculator. It’s a simple, user-friendly app, available on both iOS and Android, designed to help you understand your products’ energy consumption. You enter the energy consumption of your product in kWh (this detail is usually on its packaging, or you can find it online), how many hours you use it, and the cost of 1 kWh. Then you’ll be provided with a cost per usage by day, month, or year, as well as the carbon emissions they generate. These are several long-term investments or fixes that require a little bit of effort. But if they’re off the table, try to make a habit of unplugging out-of-use devices or not leaving gadgets on standby.