How to Save Energy Bill in Winter [Expert Advice]

Did you know that the average annual energy bill will rise by 10% to £1,717 in Great Britain from October? This means that there will be a rise of £149 per year under the new price cap for the 27 million homes in England, Scotland, and Wales.

As winter is coming, energy consumption also rises, leading to an unacceptable bill. So, UK citizens should start preparing. You can save on electricity bills during this winter season if you play the cards right. This involves using energy-efficient appliances, adjusting lighting, and using portable power stations UK, etc.

In this guide, we will help citizens prepare their energy bill-saving plan for this winter. Here, we will highlight the best tips for saving money on energy bills.

7 Best Energy-Saving Tips for Citizens in Winter

A few simple steps can save a lot of money on energy bills. Sealing air leaks from doors and windows can retain heat and reduce heating costs. Similarly, using smart thermostats or energy-efficient appliances can lower electricity consumption.

So, let's now look at a few of the best tips to save energy bills in the upcoming winter:

1. Use Clean Energy

Why completely rely on government-provided energy sources when you can use clean energy for free? That's made possible with solar generators.

A solar generator is a portable source of electricity that consists of two main components: a portable power station, which includes a rechargeable battery and input/output ports, and solar panels, which charge the battery using sunlight.

Basically, a solar generator for home can harness the sunlight and generate and store electricity in the battery. Afterwards, you can use its output ports to power household appliances. This way, you get a free and clean energy source to power home appliances and lower your energy bills.

The best is that solar generators now come with fast charging and can power 99% of home appliances. That's what you can get with Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus.

Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus is our powerful solar generator that offers 3000W (6000W surge peak) output power and a 2-12 kWh of expandable battery capacity. It incorporates a LiFePO4 battery with a 10-year lifespan.

The key features of Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus include:

• 3000W (6000W) power output that can operate 99%of
• 2kWh built-in battery capacity, expandable to 12 kWh with external battery packs.
• LiFePO4 battery with a 10-year lifespan.
• 3 charging ports: solar panels, AC adapter, and car DC port.
• Fast charging: 2 hours with solar panels and 1.7 hours with AC adapter.
• 8 output ports: 3x AC (3000W), 2x USB-A (18W), 2x USB-C (100W), and 1x DC (12V, 10A)
• Top-notch safety with ChargeShield technology, involving 62 protective mechanisms, 4 physical safety protection, 12 protective algorithms, and more.
• Portability with double wheels and pull rod.
• Cycle life of 4000 cycles to 70%+ capacity.
• Up to 25% industry-leading solar conversion efficiency.
• 3+2 years warranty.
• No toxic emissions and whisper-quiet operations.

The above features and exceptional power rating make Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus a reliable, clean energy source for UK households. It can power heaters, coffee makers, kettles, electric ovens, lights, laptops, pressure cookers, and 99% of other home appliances.

In short, you get a portable power source that can lower energy bills and also act as your companion in outdoor activities to have an uninterrupted power supply.

2. Improve Insulation

A house that is well-insulated means that it can retain heat and prevent heat from escaping from the walls, floors, windows, roof, or doors.

According to statistics, an under-insulated home in winter can lose 20% of expensive internal warmth through the floor/windows, 25% from the walls, and 35% from the ceilings.^[1] Simply put, it becomes easier for warm air to escape from the house when the insulation is weak.

Therefore, another best energy saving tip for UK citizens in winter is to improve insulation. This involves adding insulation materials to the walls, floors, and roof to limit heat loss. Moreover, seal the gaps around your windows and doors to keep the warm air inside. This may look like an additional expense, but it will have long-term financial benefits in the form of lower energy bills.

3. Upgrade Old Appliances to Energy-Saving Ones

It is not uncommon to find old power-hungry appliances in our homes. Although it is alright to use them if they are functioning properly, they are not friendly to your energy-saving agenda.

For example, older refrigerators and heaters consume more electricity compared to modern equipment with the latest energy-saving technology. Moreover, they come with more advanced features, which elevate the user experience.

Therefore, it is recommended that old power-hungry appliances be upgraded to energy-saving ones to save on energy bills. To optimize energy savings, try to choose products with A++ or A+++ labels.

4. Adjust Lighting

If you like lighting up the home during the night, try to adjust your lighting habits. Instead of turning all lights in the room, turn only the needed ones. During the day, try to use natural light as much as possible to save up on your energy bill.

In addition, it is recommended to switch to energy-efficient lighting products, like LED lights. These products can provide the same lighting with lower energy consumption, sometimes even up to 75%.

5. Optimize the Usage Frequency of Appliances

There are many home appliances that are essential to use, like dishwashers, washing machines, etc. So, what you can do is optimize the usage frequency of these appliances to reduce energy consumption.

For example, you can use the dishwasher or washing machine when it is full to reduce the number of cycles. Similarly, you can air-dry clothes on sunny days instead of using a dryer.

In short, you can strategically think about scenarios where you can optimize the usage frequency of applications and then plan accordingly.

6. Maintain HVAC Filters Regularly

Maintaining your HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) filters regularly is directly linked to energy saving. When these filters are clogged, the system has to work hard, which consumes more energy.

When you regularly clean/replace filters, you ensure smooth airflow and system efficiency. Doing so gives you two benefits. First, you can lower your energy bill due to reduced energy consumption. Second, you can increase the lifespan of the HVAC system along with improved indoor air quality.

7. Use Smart Thermostat

A smart thermostat is an emerging, technologically advanced device that is becoming popular among UK households. It is a Wi-Fi-powered device that can automatically regulate the heating/cooling temperature in your home according to your predefined settings.

A smart thermostat is controllable from your smartphone, tablet, or other supported devices. It allows you to specify the temperature settings and then let it automatically adjust the home temperature accordingly. It also enters standby mode when not in use. Moreover, it also provides equipment use and temperature data for better performance analysis.

Simply put, a smart thermostat is an ideal alternative to a traditional thermostat that not only optimizes energy usage but also provides advanced features.

Heating: The Main Cost Factor in Winter

During winter, the main expenses that add up to the money budgets of UK citizens are:

• High energy bills due to home heating
• Grocery costs due to more home cooking
• Transport expenses
• Spending on winter vacations

Out of all of them, energy bills due to home heating take up a significant portion of the budget.

UK households rely heavily on gas to keep their homes heated. Their gas consumption increases significantly compared to the rest of the year, which means that their energy bills will increase due to more gas consumption.

Read More: Average Electricity Bill for 2-Person Household in The UK

The UK imports 50% of its gas.^[2] Interestingly, it took 11 years (2010-2021) for the average combined gas and electricity bill to increase by 37% for the average UK household. However, it increased by another 72% in just one year (2021-2022).^[3] This reflects the fast increase in energy costs, which are unbearable for many.

As of now, the typical annual energy bill is around 30% higher than in the 2021/22 winter.^[4] This implies that when UK households heat their homes in this year's winter, they will have the most costly energy bills to bear. Therefore, it is clear that heating is the main cost factor in Winter.

That's the reason that an estimated 1.7 million UK households are planning to go without heating this winter due to high bills. ^[5]

Other Ways to Keep Warm

Using gas is not the only option to keep warm. You can try out other ways and reduce your energy bills. Some of the recommended ways to keep warm during winter are as follows:

• Harness Sunlight Through Windows:Keep your curtains and blinds open during sunny days to harness sunlight. You can even use reflective window film to get more heat into the rooms.
• Layer Up with More Clothes:You can wear more warm clothes indoors, like thermal socks, insulated slippers, etc. These clothes can help you tackle the indoor cold without using heaters.
• Thick Curtains:You can use thick curtains for your windows, as they can help block cold air effectively.
• Hot Water Bottle:You can use a hot water bottle while sitting on the couch or lying in bed to keep warm.
• Portable Heaters:You can place portable small electric heaters close to where you are sitting to keep the surroundings warm.
• Insulation:Install insulation in your ceiling, floors, and other areas. It will retain heat and keep your home warm.

In short, there are endless ways to keep yourself and the home warm during winter without completely relying on gas heaters. So, choose the best ways that suit you and save up your energy bills.

What to Do When Bill is Too High?

No one wants to see a too-high energy bill, but there are occasions when bills can come unexpectedly high. The reason behind high energy bills can be high usage or unintentional mistakes.

In this perspective, below are some useful tips and tricks to follow if your energy bill is unexpectedly high:

1. Verify the Meter Reading

First thing first, check the meter reading and match it with the one showing on your bill. An incorrect reading can lead to a high bill. So, verify that your meter reading is correct as shown in the bill.

2. Check Meter's Physical Condition

A faulty meter can malfunction and cause inflated readings. So, check the meter's physical condition and ensure that it looks okay.

3. Reduce Energy Consumption

If you are sure that the high energy bill is due to more energy consumption, then it's time to reduce that. Take an assessment of your household's energy usage and see which appliances are consuming the most power. If you can find alternative energy-efficient appliances, then purchase them.

Similarly, unplug unused devices, adjust heating schedules, and optimize your power usage where possible. These moves can save on electricity bills for next month significantly.

4. Get Government Help

The UK Government offers different types of support to help households and businesses struggling with high energy bills. For example, you can get help through the Warm Home Discount, the Energy Bill Discount Scheme, or other home energy improvement schemes. So, explore the grants or discount energy options you can get from the government and leverage them.

Conclusion

Once considered a manageable expense, energy bills have now become a concern for everyone. The rapidly increasing costs have forced many households to find ways to lower their energy consumption, often avoiding the use of heaters during winter.

Although high energy bills are a reality in the UK, you can still save significantly by being strategic. Above, we have discussed money-saving expert energy tips that can help you cut down on costs. So, what are you waiting for? Follow these tips and turn those unbearable bills into manageable expenses.

Reference:

[1]https://www.bradfordinsulation.com.au/information-centre/how-insulation-works

[2]https://rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/commentary/clean-heating-vital-uk-energy-security

[3]https://www.snugg.com/blog/tracking-home-heating-costs-between-2010-and-2023

[4]https://www.greenmatch.co.uk/average-electricity-cost-uk

[5]https://www.mirror.co.uk/money/alarming-number-households-wont-use-33685639