Tips to save money on energy bills

A study by a company specialising in energy saving products has found that one in five Britons leave their heating on all night, believing it will save them money.

The research was conducted by Tango Group as part of an ongoing study into the energy-saving knowledge of those around the UK and also found that one in four heat every room in their home, despite some being unused.

When asked, ‘What methods do you employ (if any) to save money on your heating bills?’ and asked to select all that applied, the top 5 results from respondents were as follows:

1. Have heating on a timer throughout day/ night- 47%
2. Turn all radiators on, even if the room is not in use, as house will be warmer for longer – 27%
3. Don’t put heating on unless temperature reaches below freezing point- 21%
4. Leave the heating on overnight as it’s cheaper than having on throughout day – 19%
5. Use electric heaters instead of turning heating on – 17%

The study revealed that many Britons are employing methods to save money on their heating bills that may actually be costing them more; such as leaving the heating on overnight, heating rooms that aren’t in use and using electric heaters. Furthermore, only 12 per cent claimed to have invested in energy- saving gadgets to cut down the cost of their heating bills.

According to the poll, as many as 71 per cent of respondents claimed that they were unhappy with the cost of their heating bill. However, when asked if they’d successfully managed to save money on their heating over the past year by employing any of the aforementioned methods, just 26 per cent said ‘yes’.

As a result of the study, Tango Group has provided a list of 5 methods that could genuinely help Britons successfully reduce their heating bills:

• Set thermostats on individual radiators to ensure you’re in full control of the way you heat your home. Unused rooms don’t need to be heated on full-blast, in the same way that naturally warmer rooms don’t (ie. kitchen). Set each room for the temperature it needs, and don’t be afraid to turn it down if things are getting too hot.

• If your heating system has a master thermostat, set that too! That way, your heating will automatically turn off when a certain temperature is reached- ensuring you’re not continuing to heat your home once optimum temperature has been reached.

• Close your curtains in the evenings to ensure you’re keeping the warm air in. A lot of heat is lost through the windows of your home, and simply closing the curtains will help to contain the majority of the heat that you’ve spent good money on.

• Close the door in the room/s you’re trying to heat. This way, no warm air is lost to the rest of the house, the room will heat up quicker and the heat will be contained to the room you’re in. Similarly, draft excluders are also a good idea to block chilly drafts that can creep in under doors and through window frames; so a worthwhile investment.

• There are many gadgets now available on the market to help consumers save money on their heating bills; ranging from energy monitors to radiator boosters. A small investment in something to help monitor your energy usage or maximise the efficiency of your heating can help to save you a great deal of money in the long run.