Energy Saving Tips for Your Home

Start With Measurement — You Cannot Optimise What You Don’t Measure

Before making changes, establish a baseline.

Check:

• Your annual gas consumption (kWh)
• Your annual electricity consumption (kWh)
• Your seasonal variation
• Your daily usage pattern (if you have smart meter data)

Most UK homes use:

• 10,000–18,000 kWh per year of gas (for heating and hot water)
• 2,500–4,000 kWh per year of electricity

Heating typically represents 50–70% of total household energy demand.

If your gas consumption is significantly above average for a similar-sized property, heating efficiency is almost certainly your biggest opportunity.

If electricity use is high, investigate:

• Electric heating
• Immersion heaters
• Old appliances
• Tumble dryer frequency
• Electric vehicle charging

Smart meters allow half-hourly data review via supplier portals. Look for:

• Unusual spikes
• High overnight baseload
• Heating running during unoccupied periods

Baseline awareness alone often changes behaviour.

Heating Optimisation — The Highest Impact Area

Reducing thermostat temperature by 1°C can reduce heating energy demand by roughly 6–10% depending on insulation and weather.

Practical optimisation measures:

• Reduce thermostat from 21°C to 19–20°C
• Use programmable timers — avoid 24-hour heating
• Avoid “boost” overuse
• Heat only occupied rooms
• Ensure radiators are balanced
• Lower boiler flow temperature (especially for condensing boilers)

Flow temperature optimisation is underused. Many boilers operate at unnecessarily high temperatures (70–80°C). Lowering to 55–60°C can improve condensing efficiency significantly — provided the home is adequately insulated.

Annual boiler servicing improves safety and efficiency.

If heating system is old or inefficient, grant support may be available via:

• Boiler Upgrade Scheme (heat pumps)
• ECO4 scheme (for eligible households)
• Local authority retrofit programmes

Check:

https://www.gov.uk/apply-boiler-upgrade-scheme

https://www.gov.uk/energy-company-obligation

Insulation — Permanent Demand Reduction

Unlike behavioural changes, insulation reduces demand permanently.

High-return measures:

Loft insulation

• Often lowest cost
• Heat rises — roof losses are substantial
• Typical payback can be short
• Covered under Great British Insulation Scheme for eligible homes

Cavity wall insulation

• Suitable for many properties built post-1920s
• Reduces heat loss through walls
• Must be professionally assessed

Draught-proofing

• Low cost
• Reduces uncontrolled ventilation
• Particularly effective in older properties

Floor insulation (where accessible)

• Important in suspended timber floors

Government support may include:

• Great British Insulation Scheme
• ECO4
• Home Upgrade Grant (for off-gas homes)

Check eligibility at:

https://www.gov.uk/apply-great-british-insulation-scheme

Insulation improves comfort, reduces condensation risk, and lowers required boiler runtime.

Hot Water System Optimisation

Hot water accounts for around 15–20% of household energy demand.

Optimisation steps:

• Insulate hot water cylinder
• Ensure thermostat is correctly set (not excessively high)
• Use cylinder timer rather than constant heating
• Fix dripping hot taps
• Install water-efficient shower heads

If using immersion heater:

• Avoid leaving on continuously
• Use timed settings

For older cylinders, upgrading insulation jackets can reduce standing heat losses significantly.

Appliance Efficiency — Long-Term Strategy

Appliance upgrades make sense when replacing old equipment, not as immediate retrofits.

Focus on:

• Fridges/freezers over 10 years old
• Electric ovens
• Washing machines with high water use
• Tumble dryers (consider heat pump dryers)

Avoid replacing functioning appliances purely for marginal efficiency improvements unless running costs justify it.

Standby loads:

Modern homes can have 50–100W constant baseload from:

• Routers
• TVs
• Consoles
• Chargers
• Smart devices

Over a year, 100W continuous equals ~876 kWh — potentially significant.

Use smart plugs to measure actual consumption.

Lighting — Quick Win, Limited Scale

If not already done, convert to LED lighting.

After conversion, lighting becomes a small fraction of total energy use. Further optimisation yields diminishing returns.

Heating remains dominant.

Time-of-Use Tariffs and Load Shifting

If on Economy 7 or smart time-of-use tariff:

• Run dishwasher overnight
• Charge EV off-peak
• Use washing machine during low-rate periods

This does not reduce consumption but reduces cost.

Smart tariffs require behaviour adaptation to deliver value.

Behavioural Economics and the Rebound Effect

Efficiency gains can be offset by increased usage.

Example:

• Insulated home → occupants increase thermostat
• Efficient heating → longer heating periods

True savings require maintaining behavioural discipline.

Comfort and savings must be balanced intentionally.

When to Consider Bigger Investments

After optimisation and insulation, larger measures may be considered:

• Heat pump installation (with grant support)
• Solar PV
• Home battery storage
• Smart heating zoning systems

Evaluate based on:

• Property type
• EPC rating
• Existing insulation
• Upfront capital
• Grant availability

Major investments should follow demand reduction, not precede it.