Five ways you can slash your energy bills easily this winter

As prices rice and energy bills spiral, there are some steps you can take to save yourself some money which should be on your radar during colder months

Energy bills are spiraling leaving families looking for ways of cutting their costs.

The increase follows regulator Ofgem's increase on the price cap in January this year. Household bills have therefore increased by £94 each year depending on how much electricity you use. Experts at Cambridge Architectural Research (CAR) and Nesta, based figures on research on figures announced for January-March 2024. But there are five ways you can slash your energy bills easily this winter.

Use a thermostat and timer

Energy costs mainly go into on heating, but doing something as simple as turning thermostat down by just one degree could mean a £113 annual saving. A further £12 each year by using your boiler's timer to ensure heating is switched off when no-one is at home. The government says room temperature should be at least 18C, but older or disabled people may need it to be warmer.

Reduce boiler temperature

Reduce the flow temperature of your combi boiler on water being sent to your radiators to 60C. They are less efficient at higher temperatures and need more gas to warm your home. A conventional boiler should be set at 65C. But do not set it lower as there are health risks associated with legionella bacteria developing in the water.

Change your showerhead

A more efficient showerhead costing around £10 could save about £71 annually. They work by restricting the volume water which means you use less water. Cash can also be saved (£61) by reducing the length of your showers to four minutes. This will save you cash as less water will be used overall.

Turn down radiators in rooms

Valves that control the temperature in each room an be reduced in the rooms you use less often. They can be reduced to the midway point, but this will still maintain a temperature of 18-20C and save a typical home £50 a year. Closing doors will also ensure heat doesn't escape.

Draught-proof your home

Homes lose heat more easily without draught-proofing measures. It is among the cheapest and most effective ways of saving energy. You should add draught-proofing strips surrounding your doors and windows and along external door edges in addition to using a brush at the bottom. Another way of keeping out draughts is by installing a letter-box cover and using a sealant to shut gaps in suspended floorboards and skirting boards. A chimney draught excluder can also be used in unused chimneys. However, you should not block extractor fans, wall vents and airbricks needed for ventilation purposes. Figures are calculated by a "typical household" in Great Britain which is described as a three bedroom semi-detached house.