19 clever ways to reduce your energy bills

You don't have to make drastic lifestyle changes or spend a lot of money to lower your energy bills, despite the substantial April 2025 price cap increase.

With costs expected to stay high for the foreseeable future, making some tweaks can have a big impact on your spending, as well as helping the environment.

From minor adjustments to larger upgrades, there are lots of strategies available to help trim your energy costs.

In this guide, we'll run through 19 tips that can lead to significant bill reductions over time – including the hundreds of pounds you could save every year by going solar.

If you’re wondering how much you could save with a solar & battery system, enter a few details below and we’ll provide an estimate.

How to reduce your energy bills

Whether you're looking to cut your costs or your carbon footprint, these tips will empower you to take control of your consumption and expenses.

1. Turn off unused lights

Hitting the light switch when you leave a room can save you around £7 per year on your electricity bills, according to the Energy Saving Trust.

This makes it one of the easiest – and definitely cheapest – ways to reduce your energy bills.

Even though it might not seem like much, it can make a difference as part of a larger contribution. 

If you struggle to remember to turn off lights, you could always replace them with smart bulbs.

With these relatively affordable pieces of tech, you can turn them off and on from wherever you are in the world, through an app.

2. Switch to LED bulbs

While LED bulbs may have a slightly higher upfront cost compared to traditional incandescent bulbs, they usually last much longer and use significantly less energy.

Generally speaking, a 10-watt LED bulb is as bright as a 60-watt incandescent bulb.

This allows you to massively cut your electricity usage without having to change your habits at all.

If you replace your old lights with LEDs, you can recoup your initial investment pretty quickly, since you can save £3-4 per year per bulb, according to the Energy Saving Trust.

LED bulbs are widely available and easy to install, making it a quick switch with a big impact.

3. Let the light in

During the day, open up your curtains and allow the daylight to flood into your home.

This should allow you to avoid turning on the lights for hours at a time, in an all-natural way that will also help you top up your vitamin D levels.

If relying on the sun means you can refrain from using two 10-watt bulbs for 18 hours each week, you’ll save £5 per year, as of the April 2025 price cap.

Of course, going solar is a more cost-effective way to use the sun – but more on that below.

4. Switch off (most) electrical devices at the plug

You can save money by unplugging or completely powering down appliances like your TV, laptop, games console, microwave, or air fryer.

By simply turning off these products – or by using a standby saver or smart plug – you can cut your electricity bills by around £45 each year, according to the Energy Saving Trust.

Most electrical devices can be safely turned off at the plug without affecting their programming.

While some appliances may require standby power for specific functions, the majority can be powered down completely to minimise energy consumption.

Obviously, this doesn’t apply to any fridges or freezers you may have.

5. Switch to solar

Solar panels are a great way to reduce your electricity bills, both immediately and in the long term.

On average, you could save 86% on your electricity bills with a solar & battery system, as it’ll dramatically reduce the amount of electricity you buy from the grid – and you’ll earn money by selling your unused electricity to the grid.

This figure is based on a sample of over 150 systems installed by Sunsave across England and Wales in 2024. The average system is 6.1kWp, with 54% of solar electricity used at home and 46% exported to the grid.

However, the initial solar installation costs can be high. If you're looking to avoid this large price tag, a solar panel subscription like Sunsave Plus offers a convenient alternative.

With our subscription, you can have a solar & battery system installed with no upfront cost, and instead you’ll pay the same fixed monthly fee across 20 years.

Sunsave Plus also comes with the Sunsave Guarantee, which includes 24/7 monitoring & maintenance, replacement parts (including a battery and inverter), insurance, and downtime cover.

To sign up for Sunsave Plus, answer a few quick questions below, and we’ll get back to you with an estimate of how much you could save.

6. Get a smart meter

Getting a smart meter is an easy, free way to monitor your electricity consumption and take action to lower it.

Smart meters provide you with real-time data on your energy usage. They won’t save you money by themselves, but will give you all the information you need to make savings.

Households usually save around 3% on their electricity bills and 2.2% on their gas costs, according to Behavioural Insights Team, a UK consultancy. This adds up to savings of around £50 per year, as of April 2025.

Installation is always free, and the meter automatically sends usage data to your supplier, eliminating the need for manual readings.

What’s more, you also need a smart meter if you want to sign up to any of the best solar export tariffs.

This will allow you to sell all your excess electricity to the grid, instead of giving it away for free. A good tariff can net you hundreds of pounds per year, forming a key part of your overall solar savings and earnings.

7. Draught-proof your home

Lots of UK homes can experience heat loss through draughts around doors, windows, and floors.

By sealing gaps and cracks, you can prevent heat from escaping, leading to noticeable savings on your energy expenses with a little investment and effort.

Professional draught-proofing could set you back around £250 initially, but can save you approximately £80 annually.

Alternatively, DIY draught-proofing solutions can be much more affordable. Fitting draught excluders under doors and draught strips under your windows can be extremely effective.

If there are gaps in your floorboards or skirting boards, you can use flexible fillers, silicone mastic, or decorators caulk to fill them in. For cracks in your walls, a hard-setting decorators wall-filler can do the trick.

8. Keep good kitchen habits

Simple habits like avoiding overfilling the kettle can save you around £10 annually on electricity bills. Just put as much water in your kettle as you need – it’ll save you time, too.

Fitting an aerator on kitchen taps also reduces water consumption without affecting functionality, saving approximately £19 per year.

And remember that sometimes the larger appliances aren't the best tool for the job. Using an air fryer instead of your oven, or a microwave instead of your hob, is usually cheaper and faster.

It’s also more efficient to batch cook. If you make a large amount of one recipe in order to eat it for multiple meals across the week, you’ll limit your cooking time, which means using less energy.

Pop the results in the fridge or freezer, and you’re set – though remember to take any food out of the freezer the day before you need it, so it can defrost in the fridge. This will allow you to avoid spending extra money by using the microwave on it.

9. Check your fridge freezer

Regularly checking and maintaining your fridge freezer is a simple way to reduce your electricity bills. For it to work at its best:

• Fill your fridge
• Pack your freezer (for the same reason – more frozen stuff = more coldness)
• Only use the 'fast freeze' setting when necessary
• Defrost your freezer regularly

Keep the temperature at the recommended levels for fridges (5°C) and freezers (-18°C). Colder settings just waste energy and don't improve your food quality.

Most modern units allow you to adjust temperature settings easily, but it's worth investing in a fridge thermometer if yours doesn't have a temperature gauge.

It’s also worth avoiding putting hot leftovers in the fridge, as it’ll make it harder for the fridge to keep its internal temperature low. Instead, leave the food for an hour or so, then put it away.

10. Use your washing machine carefully

By being more mindful of your washing machine usage, you can save around £24 annually on your electricity bill.

Simple adjustments like washing clothes at lower temperatures, using shorter wash cycles, and washing full loads (instead of small amounts) can make a big impact on energy consumption.

You should also find out if your washing machine has an 'eco mode', and check out Loop Energy's handy guide to using appliances on eco mode.

These practices not only save energy but also prolong the lifespan of your clothes and washing machine.

11. Skip the tumble dryer

Tumble dryers are convenient, but they use a lot of electricity, which means higher bills.

Air-drying clothes outdoors or using a drying rack indoors requires more effort, but it incurs no additional costs beyond the price of a rack.

Making this switch in your laundry routine can have a noticeable impact, saving you around £50 on your electricity bills each year.

12. Fill your dishwasher

Only run your dishwasher when it’s full, just like you should with your washing machine. This will make the most of each cycle and reduce the number of times you use it per week.

While dishwashers are designed to be energy efficient, running them at less than full capacity wastes both water and electricity.

Sticking to full loads and reducing your usage each week can save you £12 per year without too much effort.

13. Upgrade your old appliances

When it's time to upgrade your appliances, opt for more energy-efficient models with higher ratings.

Since 2021, energy efficiency ratings have operated on an A to G scale – just like your home’s EPC rating – with A being the highest and G the lowest. This means you’ll no longer find any machines with an A+, A++, or A+++ rating.

Although energy-efficient appliances might have a higher price tag, they could save you money in the long run.

Buying an A-rated fridge freezer instead of an E-rated one can save you £360 over its 17-year lifespan, while choosing an A-rated dishwasher over a G-rated model can cut your bills by £25 per year.

14. Have showers instead of baths

Showers generally require less water and energy than baths, making them a more efficient choice.

Swap one bath a week for a shower and you'll save about £9 per year on energy costs.

If you enjoy long showers with a side of karaoke, cutting them down to four minutes (about the length of one song) can save you £60 per year.

With water bills increasing sharply, reducing your water usage is a great way to cut your bills.

15. Improve your boiler insulation

You can save £40 per year by switching to a thicker insulation jacket for your hot water cylinder, such as an 80mm British Standard Jacket.

This upgrade is relatively inexpensive, costing around £20-40, and can be easily installed by a professional, or as your own DIY project.

Better insulation means lower energy bills, and more money in your pocket – so it’s also worth looking into whether you can do the same thing for your pipes.

16. Turn your thermostat down

Lowering the temperature on your thermostat by 1°C could cut your annual heating costs by 10%.

For the average household that uses 11,500kWh of gas annually, this adds up to around £80 per year, as of the April 2025 price cap.

While the temperature you set will primarily depend on your household's tolerance levels, this tweak requires minimal effort and can be managed with a smart thermostat.

17. Buy an electric blanket

If you’ve put on all the layers you can take and you’re still cold, an electric blanket is the answer.

It’s a much more cost-effective method than turning up the thermostat for your whole home, since it heats you directly, with very little energy wasted.

A 150-watt blanket costs 4p per hour to run, as of the April 2025 price cap.

Get a good-quality product that lasts for at least a few years, and you’ll save loads by being able to turn down your radiators.

18. Bleed your radiators

Over time, air can become trapped inside radiators, causing them to work less efficiently. Bleeding them involves releasing this trapped air, allowing hot water to circulate more effectively.

You'll know it's time to bleed your radiators if you can feel cold patches or hear gurgling noises when you switch them on.

All you need is a radiator key, and you can keep them working at their best and heating your home evenly.

It’s difficult to calculate exactly how much this will save you per year, but the longer you leave it, the less efficient your radiators will be.

19. Use reflective panels behind your radiators

Reflective panels sit behind radiators on external walls and bounce heat back into the room instead of letting it escape outside.

They’re relatively cheap, at around £7 per radiator, and are simple for you to install. They also usually save more per year than they cost, according to eco-friendly non-profit Transition Bath.

When you use reflective panels with your radiators, it improves your heating distribution and reduces the need for constant heating, ultimately leading to noticeable savings on your energy bills.

Just make sure you only put them behind radiators on external walls.

It’s possible to replicate some of these results with tin foil, but it’s not as effective, since foil can easily crumple, rip, and oxidise.

Next steps

From simple adjustments like turning off lights to larger investments like upgrading to energy-efficient appliances, each of these practical steps contributes to a more sustainable and cost-effective home.

Pick just a few of these measures to adopt and you'll see a significant difference in your household's energy usage and expenses.

If you’re wondering how much you could save with a solar & battery system, enter a few details below and we’ll provide an estimate.

Cutting your energy bills: FAQs

How can I lower my energy bill in the UK?

To lower your energy bill, consider simple adjustments like getting a smart meter to help you manage your energy better, turning off lights when not in use, setting your thermostat wisely, and using appliances efficiently.

If you're happy to spend a bit more, draught-proofing your home and switching to energy-efficient LED bulbs can be a big help, as can switching to more energy efficient devices – though these all pale in comparison with going solar.

On average, you can save 86% on your electricity bills with a solar & battery system, based on a sample of over 150 systems installed by Sunsave across England and Wales in 2024. 

The average system is 6.1kWp, with 54% of solar electricity used at home and 46% exported to the grid.

What is the best first step for reducing energy consumption?

The best first step for reducing energy consumption is to perform a quick energy investigation of your own home.

Identify places where energy is being wasted, such as gaps in your floorboards or under your doors, leaky windows, and old, inefficient appliances.

Once you pinpoint the problem areas, you can take targeted actions to address them, like sealing drafts, upgrading to energy-efficient appliances, and improving your insulation.

How can I use less energy at home?

To use less energy at home, start by turning off lights and appliances when not in use. Opt for energy-efficient appliances and LED light bulbs.

Adjust your thermostat to a slightly lower temperature to save some cash when it gets colder.

It's also a good idea to seal draughty doors and windows and to use curtains or blinds to regulate indoor temperature. Lastly, encourage your household to adopt energy-saving habits, like taking shorter showers and air-drying laundry.

What wastes the most energy in a house?

Your heating system uses and wastes more energy than anything else in any given house.

The great majority of homes in the UK have gas boilers, and use 11,500kWh of energy per year to power them on average, according to Ofgem.

Unless your home has thermostatic radiator valves that you consistently use to target this heat at the rooms it’s actually needed in, a sizable proportion of it will be wasted.

When it comes to electricity, your oven, washing machine, and tumble dryer generally use more electricity than any other appliances in a house, assuming you don’t have an electric car or heat pump – but it’s rarely wasted.