5 easy tricks to save energy around the house and cut down your bills

The cost-of-living crisis, rising energy bills, and unpredictable, extreme weather shifts are all concerns that make energy saving sit at the forefront of our minds.

 
As Brits push through the long slog that January seems to be, many might ask how they can be more energy efficient and cut down their home’s energy consumption.

Mortgage Advice Bureau have shared five quick and easy ways for you to save energy within your home, using simple, everyday changes that don’t break the bank.
 

1. Have a clean and organised fridge

 
One important but lesser-known reason as to why having a clean and tidy fridge is good is that it helps to improve the energy efficiency of your appliances. An organised fridge allows you to find exactly what you’re looking for much more quickly, equalling less time spent rummaging around with the door wide open.

Whilst it may seem pedantic, the amount of time your fridge door is open and letting in warm air does have an impact on the amount of energy needed to keep the appliance at a set cool temperature. The more time the door is open, the harder it must work to stay cool – and the same applies to your fridge-freezer. So next time you’re unloading your weekly grocery shop, keep organised by remembering where you put items so you can grab them quickly and easily. Similarly, a clean fridge requires less energy to keep cool. It’s important to vacuum the condenser coils every so often to avoid clogged up bits of food, dirt and dust disrupting the circulation and flow of cool air.
 

2. Scrub the grub on your hob

 
As well as being hygienic and aesthetically pleasing, having a clean hob is another energy saving hack. Firstly, a grubby hob means more energy is needed to heat up the hob and subsequent pan places on top, as leftover grease and dirt absorb and store heat. Secondly, keeping a hob’s metal grease plates bright and shiny reflects the heat upwards, preventing heat from escaping and instead directing it to where it’s needed.
 

3. Plan your pans

 
Following on from the previous energy efficient cooking tip, think wisely about what pan to use when cooking. Rather than opening your cupboard and reaching for the first random pan you see, choose a pan and lid that are the right size for the food you’re preparing. Using a pan that’s unnecessarily large wastes energy, given that bigger pans need more energy to heat. Likewise, think about the amount of water needed. Boiling a large amount of water for your favourite pasta dish is a waste – you only need enough to cover the pasta, rather than filling it to the brim.  Moreover, use a saucepan lid when cooking and keep it on the pan. The lid helps to contain the heat, so less is needed- it’s not rocket science!
 

4. Keep radiators in sight

 
If you have furniture in front of a radiator, it’s worth having a think about how you can reshuffle and rearrange the layout of the room, especially if your furniture is large. While you may need to break a sweat or ask a friend for a helping hand, removing items such as a sofa or bed from in front of a radiator can help to distribute heat efficiently, reducing the amount of energy needed for your heating system. Similarly, curtains shouldn’t overhang in front of radiators – it’s advised that the length should sit just above your radiator but below the windowsill.
 

5. Don’t be wasteful when washing dishes

 
Lastly, no-one likes having to clear away and wash dirty dishes after a delicious meal, but there’s no need to have a wasteful washing technique. If you’re washing dishes by hand, buy a cheap washing-up bowl and fill it with enough warm water for your dishes instead of washing them under a hot running tap. If you’re using a dishwasher, make sure to only run a washing cycle when the dishwasher is full or, if possible, switch it to a half load setting. It may take some time for dishes to accumulate into a full machine, however, running a half empty dishwasher on a full setting is exceptionally inefficient.
 

About the consumer research:

The research was conducted by Censuswide with 2,004 Consumers with at least 50% w/ a mortgage OR own their home outright between 04.11.2022 – 07.11.2022. Censuswide abide by and employ members of the Market Research Society which is based on the ESOMAR principles and are members of The British Polling Council.

Lenders Research Methodology: Mortgage Advice Bureau polled 458 lenders. The research was carried out on Monday.com between 06/09/2022 and 23/09/2022.