How to reduce your energy bills

One of the easiest ways to lower your electricity bill is to switch off ‘vampire appliances.’

In this article, we’ll let you know how to spot a vampire appliance, how to reduce their energy consumption, and other ways to reduce your energy bills.

What is a ‘vampire appliance’?

Many electrical products use electricity while they are plugged in, even if they're not in use. This hidden energy consumption can increase your expenses by hundreds of pounds each year. These kinds of appliances are called 'vampire appliances,' because they can secretly start to drain your electricity and your wallet.

As we all know, the cost of living is growing, and many people's energy bills are going up. Here are some easy tips you should know to keep costs down and save money in the long run.

There is one simple technique to save money on electricity: switch off ‘vampire appliances;' rather than leaving them plugged in, or on standby. We’ve rounded up some main ‘Vampire Appliances,’ and other energy suckers to watch out for, so you can start to save.

Turn off your smart gadgets when you’re not in

A smart gadget, such as a Google Home or Alexa, is reported to use the same amount of power when in sleep mode as in active mode, costing you £3.45 per year! A phone charger left plugged in, but not charging anything will add 32p to your annual costs. If you’re part of a family with a phone each, that could soon start to add up!

According to British Gas, up to 23% of the energy used in British households might be caused by vampire appliances - that's £293 based on the average energy bill, (which is £1,277 per year.) The average energy bill price is expected to rise to £1,971 after the April 1st price increase.

Turn off your TV and TV box at the plug

According to experts; when you switch off your television make sure you do so at the wall. This is due to the fact that TVs use electricity throughout the day to stay on standby. While convenient, power used by your TV on standby will soon start to add up.

Turn your lights off to conserve energy

There are several additional adjustments you can easily make to save energy and lower your rates. Standard lightbulbs or lighting using non-energy-saving lightbulbs will soon start to add up.

We suggest saving energy by replacing all of your lightbulbs with low-energy bulbs. LED and energy-saving bulbs are great for the environment, and your wallet, and also last longer than standard lightbulbs!

Turn off your microwave when not in use

The oven, stove, and microwave all consume a significant amount of energy when in use. At Smart Energy, we suggest using a slow cooker to prepare money-saving meals while also conserving electricity.

If you're using an oven, pop a few meals in all at once, for example, cook your lunch and dinner at the same time. Get the most out of the time whenever the oven is turned on and you’ll find that your energy usage will be significantly reduced.

Turn your lights off to conserve energy

Make certain that lights are always turned off in rooms that are not in use. Even though this is an obvious energy-saving tip, it’s still a good idea to remind yourself and others in your house to be aware of switching off light bulbs.

Did you know that it takes less energy to turn a bulb back on than to leave it on? Turning off lights is a tried and true method to stop wasting your energy.

Adjust the temperature of your home to conserve energy

Another great way to conserve energy is by altering the temperature of your air-conditioners or heaters. Turning your heater or air conditioner down just a little can save a lot of energy and money. You might find that you don’t notice a difference in your home heating temperature, but you might see a big difference in your heating bill.

Heating your boiler is one of the largest uses of energy. Next time you put your heating on, try and have your daily bath or shower at the same time, as your boiler will already be active.

Taking shorter showers is also a great way to conserve energy and money. If you love a long shower and forget how long you’re running hot water, buy a shower timer or use your phone to set a timer. That way, you’ll know when your quick shower is starting to turn into a longer one.

Check your water pressure and usage

You can also check your water pressure and flow rate. If your house is set up with high water pressure, taking a shower only 5 minutes long could use more water than a shower with normal pressure that’s twice as long! Test your water pressure at home by timing the amount of time it takes to fill up a litre of water with a jug or bowl. If it’s much higher than it needs to be, adjust your water pressure or get a water pressure regulator.

Heating water in a kettle or on the stove can also use more energy than needed. When filling up your kettle, only add as much water as you need instead of filling up the whole kettle. This can save you up to £7 per year, and is a lot less wasteful! If you heat water on the stove, make sure you add a lid on top to stop extra heat from escaping from the top, heating your water more quickly, for less money.

The great thing about ‘Vampire Appliances’ is that they are easy to fix - once you know what to look for.

Get a smart meter

Adding a smart meter to your home can help you keep track of your energy usage. A smart meter can help you find out if there are unknown appliances using up electricity that you might not have been previously aware of. 

Turn your washing machine and dishwasher off

If you’re not using them, remember to turn your washing machine and dishwasher off at the plug. Just because you’re not running a cycle doesn’t mean the appliance isn’t using power on standby. The energy-saving trust recommends turning off appliances at their source for reduced energy bills.

Reduce your energy bill with solar panels

If you’ve already reduced your electricity consumption with all of these energy-saving tips and are still struggling to pay your bills, it might be time to go solar.

Solar panels generate free electricity for your home using the power of the sun. 

With the electricity price cap continuing to rise, solar energy has fast become the answer to the energy crisis. Did you know that the time to see a return on your investment has gone from 15 to just 7 years in the UK?

To speak to someone about powering your home with solar energy, contact us for a free home energy assessment.