We’ve all heard the news that energy bills are set to rise this month. In fact, from 1 April, most households in Great Britain will see energy bills rise by 54% (almost £700) to just under £2,000 a year. While it’s not useful to switch to a fixed price energy deal this late, there are some things you can do to save energy at home.

Guinness Homes creates sustainable property as standard practice, helping our customers to keep their energy bills down. Read our top tips below to help you save money on your energy bills.

Install a smart thermostat

Technology is a helpful tool these days. Smart thermostats can make your heating more efficient in a few different ways including:

• Only warming rooms you are using
• Showing you how long it takes to heat your home, so you can have the right temperature at exactly the right time
• Allowing you to control your heating using your phone (which also means you never have to come back to a cold home)

If you install a smart thermostat, you could save around £75 a year. Plus, add-on tech like thermostatic radiator valves and programmers are available to drive down costs further.

Turn down the heat

This tip may seem so simple but turning your heating down by just one degree could save you up to £80 a year.

Cool clothes

Washing at 30 degrees rather than 40 can help reduce your energy usage. But you can also save around £5 off your energy bill by dropping the amount of washing loads you do each week by just one load.

Draught-proof your home

Double glazing isn’t the only thing that will keep in heat and save you money; sealing cracks in floors and skirting boards, and lining your letterbox can reduce your heating bills by up to £35 a year.

Check those appliances

While we don’t recommend throwing out appliances to replace them with more energy efficient ones, if it is time to get a new one, choosing a high energy efficiency rating can be worth the investment.

Look for appliances that have the highest grade, such as an A+++ washing machine. This alone will typically use £65 less energy than an A+ one over an 11-year product lifespan. Fridge freezers make the most drastic saving, with an A+++ fridge freezer saving you around £300 in energy bills over its lifetime compared to an A+ model.

Get help where you can

It’s a good idea to seek help if you are struggling with energy bills. Citizens Advice has a host of articles and links to government-backed schemes aimed at supporting people.

Households in Great Britain may also be able to get £150 off their electricity bill for next winter via the warm home discount scheme.

Secure a home today

Guinness Homes is proud of its Leaside Lock Development, which offers stylish homes that come with energy efficient appliances, double glazing, and supports an eco-friendly lifestyle. Find out more about the lifestyle and location on offer.