MILLIONS of households will see their energy bills rise following Ofgem’s new price cap, which took effect on October 1.
And with winter fast approaching, many will be thinking about ways to keep energy costs down.
Using eco mode when doing laundry can help reduce your energy bills this winter[/caption]
The Sun has spoken to experts, who share some of the appliance features that could help you shave hundreds off your bills.
Use eco modes
Quicker washing cycles can often use more energy and are therefore more expensive.
But many washing machines nowadays come with eco mode, which uses less water and a lower temperature than most settings.
This can help curb the cost of doing your laundry.
Ben Gallizzi, energy expert at Uswitch.com, said: “The washing machine is all too often misused.
“Two-thirds of households (67%) use the fastest cycle no matter what the energy cost, while three-fifths (62%) admit to never using the appliance’s eco mode – both are habits that can add £20 a year to the energy bill.”
The same is true for dishwashers. Running this appliance not on eco mode can cost you an additional £19 per year.
If you start using eco mode for both your washing machine and dishwasher, you could save £39 per year.
Figures are based on the amount an average household spends a year.
Using the right temperature for your fridge freezer
Having your fridge freezer set to a specific temperature can help keep your energy bills low.
Gareth Kloet, Go.Compare energy spokesperson, says: “Fridge freezers are switched on 24/7 and account for 13% of the average household’s energy bill, so making sure they’re working as efficiently as possible is a must.”
“The Food Standards Agency says you ought to keep your fridge at 5°C and your freezer at -18°C which you can usually adjust using the built-in temperature dial. “
Mr Kloet says that a lower temperature than the one above means you may be burning through energy unnecessarily.
Turn your thermostat down
Temperature is also a factor to consider when heating your household.
Kara Gammell, energy expert at MoneySuperMarket, says: “Turning your thermostat down by just one degree can save you as much as £145 per year according to the Energy Savings Trust, and you probably won’t feel the difference.”
According to the Energy Saving Trust, you should set your thermostat to the lowest comfortable temperature for your needs.
For most people, this is between 18 and 21 degrees.
Use a towel in your tumble dryer
Experts reveal that placing a dry towel in your dryer can reduce running time and, therefore, help keep energy bills down.
Ms Gammell adds: “Tumble dryers are convenient but costly to run.
“Placing a dry towel in with dryer loads can cut drying time by half an hour, helping you to save on your energy bill.
“The dry towel absorbs excess moisture from the wet clothes, helping them dry faster and reducing the energy consumption of the dryer.”
And there are other ways to curb the cost of running house appliances.
These include bleeding your radiators and buying energy efficient items when replacing your appliances.
Common myths around energy consumption
Gwilym Snook, appliance expert at AO.com, quashed some commonly believed myths around appliances and energy consumption.
MYTH – Your fridge freezer is cheaper to run when empty
A commonly held belief is that your fridge freezer is more energy-efficient when it’s empty as there isn’t anything to cool. However, the reverse is true – Your fridge will operate most effectively when all its shelves are well-stocked.
MYTH – Washing your clothes at higher temperatures cleans them better
Most households across the UK wouldn’t trust to wash their clothes at 30°C as they wouldn’t believe it is an adequate temperature.
But in fact, 30°C is more than sufficient for most of your clothes and will significantly help to reduce your energy costs by up to 50 per cent when compared to a 40°C wash.
MYTH – Tumble dryers aren’t eco-friendly
Older models of tumble dryers were indeed energy guzzlers yet this myth that tumble dryers can’t be energy-efficient has been blown out of the water in recent years.
Enter the heat pump tumble dryer, a specially designed appliance that recycles warm air to dry your clothes at a much cheaper rate than their older counterparts.
Did you know that running this dryer will cost 63p a cycle on average? A small fee which can be reduced even further this winter by looking to dry your clothes between 10pm and 8am during off-peak electricity hours.
MYTH – Boiling water in your kettle is always energy-efficient
While kettles are energy-efficient appliances, did you know it’s easy to waste energy when bringing it to a boil accidentally? This can be done by filling your kettle to the brim every time you’re brewing up.
Instead, try to boil only the amount of water you need this winter. In the long run this small hack can help you save your money!
MYTH – Energy-efficient appliances don’t make a difference
It’s often believed that the A-G energy rating scale doesn’t make any difference to your overall energy consumption.
This isn’t the case. Energy-efficient appliances such as those with high A ratings can significantly reduce your energy bills when compared to older, less efficient models.
For example, replacing your old fridge-freezer with a newer energy-efficient one could save up to £100 a year on your electricity bills, which in the long run helps it pay for itself!
