Ways to save energy at home: the facts and the fiction

How to save energy at home? We're separating the facts from fiction when it comes to saving energy at home. Here's the truth about energy conservation in your house, so you can use less energy and save money.

Myth #1

Pressing the off button means it's not using electricity

Many devices such as TVs, laptops and game consoles use electricity when they're plugged in and not being used - sometimes known as vampire energy! If something's plugged in, it's still using electricity and costing you money. 

The Energy Saving Trust estimates that switching devices off standby all year round could save you annually £45 in GB and £55 in NI off your electricity bills⁽¹⁾. So, for energy bill savings, simply switch up your standby habit and turn devices off at the wall, or unplug your devices completely.

Myth #2

Turning your heating fully off saves money

This isn't always true. If you're going away for a while, and it's likely to be cold, it could be a good idea to use a timer for your heating to stop the possibility of your pipes freezing. Frozen and burst pipes can cause hundreds of pounds of damage so to avoid that, think about setting a timer or getting a smart thermostat like Heatsmart® that you can control with your smartphone.

Myth #3

Having the heating on all day uses less energy than turning it high when you get back

These are both wrong – instead, you should set a timer on your thermostat so that when you get home your house is just right.

Myth #4

Using an appliance during the day is the best way to save money

The government encourages us to use energy at off-peak times to help the National Grid maintain a steady supply to everyone. Plus, running your appliances at certain times of day will only make a difference to your energy bill if you are on an Economy 7 tariff. You can also programme your appliances to come on at off-peak times, making it easy for you to save. Or if you have solar PV you can use appliances during the day to make the most of the solar energy.

Myth #5

Painting radiators black conserves heat

This actually has no effect on the heat of your radiator. Instead, you could consider installing radiator panels, which are made of foil or reflective plastic and fit behind radiators on external walls. They can reflect heat and are effective at saving fuel, especially on solid uninsulated walls. Another tip is to put up shelves above your radiators, they can reflect heat back into the room too.

Myth #6

Using an electric heater heats a room faster

Electric heaters only heat part of a room. If the room is small, it'll heat up that area quite quickly, but if you have a large room or high ceilings, it won't be as effective. Plus, as soon as you turn the heater off, the heat will escape.

If you don't want to heat every room in your house then you'll need individual radiator thermostats. That way you can adjust the temperature in each room accordingly.

Myth #7

The higher you turn up the thermostat the quicker it heats

Setting your thermostat really high does not mean it heats faster. Your boiler always heats at the same rate. You might waste energy setting it too high, so it's better to try to maintain a temperature instead of overheating.

Myth #8

Solar panels in the UK are pointless

The UK might not be the sunniest destination in Europe but it's a myth that solar panels need wall-to-wall sunshine to work. In fact, they can generate energy when it's cloudy outside. Part of the installation process is to make sure the panels are fitted in an area that will always get maximum sun. If you're interested in getting a brighter energy future for you and the rest of the UK, read our guide on solar panels.

Myth #9

Handwashing dishes saves money

According to Which? The most water-efficient, full-sized dishwasher uses almost 10 times less water to wash the same amount of dishes as hand washing them. And, the average, full-sized dishwasher can wash up to nine place settings in just one wash, opposed to tests showing one bowl of hand washing cleaning two sets, before the water needs to be changed⁽²⁾. 

Myth #10

Insulating older homes isn't worth it

Long story short: the better insulated you make your home, the better energy-efficient it becomes with lower energy bills.

Improving your home's EPC rating is a great place to start if you're looking to improve it's energy efficiency. Your EPC rating will give you a rating from A-G (G being the least energy-efficient) with recommendations of how you improve your rating and make your home more energy-efficient.

Your home's rating and heat retention will improve enormously if you're prepared to replace single-glazed windows with double glazing, install or replace old loft insulation, install wall insulation and insulate your flooring. Did you know you can save up to £790 per year on energy bills by installing cavity and loft insulation in your home?⁽³⁾

If you're looking to make your home cosier with lower energy bills, insulation plays a big part in helping with this. You can also see if you qualify for funding to help with insulation costs! 

Myth #11

New homes are always energy-efficient

For the most part, new homes tend to be more energy efficient than older builds. However, data show that 15%⁽⁴⁾ fail to reach A or B EPC ratings. What this tells us, is that it's really important to check a property's EPC rating before buying or renting what you imagine is a fully energy-efficient modern home. Make sure any property you're considering to rent or buy meets A to B rated efficiency standards.

Keen on more energy-saving tips?

• Visit our energy efficiency section to read the latest on appliances, energy-efficient lights, electric heating and storage heaters, boilers, and even solar panels! 
• If you haven't yet got a smart meter, get one installed to help save cash and carbon!
• One last but important tip is to check you're on the right energy tariff for your home!