Energy Savers Week: Simple ways to save energy and reduce your bills

With energy costs still high for many households, this week isn’t about doing everything perfectly or making big, expensive upgrades. It’s about small, realistic steps that fit around real life, especially when money is already stretched.

Why Energy Savers Week matters

Energy bills are one of those costs that can feel hard to control. You still need heating, hot water and electricity, especially during colder months. But even small changes can help take the edge off rising costs over time.

Energy Savers Week is about:

• Raising awareness of simple energy-saving habits
• Helping households save money where they can
• Encouraging small changes that add up over time

You don’t have to do everything at once. One change is a great place to start.

1. Turn your thermostat down by 1°C  and only heat the rooms you’re using

The Energy Saving Trust recommends setting your thermostat to the lowest comfortable temperature for your needs. Even turning it down from 22°C to 21°C could save you up to £90 a year. You can also turn radiators down in unused rooms and close doors to keep warmth where you need it most.

2. Be kettle-smart

Boil only the water you need. It’s a small habit, but if you’re making hot drinks throughout the day, it can add up — saving you around £11 a year. For a cup of tea, between 150ml and 250ml is usually enough, depending on your mug.

3. Wash clothes at lower temperatures and do fuller loads

By washing your clothes at 30°C and washing one fewer load each week, you could save up to £27 a year. Most detergents work just as well at 30°C, lower-temperature washes use less energy and can help your clothes last longer too!

4. Turn things off at the plug

Appliances and chargers can still use energy on standby. It might not seem like a big change, but switching them off at the plug when not in use is a quick, free win and could save you around £45 a year.

5. Use appliances more efficiently

• Wait for full loads in the washing machine and dishwasher
• Use eco settings where available
• Air-dry clothes when you can instead of using the tumble dryer

Here is a round-up of how much energy different appliances around the house use, It’s not about never using these appliances, just using them a bit more mindfully.

If you’re curious about where the biggest costs come from, here is a helpful guide  showing how much energy different household appliances use. It’s not about cutting things out completely, just understanding what uses the most energy so you can make informed choices that work for your home.

Energy saving isn’t all or nothing

It’s easy to feel like if you can’t do everything, there’s no point doing anything. But that’s not true.

One small habit can lead to another. Simple changes, done consistently, really can make a difference over time. If you’d like more ideas, the Energy Saving Trust have a helpful round-up of energy-saving tips you might want to explore.

This Energy Savers Week, try just one thing

Pick one small change that feels manageable and give it a go this week. That’s more than enough to get started.