Get Ready for Winter with Good Energy Habits
It really is starting to feel like the weather is changing and that we have taken that step from
summer to autumn. I have already admitted we turned the heating on not so long ago and as I
know that this is the time of year when energy bills rise, due to more usage, I am all for
managing to keep them down a little by bringing in good energy habits.
So here are a few things that might help you keep your bills down this winter.
Turn Things Off:
Hands up who is like me and can walk from room to room switching the lights on and
forgetting to turn them back off? I think perhaps it is one of the most common ways to waste
electricity, along with leaving appliances on standby instead of fully switching them off. Just
think of that electricity trickling away while you go about your business.
Turn Down Your Thermostat:
There are going to come times when you need to turn your heating on and that’s OK. Of
course, it is good to put on more layers first, but you aren’t going to make it all the way
through winter without some source of extra heat. However, have you thought about just
turning your thermostat down by 1 degree? I bet you won’t notice the difference, but you will
save a few pennies.
Upgrade to Smart Meters:
Smart meters are the way of the future, lots of products and services are being created to help you control your home and make your life easier. Smart meters, for example are digital meters which come with a free smart energy monitor that shows you how much gas and electricity you are using in real time, so you can keep track of your spending. Smart meters also send meter readings directly to your energy supplier, so no more estimated bills and no more meter readers calling at your door. The smart energy monitor lets you see the impact of each appliance around your home as you switch them on and off meaning you can learn more about how much things cost and make decisions to use a bit less energy when you don’t need it and save on your bills.
Don’t fill the Kettle:
A kettle takes a whole lot of energy to boil, honestly, if you have smart meters just watch it ramp up on your smart energy monitor when you switch it on to boil. So just fill it enough for what you need and stop filling it all the way to the top just for one cup of tea (OK maybe that’s me).
Spend 1 Minute Less in the Shower:
It is interesting just how much you could save over the course of the year by just taking 1 minute less in the shower and really is that going to affect how clean you are that much? After all, most of us probably spend at least a couple of minutes daydreaming or wishing the day ahead didn’t have to start, while standing under the water.
So there are a few ideas to hopefully bring your energy bills down this winter and start you off on some good energy habits, but what about you? Do you have any must follow hints and tips?
*This post is in conjunction with British Gas® but all thoughts are my own.
well I’ve learnt a few things reading this. Thanks for the great tips. I might save a few quid on my energy bills now.
I really hope it helps you 🙂
I’m definitely guilty of forgetting to turn things off. Especially lights! I am trying harder to remember. The shower tip is good too.
Good luck with remembering to turn things off it can be hard!
Definitely going to think about the 1 minute shower tip. I guess over a year that’s like over 6 hours of showering time saved!
I really hope it helps you 🙂 it’s one that’s quite easy to implement hopefully :).
These are all brilliant ideas, Sarah. I’ve never filled the kettle more than I need it, but my brothers do! They re-boil the water every time they want a drink as well, which I hate. I think it makes the drink taste foul!
Louise x
Oh no! I have to admit I did used to be the same I’m better now.
I always boil the kettle full. even though I don’t use all of the water in one go, I like to leave the rest to cool down and pour it into a jug or my bottle
If your using it for other purposes that’s different I think.
These are such great tips. It really doesn’t take much work to save money on energy.
No you don’t have to do big things, little changes can make a difference.
Our electric and gas bills always get out of control during the winter. Will keep these suggestions in mind and hopefully that will save us some money this year.
It is crazy how much the bills do go up over winter months.
I try so hard to give up long showers but I am just not there yet. That is where I clear my mind and release. I do need to get some more light bulbs though – the energy saving ones.
Compromise is good, can’t cut the showers but go for lightbulbs now.
These are great tips! I live in New York and my heat bill in the winter is always astronomical. I also have a fire place I use a lot, but it’s propane which is also so expensive! Can’t win haha!
Oh gosh I bet we have had snow the last few days and our heating seems to be on constantly.
The small, little changes really can add up can’t they. I’m quite good with the electric and gas (mainly because I’m quite tight and don’t like wasting money on the bills lol)
Id not thought about the time in the shower though so I’ll be thinking about that when I’m in tonight.
It is amazing how quickly the little things add up.
I used to raise the thermostat up to 75. Now I’m fine with 72. Coming from a tropical country, I think that’s understandable, right? 🙂
Most definitely even a few degrees makes a difference.
I’m constantly running around after the children and my husband turning the lights on. I’m sure we’d save loads if they didn’t put every single light on even in rooms they are not in. I try not to overfill the kettle where possible too.
I am pretty good about my energy habits in the winter. I keep the house at 65 and even colder when we are not home. I am also trying to keep lights off if they are not necessary.
Good luck, I have a habit of leaving lights on I keep getting told off for it.
We have one of those little monitors that tells us how much energy we are using and it’s scary. But it is making us turn things off more often which is good.
They are so useful and can really help you with bringing the costs down as you can see the differences.
I love the idea of turning down the thermostat, personally I LOVE the cold whilst my husband likes it toasty and warm, this is something we argue about. LOL
Go gosh that must be a nightmare – hope you manage to find a happy medium.
Loving these tips, perfect timing before houses start filling up and getting busier before Christmas! I have a habit of leaving lights on and putting the heating on full blast, I need to just wear some warmer clothes and make a nice cup of tea!
Putting on some extra layers really can help.
We always have a habit of leaving the thermostat turned up high. We’re trying to remember to wear more clothes, like layers, and to leave the thermostat down.
It can take time to build a new habit but well worth it.
These are really great tips! I feel like I spend hours every day turning off the lights in all the rooms.
It is worth it I promise even if it feels a bit like a chore just think of the pennies.
I always try to open the blinds a bit during the day. There is no reason to turn on the lights in the house.
I’ve never put water on the stove to boil. My grandmother used to turn on the oven when it was super cold in her house.
I totally agree letting natural light in is good for you as well you don’t want to live in darkness,
These are some very helpful tips, knocking off lights when going to another room is something I need to remember
I am so pleased they are useful for you good luck with remember to turn off your lights.m
These are all wonderful tips! I definitely need to take a lot of these into consideration.
I hope it helps you save some money in the weeks to come.
Taking things off standby ready helps keep costs down and keeping an eye on how many times you boil a kettle. Great tips x
It really does I think it is so easy to use the standby feature o it’s quick to turn back on but turning off properly makes a big differenc.
This is such a good ideas! I love these smart ideas! This is so important especially this season.
Most definitely it is such an expensive time of year.
Never knew about the smart meter, I need to get one. These are all great energy saving ideas I need to get on.
They are definitely worth looking into :).
Really good ideas here! Even something as simple as a shorter shower can go a long way in helping with your heat bill. Also hanging clothing when you can instead of using the dryer.
It really is so easy to do something little, I love getting clothes outside when possible.
These are all wonderful ideas. I try my best to be good with energy as well. I shut everything off that’s not being used and such. I love saving money, so I have to be careful.
I’m the same any way I can save a few pennies I’m there.
I never leave the lights on or forget an appliance on if I go out of the house. I have learned how to manage my electricity and my bills when I first moved alone and didn’t have a lot of money. So I developed a habit back then that I still have today, don’t waste water or electricity.
I was the same when I first moved out and had a meter which would just eat credit which was awful! It does make you learn in some ways, though hands up I do have some issues still.
Our heating bills are so high in the winter. I do keep the temp low, but I’ll have to give some of these a try and see if I can get our energy usage down.
I hope they help you get your bills down a little in the long term.
I am guilty of taking long showers, it’s just my way of relaxation. When I take shower, I don’t want to get out! These are great energy saving tips!
They are relaxing that I’ll give anyone but just try and chop off one minute.
I’m pretty good about doing most of these already but I really want to invest in some smart thermostats. I think they are so cool and I love that I can control the temp of my home even when I’m traveling!
Honestly awe have Hive and it makes such a difference well worth it.
Awesome tips for all of us who are experiencing the cold weather right now! It’s really nice to make sure that we have smart meters to help us maintain our home!
They are such a good idea aren’t they to help you keep on top of everything,
I really enjoy posts like this. If everyone can just do a little bit more to conserve and reuse it really could make a difference. We’ve adopted a lot of this ideas already, but I’ll have to look into the smart meters you mentioned.
I am glad people find them enjoyable and useful. Good luck with looking into smart meters,
I need to adopt a few of these as our bills are through the roof. 1 less minute in the shower from now on for sure x
Glad I have given you something you can look to adopt in your own home.
Those are such smart ideas. Such good tips to remember and to keep in mind especially this season.
Most definitely it looks to be an extra cold one this year as well.
It’s incredible how much more energy we use during this time of the year! You’ve brought up really good points – imagine the difference it would make if we all did with 1 minute less in the shower?!
It would be fantastic wouldn’t it and you don’t have to worry about doing those quick three minute numbers it is just a minute less than normal, which I think we can all do unless you already do three minute showers.
Great tips! It sounds like I need a smart meter to better tell whats going on! I do take short showers and we keep the heat down as much as possible.
They really are worth looking into they feed you so much knowledge about your usage.
I’m reading this thinking, “I wonder just how much we’d save if we took a shower in less time, or turning off lights or things we aren’t in the process of using.” This time of year it’s hard to turn down the thermostat, but, thankfully, that’s what sweatpants and socks are for!
I have to admit I have slipper socks on and two blankets on me and it helps keep me a lot warmer.
Some really great and vital tips here! We usually light our fire over using the heating.
I would love to have a real fire, that would be a dream.
Great tips! I have actually done all these as we are always trying to be a bit more energy efficient 🙂
I hope they all help you be a bit more energy efficient this year 🙂
I only fill my kettle up as much as I will be using in that one time but I like the sound of a ‘smart meter’. I need to ask my landlord as to whether that would be an option!
It makes all the difference doesn’t it – it is crazy how much it makes your energy consumption go up when you boil a kettle.
Anything I can do to save money in the wintertime I am all for it. My electric bill goes up quite a bit because of the heat so I would love to save money. I will definitely try a couple of these ideas.
It is crazy how quickly the bills can go up after the winter isn’t it, I think our gas is going to be quite high with the heating on a lot so far.
Great ideas. I find that having the heating on at just the most ideal times is the best way of saving money x
It can make a real difference if you manage to get into a good stride with when to switch the heating on for sure.
I am forever chasing my other half to turn lights off and shut doors to keep the heat in. He is a nightmare haha!
Haha I can be a pain with it as well I totally admit it!
These are all great tips for helping to keep energy bills down. I definitely need to remember the kettle one!
It so easy to just put to much water in, isn’t it – since I can carry much these days I fill it with a glass of water, which also means I don’t over fill it to much.
I am always looking for ways to save money on the power bill. Thankfully, living in Florida the winter for us is a break. Since it doesn’t get that cold too often our heat hardly runs. The summer is when we have to watch our costs and habits.
I can’t imagine leaving somewhere, where you hardly need heat, mind you I feel the cold a lot more now so it also sounds really nice!
I am really good at turning lights off but I am guilty of filling the kettle up to boil it and I’m also bad at having the heat on, all the time, as I really feel the cold. I’ll try to not fill the kettle up though and can spend less time in the shower so thank you for the tips.
I think it so easy to just fill the kettle up to much and of course keep flicking the heating on when you feel a bit cold rather than layering up.
Maybe I should point the ‘spend one less minute in the shower’ tip out to my boyfriend. I’m the most efficient shower taker ever but he stands in there for about twenty minutes. Drives me crazy! Maybe if I told him he’d save money on the energy bill he’d sharp hop out 😉
Katie xoxo
Hands up it’s the same here, Ash stayed in the shower so long once it turned itself off (never happened to me ever) I didn’t half giggle when he came out moaning about it.
These are excellent tips. People don’t realize how much money they can save just by making minor tweaks to heir home energy usage.
The small things really can add up to make a noticeable difference.