Top 10 Energy Saving Tips For Winter

With energy prices rising, it is more important than ever to reduce energy waste and make our homes work harder for less. In this article, we'll share a range of energy-saving tips to help you save money this winter, such as:

• Keeping Warm and Preventing Heat Loss
• Reducing Waste Energy with Clever Lighting
• Energy Efficient Cooking
• Heating Your Home

We will all need to be a little more energy efficient over the coming months. Our energy bills are set to soar, which means we need to work harder to reduce the amount we use.

This is far from ideal, especially with winter on the way. Hopefully with our top energy saving tips, we'll help you to reduce energy waste and stay warm throughout the colder months.

Keeping Warm and Preventing Heat Loss

1. Layer Up

Warm clothes will be a necessity indoors and outdoors this winter. Be sure to wear long-sleeved tops, fleecy jumpers, wooly socks, cosy slippers and more.

2. Use Blankets and Thicker Bedding

It’s a very good idea to swap out your usual duvet sets for something heavier and thicker. There are affordable designs available that are made from fleece and a range of other highly insulative materials.

You may also wish to create a nest of fluffy cushions or to invest in an additional blanket or throw that you can put on and take off as required.

B&M Top Tip: Grab yourself a hot water bottle to keep warm in bed without putting the heating on. These are great for adults and kids alike.

3. Avoid Heat Loss

Draught-proofing your home is vital. Try to close all windows and doors and use draught excluders where possible to prevent the heat from escaping your home.

B&M Top Tip: Many households in the UK are eligible for a government grant for free insulation. You can check here to see if you qualify.

4. Bleed Your Radiators

A really handy trick to avoid wasting energy is to bleed your radiators regularly. This gets rid of any air bubbles in the system that may prevent hot water from circulating.

This means that you’ll be able to keep warm without paying as much to heat the water.

 

Reducing Waste Energy with Clever Lighting

5. Switch to LED bulbs

LED lights are far more efficient than halogen or incandescent light, and bulbs of this kind last far longer, too - which means you’ll be saving money in multiple ways!

B&M Top Tip: If you don’t already have one, check whether your energy provider is currently offering free smart meters to their users. Getting one of these will help you to track how much power you’re using in real time, and how much it’s likely to cost you.

Energy Efficient Cooking and Washing

6. Choose Energy Saving Appliances

Some pieces of cooking equipment waste more energy than others. For example, you’ll need to preheat an oven, whereas an air fryer is ready to use - and doesn’t take as long. This tends to use less energy.

B&M Top Tip: Only fill the kettle with as much water as you’re going to use each time. The more water you boil beyond what you require, the more energy you waste.

Remember, the average kettle holds between 1.5 and 1.7 litres, while a cup of tea usually only needs between 150 and 250 ml.

7. Adjust Your Washing Machine Settings

Take a look at the instructions that go with your washing machine to work out which are the best settings for your needs. Some models even have “Eco” settings.

Generally, you shouldn’t need to wash clothing at anything higher than 30 degrees - and longer spins will, of course, use more power.

B&M Top Tip: If your home isn’t being heated, and if it’s thoroughly insulated, you may find that you face issues with damp - particularly if you’re drying clothes inside without using a tumble dryer (which, of course, wastes a lot of energy). Damp can be very bad for your health. We highly recommend that you invest in a dehumidifier to catch condensation before it affects you or your home.

8. Take Showers Instead of Baths

Showering uses less hot water than running a bath - so this is definitely the most energy-efficient way to bathe.

Heating Your Home

9. Use Smaller Heaters Rather Than Central Heating

Of course, it takes far less energy to heat one space than to heat a whole home. It’s a good idea, therefore, to reduce energy wastage by investing in a small heater to switch on when it gets cold rather than reaching for the thermostat.

B&M Top Tip: at B&M there are all kinds of heaters to choose from, including:

• Fan heaters of different sizes and wattages
• oil radiators - also in a range of sizes and designs
• Tower heaters
• Convector heaters

10. Light The Stove

Not only is a stove a very stylish and desirable piece of furniture, it can go a long way towards helping you to combat rising energy prices.

Select a small, medium or large stove depending on the size of the room, as the wrong size may result in insufficient heat or overusing fuel.

There are a range of different styles and finishes available to suit your space.

B&M Top Tip: Keep your carbon footprint low by using smokeless fuel.

To reduce energy wastage and save on your bills this winter, simply follow the advice above. You can find a range of further tips to reduce your bills via the Energy Saving Trust.

Or why not check out our range of energy-saving appliances and accessories in our Electricals section?

Got any additional suggestions for keeping energy use down? Share them with the B&M Community via Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.