Easy ways to save energy at home

Reducing your home energy consumption and lowering bills doesn't have to mean sacrificing comfort or making expensive upgrades. Instead, it's about smart energy management, giving you control and insight into your usage. Fuse Energy focuses on empowering you with control and insight into your usage, where lower bills are a natural consequence of smarter energy management.

Understanding your energy use is the first step towards taking control of your bills. Fuse Energy helps you achieve this with clear pricing and real-time usage data. Click here to switch to Fuse Energy today.

Understanding your energy use

The first step to managing your energy is knowing where it goes. The average UK home uses around 2,500 kWh of electricity and 9,500 kWh of gas per year, according to Ofgem. Understanding your household's consumption patterns against these benchmarks is crucial for identifying areas for improvement.

Why tracking matters

Tracking your energy usage helps you pinpoint exactly what's driving your bills. With a clear picture of your consumption, you can make informed decisions about where to focus your efforts for the greatest impact. This insight transforms abstract energy bills into actionable data.

Identifying energy hogs

Certain appliances and habits consume more energy than others. Identifying these "energy hogs" allows you to prioritise changes that will yield the most significant savings. This could be anything from an old, inefficient appliance to leaving devices on standby.

Quick wins for immediate savings

Small, no-cost behavioural changes can have an immediate impact on your energy bills. These quick wins are often the easiest to implement and can provide noticeable savings.

Tackling standby power

Many electronic devices continue to draw power even when switched off, a phenomenon known as "standby power" or "phantom load". Unplugging devices or using smart plugs to cut power completely can eliminate this wasted energy. Appliances left on standby can add up to 30% to a home's electricity bill.

Efficient lighting choices

Switching to LED lighting is one of the simplest and most effective ways to reduce electricity consumption. Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) use significantly less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs, converting more electrical energy into light rather than heat. They also have a much longer lifespan, reducing replacement costs and maintenance.

Draught-proofing your home

Stopping unwanted cold air from entering your home through gaps and cracks is a highly cost-effective way to save energy. Draught-proofing around windows, doors, and floors could save you around £55 a year on energy bills. This simple DIY task helps keep your home warmer, potentially allowing you to turn down your thermostat.

Optimising heating and hot water

Heating and hot water typically account for the largest portion of a household's energy use. Optimising these systems can lead to substantial savings.

Smart thermostat settings

Turning down your thermostat by just one degree Celsius can reduce heating bills by up to 10%. While a small adjustment, this change is often barely noticeable in comfort but makes a significant difference to energy consumption. Most households keep their thermostat between 18°C and 21°C.

Reducing hot water consumption

Heating water requires a considerable amount of energy. Simple habits like taking shorter showers, ensuring your hot water cylinder is insulated, and only heating the water you need can cut down on consumption.

Radiator efficiency tips

Maximising your radiators' efficiency ensures you get the most heat for your money. Bleeding radiators to remove trapped air, avoiding blocking them with furniture, and using thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) to control individual room temperatures can all help. For those considering more advanced heating solutions, exploring the running cost of an air source heat pump can provide valuable insights into long-term savings.

Smart appliance usage

Even everyday appliances can offer opportunities for energy savings with smarter usage habits.

Kitchen appliance habits

• Kettles: Only boil the amount of water you need.
• Ovens: Use smaller appliances like microwaves or slow cookers for smaller meals, and avoid opening the oven door frequently, as this releases heat.
• Refrigerators and freezers: Ensure seals are tight and defrost regularly to maintain efficiency.

Laundry and dishwasher optimisation

Washing machines, tumble dryers, and dishwashers are significant energy users.

• Full loads: Always run these appliances with a full load to maximise efficiency.
• Lower temperatures: Wash clothes in cold water whenever possible, as heating water accounts for up to 90% of the energy used by washing machines.
• Air drying: Air dry clothes and dishes instead of using energy-intensive tumble dryers and the heat-dry option on dishwashers.
• Off-peak use: If you have a time-of-use tariff, run these appliances during off-peak hours when electricity is cheaper.

Leveraging technology for control

Technology offers powerful tools to understand and manage your energy use, putting control directly in your hands.

The power of smart meters

Smart meters are being rolled out across Great Britain to provide consumers with better insight into their energy usage. They automatically send readings to your supplier, ensuring accurate bills and ending the need for manual reads. With an in-home display, you can see your energy consumption in near real-time, helping you identify energy-wasting habits and set budgets.

The Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) for legacy meters is being phased out, with the signal switch-off starting from 30 June 2025. If you have an RTS meter, your supplier will need to replace it with a smart meter to ensure your heating and hot water systems continue to work as expected and your tariff remains accurate.

Using energy apps for insights

Many free energy-saving apps can connect to your smart meter, offering real-time data and personalised insights. Apps like Loop Energy, Hugo Energy, and ivie can help you track consumption, identify phantom load, compare your usage, and even suggest optimal times for energy-intensive tasks. Households actively using these apps, especially in conjunction with smart thermostats, can significantly reduce their energy bills.

Long-term energy efficiency

While quick wins provide immediate relief, considering long-term energy efficiency measures can lead to sustained savings and a more comfortable home.

Considering insulation upgrades

Improving your home's insulation, such as in the loft or walls, reduces heat loss and can significantly lower heating requirements. This is a foundational step for long-term energy efficiency. For those looking at comprehensive upgrades, understanding air source heat pump efficiency can help you make informed decisions about your home's heating system.

Behavioural changes for lasting impact

Sustainable energy saving comes from embedding efficient habits into your daily routine. This means consistently applying the tips mentioned above, from smart appliance usage to mindful heating, to ensure ongoing efficiency without feeling deprived.

Managing your home's energy doesn't have to be complicated. Fuse Energy offers clear pricing, real-time usage data through our app, and 24/7 human customer support to help you manage your electricity usage effectively and make informed decisions. Switching is quick and easy, putting you in control of your energy bills. Click here to switch to Fuse Energy today and discover a smarter way to power your home. You can also learn more about our mission to build a future with abundant energy here.