Energy bills are set to rise around the world as the US-Iran war continues to increase oil prices. In the UK, bills will rise by 13% in 2026 and the average household will spend £1,862 on energy bills each year. This is having a significant impact on the cost of living and many of us need to adapt our budgets. How can we use less energy, save money and cut our carbon footprint? The Energy Saving Trust gives lots of tips that can help the typical household to reduce our energy bills by hundreds of pounds a year, and reduce your carbon footprint by at least half a ton a year. Below are some ideas to help you cut your energy bill.

Change all bulbs to LED lights and switch lights off in unoccupied rooms

LED light bulbs are the most efficient light bulbs in terms of energy use. Changing a bulb to an LED one will save you £3-4 per bulb per year. The Energy Saving Trust estimates this will reduce your electricity bill by £40-£50 a year. On top of this, switching off lights when no one is in the room will save another £7 a year.

Reduce the temperature of the water you use for washing clothes and dishes

When you are using the washing machine, put the clothes on the lowest temperature setting, at 30 degrees Celsius or lower. The lower the temperature setting, the less energy you are using to wash the clothes. This is fine to do if the clothes are not particularly soiled, if they are you need to use a higher temperature setting.

This also applies to dishwashers, if you put your dishwasher at a lower temperature setting, it will require less energy and lower your energy bills. Using the dishwasher and washing machine less will also reduce the energy bill, so only set them going when they are full.

Line drying your clothes

Line drying your clothes instead of tumble drying your clothes will save you £50 a year. In the summer you have the option of line drying outside. When the weather is not right, you will need to dry them in an appropriate space at home. You need to ensure there is space to circulate around them. A dehumidifier can help reduce excess moisture from the air and, if you are unable to use a drying rack, a heated clothes airer is effective at drying clothes indoors. Do not put clothes on the radiators because that will increase indoor humidity and create an environment for mould and mildew. Also spinning clothes before you take them out of the washing machine reduces the amount of water in clothes before you dry them.

Reduce the thermostat by 1 degree

If you turn down your thermostat by one degree, for example from 22 degrees to 21 degrees, this will save you £90 a year. Also, a thermostatic radiator valve on all your radiators can save you another £35 a year.

Use cooking utensils that reduce the amount of energy you use

When it comes to the cost of making a meal, air-fryers beat the oven by some way and reduce costs by 40%. They cook food faster and require less energy.  There are some caveats with air-fryers; make sure you do not place them near the sink because water can damage air-dryers and make them unsafe. Also, if the air-dryer is damaged, you could be paying more using an air-fryer compared to an oven as it will take a long time to heat food. Using your cooking utensils in the right way will ensure you are energy efficient and keep costs down. Ovens are best for batch cooking, air-fryers are best when cooking for 1 to 4 people and microwaves are best for heating up food quickly.

Have a four-minute shower

A four-minute shower will save you £60 a year on your bills as you will be using less hot water.  Changing your shower head to an aerated one saves another £60 a year across your gas and water bill because you will use less water when having a shower. Avoid having baths because they greatly increase your water usage and require lots of heating. A regular bath will increase your water and energy bill significantly.

Insulate water tank, pipes and radiators

Getting an 80mm thick jacket for the hot water cylinder will save up to £45 a year and only costs £20. Radiator reflector panels can be put behind radiators on external walls and are a low-cost option to reduce energy consumption. They reflect heat from radiators back into the room rather than letting it escape through external walls. Pipes that are in, out and around the house can be insulated. Pipe insulation can be bought from DIY shops and can be made from different types of material: polyethylene foam, rubber and foil tape. Insulating pipes will prevent them from freezing and cracking.