Homeowner, business owner or tenant? Whoever you are, it pays to reduce your energy consumption. Our complete guide has plenty of suggestions to help you cut energy usage and costs. From energy-saving tips and quick daily fixes to long-term solutions to help cut down, saving energy at home starts here.

There are plenty of ways to save energy at home, regardless of your budget. Some of the best ways to reduce your energy consumption are free and involve making small changes to your daily habits. 

Our expert says:

"To make life easier, smart plugs automatically turn your devices off standby and can be controlled remotely from your mobile. Alternatively, timer plugs turn your appliances on and off depending on the schedule you set.” 

Simon Oram, Smart Home Category Manager at Toolstation

Games consoles use more energy than traditional DVD or Blu-Ray players, so why not dig out your old DVD player next time you want to watch a film? Just remember to switch every device off at the mains when it’s not in use. 

Reduce the brightness on your TV to save energy. Most TVs also have a range of customisable settings, so you can switch off any additional features you don’t need.

Challenge yourself to a blackout evening once a month, where all non-essential appliances are switched off. Instead of watching TV, gaming or scrolling on your phone, play board games or read a book.

If this doesn't sound like your thing, work on getting into a good daily routine. Before you go to bed, go round and turn all your appliances off every day.

Simon Oram, Smart Home Category Manager at Toolstation said:

“While turning off the lights when you’re leaving the room is a great habit to pick up, it may also be worth switching to LED smart lightbulbs around the home. These can connect to a range of smart home providers such as Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple Siri and more. Smart LED lightbulbs can take the pressure off, so in the event that you forget to flip the switch off on your way out, you can do so from your phone.”

Invest in rechargeable LED solar lights that you can charge outside during the day, then bring them inside or move to a dark garden corner to use at night. Although this is harder during the winter, with less sunlight available, try positioning them in a bright spot with no shadows or a sunny window. 

Solar lights need no additional wiring which makes them perfect for lighting up dark gardens without cabling and using mains electricity.

Sarah Gale, Lighting Category Manager at Toolstation said:

“Solar lighting can be used both indoors and outdoors – so long as they’re charged outside first. Although charging solar lighting is harder during the winter, with less sunlight available, try positioning them in a bright spot with no shadows or a sunny window.

“Outdoor lighting may be the first to go when it comes to energy saving as the home is often the priority. However, rechargeable solar lights can be a great addition to your front or back garden both for ambiance and to light garden paths.”

Avoid switching on the vacuum cleaner and use a broom to sweep any hard floors in your home, including wood, vinyl and tiles. Sweeping doesn’t take any longer than vacuuming and saves energy. 

Dusty lightbulbs and radiators can reduce their efficiency, so keeping them clean is essential. Removing dust can make your home brighter and warmer while improving air quality.

A well-stocked fridge stays cooler than an empty one, so keep it at least two-thirds full if possible. Less space for air to circulate means less energy is needed to maintain the temperature.

To keep your fridge working efficiently and save energy, you should regularly clean the condenser coils at the back of the appliance. Condenser coils can quickly accumulate dust and debris, meaning they can’t release heat and cool the system efficiently, which uses more energy.      

Consult the instruction manual for your fridge if you're not sure.

Limescale build-up inside your kettle can make it less efficient, as it acts like an insulator around the kettle’s heating element.  This means more energy is required to heat the water. De-scaling your kettle often ensures it’s working well and can prolong its life.

Excess ice inside your freezer makes it less efficient. Ice acts like an insulator, making the freezer’s motor work harder to cool the air inside, so defrost it regularly to save energy. 

Instead of switching on your kitchen extractor fan, open a window while cooking to save energy.

Like refrigerators, freezers also work more efficiently when full, as less energy is needed to cool the air inside. 

The optimal temperature for your fridge is 5˚C and -18˚C for your freezer. Setting the temperature lower than this will waste energy and makes little difference to your food’s freshness. 

Regular cleaning can make your oven more energy efficient by helping it reach the desired temperature faster and allowing more even heat distribution. 

Putting a lid on your pan helps retain heat, enabling you to cook at lower temperatures, reduce cooking time and save energy. 

Meal prep for the week ahead to save time and energy. You’ll only have to turn on the oven or hob once to cook everything, then reheat each portion in the microwave. 

Instead of boiling your pasta on high heat for the time specified on the packaging, try cooking it for just two minutes, then leave it to rest with a lid on for ten minutes. Although it may take a little longer, this method saves energy.

Danielle Robinson, Central Heating Category Manager at Toolstation:

“Firstly, you’ll want to check that your heating is turned off so that the radiators aren’t too hot to touch. Next, you’ll need to locate the radiator bleed valve – usually found on the top corner of the radiator, they look like a round hole with a square inside. Once located, open the valve to release the air, then insert the radiator key and slowly turn it anti-clockwise for around a quarter turn. As the air escapes, you should hear a hissing sound that will stop once the radiator has been fully bled. To finish, close the valve and then check your radiator function by switching on your central heating and hot water and waiting for your radiators to heat up.”

Take a look at our guide on How To Bleed A Radiator for more information.

Ensure your boiler is working efficiently with regular servicing carried out by a gas safe engineer. Services identify problems like limescale deposits and leaks before they worsen or become costly to repair, helping to prevent heat loss and saving you money in the long run.

Danielle Robinson, Central Heating Category Manager at Toolstation: said:

“It may seem like another expense but it’s recommended to have your boiler serviced by a professional at least once a year – and ideally ahead of winter. Small problems, can quickly become big problems and so it’s best to get any potential boiler issues identified as soon as possible.”

“A boiler service can check that your boiler is working as efficiently as possible as well as check for any water or gas leaks.” 

Danielle Robinson, Central Heating Category Manager at Toolstation said:

“An efficient central heating system is imperative for winters in the UK – and if they go wrong, they can be costly to fix. That’s why it’s important to make sure you’re doing all you can to help maintain your central heating system.” 

“It’s recommended to regularly use central heating cleaners to remove any rust or limescale that could be building up. This can boost the efficiency and longevity of your central heating system which will save you money in the long term. You can also use boiler silencer fluid after cleaning to reduce any boiler noise. If your boiler is leaking or regularly losing pressure, you may also benefit from using a central heating leak sealer to address the problem.”

Thermal curtains will help keep heat inside your home. Instead of buying new curtains, you could sew a thermal lining into your drapes.

Electric blankets can be cheaper to run than central heating, as you’ll only need to switch them on for a short amount of time to feel warm. Plus, they provide direct heat to a small area around you rather than heating an entire room. 

Invest in a high tog duvet for the winter to stay warm and save money on heating overnight.

If you have exposed wooden floorboards, fill in any gaps with specialist wood filler or putty to prevent heat loss. 

Danielle Robinson, Central Heating Category Manager at Toolstation said:

“Insulating your hot water cylinder is a quick and easy way to ensure that the water you’ve heated stays hot. If you already have a jacket installed, it may be worth checking the thickness and if necessary, replacing it with a new one. Energy Saving Trust recommends that hot water cylinder jackets should be at least 80mm thick for optimum performance.”

Chimney balloons or chimney sheep seal the flue to stop heat from being lost. Use them when the fireplace isn’t lit, or if you have a disused chimney, they can be installed permanently. 

Have you ever thought about why islands like Santorini are dotted with white houses? White reflects heat away, which keeps homes cooler in scorching Greek summers. 

Black absorbs heat from the sun, so if you're considering repainting your home any time soon then a dark paint will help keep more of the heat from the sun inside in the winter. Colours like dark grey, navy blue or black can add to your home’s aesthetic appeal while offering a practical energy-saving solution. 

Tiffany Hall, Insulation Category Manager at Toolstation said:

“At a relatively low cost, foil insulation can be installed behind your radiator to ensure heat is kept in your home by reducing what is lost through the walls. Well-fitted radiator reflector foil could help to reduce the amount of energy needed to heat your home and could also help to keep the room warmer for longer once the heating is switched off.”

Heat small spaces efficiently with a space heater. For example, if you don’t want to switch on the central heating when working at home, invest in an electric heater for your home office.

If you want to heat your entire home, central heating will save much more energy - but space heaters are great if you only need to keep one small room warm. 

Sarah Gale, Heating Category Manager at Toolstation said:

“If you’re just in one room and it isn’t necessary to heat the whole home, it can be more cost efficient to rely on a space heater than to wack on the central heating. These portable yet powerful heating systems warm up small indoor areas quickly which is perfect for those working from home looking to heat just the office.”

Danielle Robinson, Central Heating Category Manager at Toolstation said:

“In the wintertime, we want our heating to keep us warm. However, you might not notice the effects if you were to lower the thermostat by a degree or two. This means you and your family could still get the benefit of a warm home, but you could save a bit of money when the energy bill comes.

It’s also important that your heating is set to come on for a time when you and your family can feel the benefit. For example, you could cut the midday heating burst particularly if no one’s in, but a mid-evening radiator switch-on could be considered more essential, particularly if you’re looking to cosy up to the TV”

Extractor fans should only be used when necessary, as they can remove excess heat from your home. Switch them on when you start cooking, then turn them off once you’re done. 

However, air flow and extractor fans serve a purpose, protecting the home from mould and mildew and keeping us healthy. Make sure you're using the extractor fan often enough that moisture doesn't build up. 

Humidifiers add moisture to the air, making your home feel warmer. However, they can cause problems with mould and damp if your home is not adequately heated and ventilated, especially in the winter. To avoid this, we recommend maintaining the humidity level between 30% and 50%. 

One of the best ways to save energy is to layer up with warm clothes in winter. Thermal tops, leggings, underwear and socks are excellent investments for your wardrobe. 

Letterboxes can create a draught, causing heat loss. Use draught excluders around the letterbox and under external doors to keep heat inside your home. 

Hard floors can add aesthetic value to your home whilst being practical to keep clean, but they don’t retain heat well. Add rugs or carpets to keep your home warm.

Non-essential holes in exterior walls allow heat to escape. Filling them in helps prevent heat loss, making your home more energy efficient. Use wall filler or putty for a quick and effective solution. 

Adding an extra barrier to your windows and doors with clingfilm can prevent heat loss and drafts, acting like double or triple glazing. Although this is only a short-term fix, it is inexpensive and helpful during the colder months. 

Overfilling your washing machine makes it less efficient, so you may have to rewash your clothes and waste energy.

Drying clothes on radiators prevents heat from dissipating around the room effectively. It also makes your radiators work harder to reach the desired temperature, using excess energy.

If you need to dry clothes inside, place a dehumidifier next to your clothes airer. The dehumidifier will suck the moisture out of the air surrounding your clothes so they can dry much faster.

Lint and debris can quickly accumulate in the filters of your washing machine and tumble dryer. Clean them regularly to ensure your appliance runs efficiently.

Filling a washing-up bowl to do the dishes is more efficient than running the tap, saving water and energy.

Use less energy and water when you switch to a water-saving showerhead. Water-saving showerheads reduce the water flow, which is set to its maximum on regular showerheads. Plus, you’ll still get the same great showering experience without any pressure loss. 

If your workplace or gym has shower facilities, make the most of this to lower your energy costs at home. 

Although interrupting your shower may seem unappealing, you can save water and energy by turning off the tap while you lather up.

Another simple way to cut your water consumption is by turning off the tap while you brush your teeth.

Most combi boilers are pre-set with a higher flow temperature than needed. Reducing it to between 40˚C and 50˚C can save energy. Be aware that this tip is only suitable for combi boilers, as lowering the flow temperature in hot water cylinders below 50˚C can cause legionella bacteria in the water supply.

Make sure to consider the distance the water has to travel to get to your hot taps - the further the water has to travel, the more it will cool down on the way. Consult a heating engineer to determine the best temperature to set the water flow temperature to optimise it for comfort and energy saving. 

Danielle Robinson, Central Heating Category Manager at Toolstation says:

“Depending on the combi boiler model, you can usually adjust the boilers flow temperature by opening the flap to reveal the digital display. Once you’ve done this, you’ll likely see two dials or settings – one which controls the hot water from your taps and the other controls the radiators in your home. You’ll just need to adjust the temperature for the radiators and can usually adjust the temperature slightly – without noticing too much of a difference. If you do adjust your boiler settings, it’s useful to take a picture or write down a note of the current settings so you can readjust should you need to."

Danielle Robinson, Central Heating Category Manager at Toolstation says

“The pre-heat function on a boiler allows hot water to always be ready whenever you turn on a tap. However, using this setting could mean you’re heating water unnecessarily if you’re not using it for hours on end e.g. overnight or during the working day. If it works for your routine, turning off the pre-heat function could save you quite a bit on heating without inconveniencing you too much. It may mean you have to wait slightly longer for the shower to get warm in the morning but it will save your boiler from firing up all day and night unnecessarily.” 

Set a timer on your boiler, so water is only heated when needed. This tip can be followed for any boiler type. 

Danielle Robinson, Central Heating Category Manager at Toolstation says:

“It’s unlikely you’ll need your radiators and hot water on constantly – even in the height of winter. If it works with your daily routine, it may be worth setting a timer on your boiler so that it’s only firing up when you’re there to benefit from it. For example, if you know you shower morning and night, it could be worth making sure water is only heated for these times. Likewise, if you know you’re out of the house for work, it’s worth making sure the heating is just on when you’re up and getting ready in the morning and when you return from work."