Energy Saving · 12 min read

50 ways to save energy at home

A genuinely useful, no-nonsense list of ways to cut your energy use — organised by free, cheap, and worth-investing. Start at the top; the free ones cost you nothing but a few minutes.

Most energy-saving lists are padded with the same tired tips. This one is organised by what it costs you, so you can start with the freebies and work down. Do the free ones this weekend — they genuinely add up.

Free — do these this weekend

• Turn your thermostat down by 1°C — often barely noticeable, but it meaningfully cuts heating use.
• Bleed your radiators so they heat fully and evenly (cold tops are a giveaway).
• Turn appliances off standby — TVs, consoles, chargers and set-top boxes all draw power doing nothing.
• Close curtains at dusk to keep heat in, open them on sunny days to let warmth in.
• Only boil the water you need in the kettle.
• Put lids on pans — water boils faster and uses less energy.
• Wash clothes at 30°C instead of 40°C or higher.
• Air-dry laundry instead of tumble drying when you can.
• Switch lights off when you leave a room.
• Keep radiators clear of furniture so heat circulates.
• Shorten showers by a minute or two.
• Defrost your freezer if it's iced up — ice makes it work harder.
• Keep the fridge/freezer reasonably full (but not blocking vents) — it holds temperature better.
• Use the dishwasher and washing machine only when full.
• Set the heating timer so you're not heating an empty house.
• Move furniture and curtains off radiators and vents.
• Check your thermostat isn't near a heat source giving false readings.
• Run major appliances on an off-peak tariff if you have one.

Cheap — small spend, quick payback

• Swap remaining halogen/incandescent bulbs for LEDs — they use around 80% less electricity.
• Fit draught excluders on external doors.
• Use self-adhesive draught strips around windows and doors.
• Fit a letterbox brush and keyhole cover.
• Block unused chimneys with a chimney balloon or sheep's-wool draught stopper.
• Fit reflector panels behind radiators on external walls.
• Add thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) so you can turn down unused rooms.
• Insulate hot water pipes with cheap foam lagging.
• Fit a hot water tank jacket if you have a cylinder.
• Use a smart plug to cut standby power automatically.
• Seal gaps around skirting boards and floorboards with sealant.
• Add a draught excluder to the loft hatch.
• Fit a water-saving showerhead.
• Use a slow cooker or air fryer for some meals — they use less than an oven.
• Put a timer on your immersion heater.

Worth investing — the bigger, longer-lasting wins

• Insulate your loft to the recommended 270mm — around a quarter of heat is lost through the roof.
• Insulate unfilled cavity walls — up to a third of heat is lost through walls.
• Upgrade an old, inefficient boiler to a modern A-rated condensing model.
• Fit a smart thermostat that learns your routine and avoids heating an empty home.
• Replace single glazing with double (or secondary) glazing.
• Insulate solid walls (internal or external) if you have a period property.
• Consider solar panels to generate your own electricity.
• Add a home battery to store cheap or solar electricity for peak times.
• Consider an air source heat pump once your home is well insulated.
• Insulate under suspended timber floors.
• Upgrade loft hatch to an insulated, draught-sealed one.
• Service your boiler annually so it runs efficiently.
• Fit room-in-roof insulation if you have a loft conversion.
• Draught-proof and insulate a conservatory if you use it year-round.
• Get an energy assessment to prioritise the biggest wins for your specific home.

More practical advice in our Insights & Guides.