Cutting your energy costs could save money and the planet too.

Energy bills are forecasted to rise by 30% in 2022. More than two million UK households are in arrears with their energy suppliers. Therefore, it's important now more than ever to look at how you can reduce the cost of your gas and electricity to save money.

By reducing your energy usage you could also decrease your carbon footprint too. Did you know that households were the highest users of fossil fuels in the UK in 2019? That’s compared with sectors like manufacturing and transport.

That’s why this #NationalCutYourEnergyCostsDay we’re sharing five handy tips to help you cut your energy costs and your carbon footprint.

1. Turn your heating down by just one degree
   Research suggests that doing this can save you around £80 a year. If everyone did it, we could help to reach climate change targets too.
   
   
2. Use your central heating timer
   Using your timer means you can set your heating to go off when you’re not in the house or when you sleep. It means you don’t have to rely on remembering to turn it off yourself, or to turn down your thermostat. Plus, you can schedule it back on for when you return home or for when you normally wake up. It means you don’t waste energy by heating up when you’re not home.
   
   
3. Keep radiators free from clutter
   Keeping the space around your radiators clear means the heat can easily flow through the room. When you place things like furniture in front of radiators they absorb the heat and it takes longer and more energy to warm the room.
   
   
4. Close your curtains at night
   Closing your curtains at dusk will help stop heat from escaping through the windows. You could also use thermal or heavy curtains during the winter months to help keep the heat in.
   
   
5. Use letterbox covers
   Draughts from outside can come into your home through gaps round doors, letterboxes and even keyholes. Things like letterbox covers and under door draught excluders can help keep the cold air out and the warm air in.