3 Cost-Effective Ways Homeowners Can Battle Rising Energy Prices

Millions of people across the UK are struggling to cope the energy price hike that will come into effect on April 1, 2022. Anyone on a standard tariff will face an average increase of £693, with average bills rising by around 34%, with prepayment customers also be heavily affected.

Some support has been provided by the government, although they have been criticised for not going far enough. An increasing number of people will face financial hardship because of these price increases and will be forced to make some difficult decisions. However, there are a number of changes you can make to improve the energy efficiency of your home to lower costs. Here are 3 cost-effective ways homeowners can battle rising energy prices over the coming months.

Assess your energy bill

Reviewing your energy bill night help you reduce your gas bills. The option to source cheap energy bills has disappeared over the last few months, as all energy suppliers are raising their costs. Comparison website Uswitch used to be the go-to option for homeowners to compare suppliers and find cheaper deals, but they will not be able to provide the service for the foreseeable future. 

Customers that have not changed their tariff or energy supplier recently could be paying higher rates due to being out of contract. With April 1 fast approaching, the price cap on out-of-contract tariffs will likely increase, so it makes sense to shop around to see if you can find a slightly cheaper deal. 

There are a few ways you can have more control over your energy bills, such as:

• Switching to paperless bills and accessing and managing your energy account online (some companies may charge more for sending out paper bills).
• Using direct debit to pay your bills. In most cases this is cheaper than paying once you receive a bill.
• Keeping on top of meter readings to ensure your bills are accurate. If you have a smart meter installed it will do this for you automatically. 
• Asking your energy supplier for an explanation If your direct debit increases seem a little high.

While prices set by energy providers will be much higher right across the board, it is worth keeping an eye out for any slightly cheaper deals that might be around. Energy companies are aware that people will be open to changing their supplier and will probably offer better deals to entice new customers, so try to take advantage of this wherever possible. 

Install a heat pump heating system

Heat pump manufacturers are seeing a huge increase in enquiries at the moment, as households across the UK search for ways to reduce their energy bills. The great thing about heat pumps is they tick two important boxes; not only are they a renewable energy source that is great for the environment, but over time they can help you reduce your energy bills.

In fact, the Energy Saving Trust have predicted that heat pumps will become the cheapest form of heating in years to come, so they make for a great long-term investment. The world needs to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and installing a heat pump system in your home is the ideal place to make a change. 

The way they work is quite simple. Heating pumps capture heat contained in the air and transfer it inside your home to provide heating and hot water. They can be used all year round, even during the autumn and winter, and can be connected to both underfloor heating systems and radiator systems. While they need electricity to work, the heat provided far outstrips the amount of energy used to power the system. In most cases, they will provide around 3-4 times more energy than the electricity it consumes. 

Typically, you do not have to request planning permission to install a heat pump system, although you should always check with your local authority. Maintenance requirements are very low and aside from cleaning and changing the filters on occasion, there is not much you need to do. As with conventional heating systems, they should be serviced at least once at year to ensure you are getting the most from the system. 

Lower your hot water consumption

Heating usage comes to the forefront during the winter as radiators are used every day to keep your home warm. However, it shouldn’t be overlooked that energy is used 12 months of the year to heat your water, which is one of the biggest contributing factors to your bills. The average UK household uses around 349 litres of water every day (which amounts to about 3 baths) and heating the water for our showers and baths accounts for around 10-20% of our energy bills. 

Homes that have a hot water tank (instead of a combi boiler) will be able to use the heating controls to switch your water on and off. This gives you more control and ensures you only need to heat as much water as you need, which should lead to lower bills. 

If you have a high-volume power shower installed, this could also be contributing to a higher energy bill. Some models can release more water than an entire bath in under 5 minutes. A good alternative here is to use an eco-shower head. They are available in all popular home retail stores and will still provide a hot, powerful shower while cutting down on the amount of water you use. 

You can also reduce your water consumption by:

• Using a bowl to wash-up dirty dishes, instead of running plates and cutlery under a running tap.
• Shortening the amount of time spent in the shower using a timer. The Energy Saving Trust estimate that replacing one bath a week with a 5-minute shower can save up to £20 a year on water and gas bills combined.
• Adding insulation to your water tank and pipes to help keep your water warmer for longer. 

Waterwise, a non-profit organisation who promote water conservation and efficiency measures, found that 85% of people are not aware of how much water they use. Even making the smallest of changes can make a big difference to your bank balance in the long run.