Follow these four steps to cut down on energy costs(Image: Dima Berlin)

How to cut costs on energy bills by 'over £550' and save big this winter

As the energy price cap rises, households will be paying more to use the same amount of energy - but there are simple hacks that can help you slash your winter energy bills by more than £550

by · BristolLive

As the autumn chill sets in, many households are contemplating whether to turn on their heating.

With Ofgem increasing the energy price cap by 10 percent from October 1, consumers will be paying more for the same amount of energy. This price cap is expected to add an extra £12 to bills each month, totalling nearly £150 a year.

To help people save, housebuilder St Modwen Homes has revealed four simple tricks that could help cut your energy bills by over £550 this winter.

Besides the obvious advice of lowering your thermostat and layering up, there are other quick and easy hacks to save money on energy this winter. Alison Maclean, Head of Marketing at St Modwen Homes, shares these expert tips, reports the Daily Record.

How to save on energy bills

Bleed your radiators before the colder temperatures set in

Over time, air bubbles can build up within radiators, reducing their efficiency. By bleeding these radiators, you can remove the excess air and improve the efficiency of your home's heating without having to crank up the thermostat. This straightforward hack, which takes just a few minutes, can reduce your energy bills by up to 20%, equating to nearly £350 a year.

Turn off standby appliances

Don't let appliance zap energy when not in use(Image: Dima Berlin)

Switching off standby plugs could help you save approximately £40 annually. Unused lamps or kitchen appliances like toasters and kettles, if switched off at the wall instead of being left on standby, can reduce energy outputs.

If remembering to do this daily is a challenge, consider purchasing smart plugs and timers to manage this automatically. Alternatively, set a daily reminder on your smartphone or smart home technology.

Don't heat empty rooms

Most UK homes have a radiator in every room, but not all rooms are used all the time. For instance, a spare bedroom might be unused for most of the week, or a bathroom might only be used when guests visit. It's crucial to turn off radiators in the least-used rooms. This simple trick can cut 4.5% from Brits' energy bills, translating to an extra £50 off!

Keep yourself warm

Electric blankets keep you toasty without having to switch on the heating(Image: Freer Law)

Instead of increasing the room temperature, focus on warming yourself up. All the previous tips aim at reducing energy usage or using your home's energy more intelligently.

However, it's possible to get by without turning your energy on at all - if you're clever and don't mind wearing layers at home. A one-time purchase of an electric blanket will keep you warm at night and can cost as little as 3p an hour to use, compared to a staggering 22p per hour for standard energy supplies.

By calculating the cost differences, using an electric blanket instead of turning on the heating during the UK's winter months could save you £136.80. Even with the price of an electric blanket being as low as £24.99, you're still looking at savings of over £110!

Bleeding radiators makes them more efficient(Image: Getty)
Energy costs are even higher now(Image: Olga Dobrovolska)
Appliances suck energy even when not in use(Image: Simon Bratt)