‘I'm an energy expert - One easy heating change could cut your bill by over £100’

Person trying to cut down their energy bill
-Credit: (Image: GETTY)


With the energy price cap rising by 10% next month, the average household is forecast to spend almost £150 more on their annual energy bill totalling at £1,714 for a typical household. As the cost of living crisis continues to squeeze household budgets, one energy expert has shared an array of tips and hacks to keep the bills down without letting the cold in.

Andy Kerr, founder at BOXT, noted that Brits aren’t as powerless under the price cap rise as they might feel. The first steps to cutting down your bill involve a bit of an upfront investment to ensure your home is as energy efficient as possible, saving potentially thousands of pounds in the future.

However, one easy and free change households can make is turning their thermostat down. This doesn’t have to be a drastic cut that leaves your home getting icy during winter as the expert explained: “Turning your thermostats down by just 1°C from the current average temperature of 20°C could save you over £100 per year on energy bills, without noticing too much of a difference in the temperature of your home.”

Another simple change is to check the pricey heating you’re paying for isn’t escaping. By properly insulating your home you can make your home more energy efficient and keep the costs at bay without having to bring in a professional. Andy explained: “With options such as a hot water cylinder jacket, which you can fit yourself and costs around £15, you can quickly start making improvements.”

Other easy improvements like this include getting heavy curtains as well as sealing any drafty gaps in your windows and doors. When it comes time to call in the professionals, Andy urged people to check if their boiler is the best-suited for their home as this change could save a staggering £540 a year.

He explained: “All new and modern boilers have to be A-rated for efficiency. Older systems often have an efficiency rating as low as 60% - meaning 40% of the energy that you pay for is simply wasted! As a consequence, they have to work harder to produce the same heat, and some won't even be able to reach the levels of new boilers. This puts a bigger strain on the old system, causing issues and higher energy bills.”

Additionally, getting thermostatic radiator valves for each room could save up to £75 a year according to the Energy Saving Trust by lowering the heating in rooms you don’t use as often. Smart metres can also be handy to analyse your usage and find unique ways to save money that best suits your home and the people in it.

Andy also highlighted that a smart metre can simply cut back on incorrect billings you may not even be aware of. He shared: “With the rising cost of living, smart metres can help to eliminate inaccurate bills, as they feedback directly to your energy supplier, meaning you shouldn’t get an unexpectedly high bill.”