Simple and Affordable Ways to Save Energy
Energy saving tips and tricks to reduce your energy bills and lower your carbon.
Want to make your home more energy-efficient but got money on your mind? We’ve outlined some simple and affordable energy-saving tips to help get you started. No change is too small when it comes to home improvements, often just getting started with something cheap and easy can pave the way for more!
Top 3 Energy Saving Tips Our Advisors Recommend:
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- Getting on the right energy tariff. Paying less for the same amount of energy frees up cash to do some of the improvements below!
- Monitoring internal air quality. Healthy homes are just as important as efficient ones!
- Check your boiler settings (flow temperature and hot water temperature) and alter them to optimise the amount of energy you’re using to heat up your water.
No-cost Wins
- Heating controls: Lowering your boiler flow temperature, using thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs), and setting heating schedules more carefully can cut 5–15% from bills. More here.
- Hot water: Reducing cylinder or combi temperatures to 48–50°C, fitting a shower timer, and encouraging shorter showers all save energy and water.
- Appliances: Switching off standby, washing at lower temperatures, and drying clothes on racks rather than tumble dryers adds up for good savings.
- Ventilation habits: Opening windows briefly but wide, rather than trickling heat away all day, keeps air fresh while avoiding excess heat loss. More on ventilation here.
Energy Saving Tips – All Under £500
You can combine these tips to transform chilly rooms or do them piece-by-piece. Small changes can go a long way.
| Under £10 | Under £50 | Under £100 | Under £200 | Under £500 |
| Shower timers – Encourage shorter showers (4-min timers are £5–£10). | Reflective radiator panels – Foil or insulated boards behind radiators on external walls bounce heat back into rooms. (£30–£100). | Draught-proof doors & windows – Fit seals, brushes, or excluders to reduce unwanted airflow. (£50–£100). | Seal floorboard gaps – Use filler, sealant, or wood fibre strips to stop draughts and cut heat loss. (£50–£150). | Loft top-up – Add rolls of mineral wool or cellulose to bring levels to ~300–400 mm. (£200–£400 for most lofts). |
| LED lighting conversion – Replace remaining halogens/CFLs with LED bulbs. (£3–£5 per bulb). | Aerating showerheads or tap inserts – Reduce hot water flow while maintaining comfort. (£15–£40). | Programmable TRVs – Room-by-room temperature control at low cost. (£40–£60 each, start with key rooms). | Insulate under kitchen units or in odd voids – Thin insulation boards behind cupboards or skirting raise surface temperatures and cut cold spots. (£50–£200). | Smart heating controls – App-linked thermostats or room sensors optimise use. (£150–£300). |
| Combisave valve – Reduces water and gas waste on combi boilers. (~£30). | Energy monitor / smart plugs with data – shows you which appliances cost most to run. (£20–£60). | Air quality or humidity monitors – you can track CO₂, humidity, VOCs to flag when ventilation or dehumidification is needed. (£80–£200). | DIY secondary glazing – Acrylic sheets or magnetic panels improve single/double glazing. (£50–£300). | |
| Smart plugs or standby cut-offs – Stop appliances wasting energy in standby. (£10–£50). | Heated throw or electric blanket – Provides direct warmth for pennies per hour. (£20–£80). | Thick thermal curtains or blinds – Trap heat at night, especially on large windows. (£50–£200). | Dehumidifier – Reduces damp-related heat loss and improves comfort. (£150–£400). |
Energy-Saving Tips – throughout the home
Check out the different ways you can saving energy whilst on a budget.
Insulation
Insulation is often the most effective energy-improvement step, but professional installation can be costly.
Budget solutions include:
• Loft insulation: The cheapest square-metre coverage available. Topping up to 300–500 mm using DIY-friendly rolls (or even recycled products like cellulose or plastic-bottle fibre) is one of the best value measures.
• Floor gaps: Using filler, sealant, or wood fibre boards to close draughts between boards can significantly cut heat loss for little cost.
• Under-cupboard and niche areas: Adding thin insulation beneath kitchen cupboards, in window reveals, or around doors can raise cold surface temperatures and prevent mould at minimal cost.
• Secondary glazing: Acrylic panels, magnetic sheets, or even bubble-wrap on single panes can cut draughts and condensation without replacing windows.
• Reflective radiator panels: Inexpensive foil sheets bounce heat back into rooms, especially on external walls.
Buying insulation seconds, end-of-line stock, or part-used packs online can reduce costs further.
Draught-proofing
Air leakage is a silent drain on heating and costs quickly stack up. Low-budget airtightness work can include:
• Sealing gaps around skirting, sockets, and service penetrations.
• Using foam tape on loft hatches and weather-stripping on doors.
• Applying thin wood fibre boards with taped joins over floors .
These measures require more patience than cash and can be fitted room by room. Check out our Easy DIY Draught-proofing for more advice.
Heating on a budget
Replacing a whole heating system with a heat pump may be out of reach financially, but staged improvement steps are possible:
• Electric throws and blankets: For immediate savings, heated throws and electric blankets provide comfort for a few pence an hour.
• Radiator resizing: Fitting larger second-hand radiators (often very cheap online) lets a boiler run at lower temperatures, improving efficiency and can help prepare for a future heat pump (if you want one).
Lighting / Appliances
Modern LED lighting is cheap and widely available. Swapping out halogens or older CFLs reduces electricity use instantly. Careful thought about switching (e.g., having only one downlight come on by the door, rather than a full bank) can be more convenient and saves energy.
Appliance upgrades can be staged—choosing an induction hob when a cooker fails, or a high-efficiency fridge when the old one dies. Prioritising items used most often yields the best return.
Water / hot water
Hot water can account for 15–20% of domestic energy. Budget-friendly steps include:
• Low-flow showerheads and taps.
• Combi-save valves on combi boilers, reduces water waste and gas use.
• Shower timers and behavioural nudges for family members.
What are the grants & funding options in my area?
The upfront costs of home energy upgrades can be prohibitive. There are options put forward by local governments to help break down these cost barriers for homeowners in the Southwest. Find out what’s available on the link below.
Grants & Funding Available
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