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The new October energy price rises are now in effect, with UK households set to pay around 2% more across the year – just as the weather turns colder.
In real terms, this means the average home will see their energy bills rise from approximately £1,720 to £1,755 per year.
According to USwitch, the average home on a standard variable tariff will spend £140 on gas and electricity combined in October, compared with just £63 in September. This is due to both higher rates and typical increased usage in autumn.
With the act of putting the heating on seemingly getting more expensive every year, you might want to consider some of the ways you can reduce energy costs at home, while still staying warm and being able to cook a hot meal.
As more of us become aware of our energy usage, the need for efficiency has become more important and I’ve seen a growing number of home products claiming to be energy-efficient – but how truthful is this?
The new October energy price rises are now in effect, with UK households set to pay around 2% more across the year – just as the weather turns colder.
Depending on your needs, you might find that an ‘energy efficient’ purchase could save you money in the long run – but it’s not worth breaking the bank just to save a few pennies in the short term.
Below I go through the most energy efficient products you can use to help you stay warm, cook a hot meal and more – all based on the current energy unit price of 24p per kWh. You might even find you own one or more of these products already.
1. Heated clothes airer
Heated clothes airers have become a popular energy efficient staple over the past year, with brands touting their energy efficiency benefits
A heated clothes airer typically uses around 230 watts of electricity and takes four to six hours to dry an average load. This results in an energy use of approximately 1 to 1.4 kilowatt hours (kWh), which in real terms will cost 24p to 34p per use.
In contrast, a tumble dryer – especially condenser ones – uses around 2.5 to 3 kilowatts of power and takes around one hour to dry a load. That equates to 2.5 to 3 kWh, costing approximately 60p to 72p per cycle.
Obviously the biggest trade off here is time. If you need a load of laundry dried quickly, a heated airer won’t cut it. But if you’re able to plan ahead, using an airer can save you up to 40p per load.
2. Heated blanket or throw
If you get chilly in bed or during the evenings but you’re only using one room in your home, heating the whole house can be a real waste of energy and could cost you. A heated blanket for your bed or a throw on the sofa is a great alternative.
A standard heated blanket or throw runs at 100 to 150 watts, which means it will use about 0.1 to 0.15 kWh per hour. This equates to a cost of just 2 to 4p per hour.
In contrast, turning on the central heating using a gas boiler uses 5 to 10 kWh per hour to heat the entire home. This costs around 50p to £1 per hour with gas on average and up to £2.40 per hour if you’re using electric heating.
Next time you feel like popping the heating on for an hour before bed, consider a heated throw instead.
3. Air fryer
You’ve probably already heard by now that air fryers can save you money, but realistically, how much will you save?
An air fryer generally uses between 1 to 1.8 kilowatts an hour, but it cooks faster than a traditional oven, it might only be on for 30 minutes. This results in energy use between 0.35 and 0.9 kWh, costing around 8p to 22p per use.
Typically, an electric oven draws 2 to 2.5 kilowatts and runs for around an hour per meal, if not longer. That adds up to 2 to 2.5 kWh, costing approximately 48p to 60p every time you use it.
This means if you need to use your air fryer for longer than an hour, you’ll likely not be saving much more than you would using your oven. If you’re only cooking a small amount of food or reheating something though, an air fryer can save you a few pence per meal, making them ideal for solo or dual households.
4. Smart thermostat
While I’d never suggest spending £100+ on a smart thermostat such as Hive just to save a few pence, they can be a great long term investment. What’s more, if you already have a smart thermostat, there are some things you can do to ensure you’re saving as much money as possible.
The first is to use zoning, if you have it, to heat rooms independently.
If you have smart radiator valves, you can set different schedules for each room. For example, ensuring your living room is warmer in the evening. You can also set rarely used rooms to be always off, unless the temperature drops very low.
You can also use the app to set you heating to come on just before you come home or get up in the morning, which should help you avoid cranking the temperature to get warm quickly. You can also make different schedules for weekdays and weekends and adjust this when you’re away.
5. Insulated products
Insulted products are a great way to keep warm without spending extra pennies on electrical items.
Thermal clothing can keep you warm if you’re home alone and don’t want to heat the house. You can try using a flask or insulated mug to keep your tea and coffee hot, instead of re-boiling the kettle or reheating it in the microwave.
Should I replace my old appliances with more energy efficient ones?
If the goal is to save money quickly, no. You’re better off keeping your current appliances if they’re fully functional, as the price difference won’t be significant to pay it off quickly enough.
However, if your old appliance or product is at the end of its life, you should consider upgrading to a more energy efficient model if you can afford it, as it will save you money in the long term.