Ten top tips courtesy of the Energy Saving Trust.
- Turn your thermostat down. Reducing your room temperature by 1°C could cut your heating bills by up to 10% and typically saves around £50 per year. If you have a programmer, set your heating and hot water to come on only when required rather than all the time.
- Is your water too hot? Your cylinder thermostat should be set at 60°C/140°F.
- Close your curtains at dusk to stop heat escaping through the windows and check for draughts around windows and doors.
- Always turn off the lights when you leave a room.
- Don't leave appliances on standby and remember not to leave laptops and mobile phones on charge unnecessarily.
- If possible, fill up the washing machine, tumble dryer or dishwasher: one full load uses less energy than two half loads. Try to wash clothes at 30 degrees.
- Only boil as much water as you need (but remember to cover the elements if you're using an electric kettle). If possible use an eco-kettle.
- A dripping hot water tap wastes energy and in one week wastes enough hot water to fill half a bath. So fix leaking taps and make sure they're fully turned off.
- Use energy-saving light bulbs. They last up to 10 times longer than ordinary bulbs, and using one can save you around £45 over the lifetime of the bulb. This saving could be around £70 over its lifetime if you're replacing a high wattage incandescent bulb, or one used for more than a few hours a day.
- Do a home energy check. Just answer some simple questions about your home and the Energy Savings Trust will give you a free, impartial report telling you how you can save up to £250 a year on your household energy bills.