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> Home > Housing Help > NI Energy Advice > How to save energy and money

How to save energy and money

In this section

What can you do?

  • Be more energy efficient

  • Make your home efficient and comfortable

  • Reuse & Recycle, daily

Energy efficiency tips

Using less electricity means more cash in your pockets. Using electricity efficiently reduces carbon emissions and helps protect the environment.

Reduce your energy use

The average yearly household bill for gas and electricity has almost doubled over 10 years, now more than £1,200. The first thing you should do to cut your bills is switch to the cheapest energy provider. Then just start using less energy!

You can read more information at:

Key improvements to reduce your energy use

The key basic improvements that you make could pay for themselves. You should consider:

  • Change your boiler – if broken or 15 years old.

  • Change your bulbs to led.

  • Reduce your temperature.

  • Use less.

Remember you may be eligible for financial support for energy saving measures:

The Energy Saving Trust estimates that in the UK:

  • an average household can waste around 8% of their electricity bill on standby power – that’s around £30 each year.

  • £140 million a year is wasted through leaving lights on in unused rooms.

A few small changes to your heating system can make some savings.

  • Can you set your heating system?

  • Check for gaps around your doors, windows, floor, and chimney.

  • Do you buy energy efficient appliances?

  • Are you using the correct programmer, room thermostat and radiator valves?

  • Do you heat only the areas that you need.

  • Insulate your hot water cylinder.

  • Top up your loft insulation from 100mm to 270mm

  • Switch off standby appliances at the plug.

  • Do you schedule your heating and hot water to go on and off when you need it?

  • Can you set the temperature for each room?

  • By reducing your heating, you will reduce your carbon dioxide emissions.

  • Install a smart thermostat.

In small-scale trials of home energy monitors, customers have typically saved:

  • five to 15 per cent in the first year of owning a monitor.

  • £25 to £75 off a £500 bill.

There are a number of retailers selling monitors with different functions from £30 to over £100.

You can find a retailer by searching online for ‘home energy monitor’.

NI Direct

You can also check out NI Direct’s advice on how you can be energy efficient around the home:

Appliances

It is important that you use your appliances correctly:

  • never leave mobile phones on charge overnight

  • make sure computer equipment is switched off and unplugged when not in use

  • electrical appliances on standby cost money - switch off on the appliance itself or turn it off at the plug if possible

Read NI Direct’s full advice on household appliances

Further advice

You can contact our advisers email our team or use our online form to:

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