- Brits could save hundreds on energy bills over the warmer spring and summer months this year if they make simple swaps around the home[1]
- Turning off the heating makes a big difference to bills, with gas costs on average £312 lower from April to September, compared with the six colder months[2]
- Ditching the tumble dryer and drying clothes outside also significantly cuts down energy use — saving people nearly £25 over the warmer months[3]
- Households should be mindful of energy-guzzling hot tubs and patio heaters, as they can add £1.19 a day to bills over the summer[4]
- Uswitch.com offers tips on how to reduce your energy bills over the warmer months and advises households to consider switching to a fixed deal.
Households could save hundreds on their energy bills on average over the summer months if they make simple swaps to reduce their gas and electricity use[1], according to new analysis from Uswitch.com, the comparison and switching service.
The reduced use of heating in spring and summer makes the biggest difference to bills, with the average household spending £312 less on gas from April to September compared with the colder six months[2].
The average household with gas central heating will spend about £291 on heating in January, February and March. Halving the time heating is on from April to June will save people around £166, including the change to price cap rates. The cost of heating then drops to almost zero over the warmest months of the year from July to September[2]. This adds up to a £312 saving over those six months.
Table: Summer swaps that can reduce household energy costs
| Swap this... | …for this | |||||||
| Appliance | Power (kW) | Winter use | Cost | Appliance | Power (kW) | Summer use | Cost | Saving |
| Gas use at winter levels | - | - | £519.96 | Gas use at summer levels | - | - | £207.99 | £311.97 |
| 1.5 hours of hot showers a week | 8.5kW | 24 hours | £52.49 | 1.5 hours of cool showers a week | 4.25kW | 24 hours | £26.24 | £26.24 |
| Two loads a week in the tumble dryer | 3kWh per cycle | 32 | £24.70 | Hang clothes on the line | 0 | As long as needed | £0.00 | £24.70 |
| Dehumidifier | 185W | 224 hours | £10.66 | Turn it off | 0 | - | £0.00 | £10.66 |
| Three LED bulbs on for eight hours a day | 10W | 2688 | £6.92 | Sunlight | 0 | Constantly on | £0.00 | £6.92 |
| One cooked meal a week | 2kW | 16 | £4.12 | One sandwich or salad a week | 0 | - | £0.00 | £4.12 |
| String of electric garden lights | 8W | 6 hours a day for 16 weeks | £0.20 | Solar-powered garden lights | 0 | Constantly on | £0.00 | £0.20 |
| One hot drink a day | 3kW | 112 | £4.32 | One cold drink a day | 0 | - | £0 | £4.32 |
| Charging mobile phone from mains | 20W | 112 hours | £0.58 | Charging mobile phone from solar power charger | 0 | - | £0.00 | £0.58 |
Source: Uswitch.com. Electricity and gas prices assume a household is on a price-capped Standard Variable Tariff. Winter use is October to March inclusive. Summer use is April to September inclusive.
Turning the heating off over the summer and making other changes to energy habits can help direct debit customers build up credit for the winter.
For those who can, hanging clothes outside to dry on warm days can also help cut costs during the spring and summer. Tumble dryers are one of the most expensive household appliances to run, so hanging up the washing outside instead could save people £25 over the warmest months of the year[3].
Swapping one oven-cooked meal for a cold salad on a hot day could save people 26p per dinner — adding up to £4.12 if done once a week for four months[5].
People with dehumidifiers may also be able to turn them off in the summer. Dehumidifiers remove extra moisture from the air and prevent damp and condensation on the windows, and can be particularly beneficial when drying clothes inside.
Dehumidifiers typically use 185W, which will cost just under 10p if used for two hours at current electricity prices. Opening the windows to let humid air escape naturally could save households with dehumidifiers £10.66 over a four-month period[6].
Although many households can make significant energy savings over the summer, people need to be mindful of how the costs of some garden appliances can add up.
Hot tubs are the most energy-guzzling appliance in the garden. Energy-efficient models could cost around £1.19 a day to run, with the least efficient setting people back up to £5.95 per day[4].
Using electric patio heaters can also add to energy bills. A 2.4kW unit would cost 62p to use for an hour — adding up to £4.32 if used for an hour every day for a week[7].
Ben Gallizzi, energy expert at Uswitch.com, comments: “The recent heatwaves mean that most of us are thinking about keeping cool instead of worrying about our energy use, but this isn’t the time to take your eye off the ball.
“There are a few simple summer swaps you can make around the home that will cut your energy costs and keep more money in your pocket.
“Switching off the heating for the summer makes the biggest difference, but other small changes can add up.
“If the weather is dry and you’ve got some outside space, make the most of the warmer weather to dry clothes rather than using expensive tumble dryers.
“Anyone making changes to how they use energy around the home can track their usage on the free Uswitch app by connecting their smart meter, to see what impact their ‘summer swaps’ are having on their bills.
“As well as reducing energy usage, many households on standard tariffs could pay lower rates by switching to a fixed deal. Right now, there are a range of deals on the market offering significant savings versus the July price cap.”
Uswitch’s summer energy saving tips
1. Turn off the heating. Check your heating - if it’s on a timer then it may be coming on occasionally when you don’t need it, for example early in the morning. When the weather is mild then you may be able to turn off the heating completely. Remember you’ll need to check your system is still in good working order at the end of summer, ready for the colder months.
2. Consider hot tubs carefully. If you are thinking about buying a hot tub consider how efficiently they run when picking one. Pricier hot tubs are likely to be better insulated and could be a better investment as they will cost less to run in the long term. Make sure you get a well-fitted cover to avoid losing heat and using more energy.
3. Switch off fans when you leave a room. A pedestal fan costs £.259 a week if you leave it on 24/7 but only £0.97 if this is cut to nine hours a day. Remembering to switch off fans when you leave a room can help you make a saving on keeping cool.
4. Use outdoor space to cut your laundry bill. If you have a garden or balcony, you can make use of the warmer weather by hanging clothes outside to dry.
5. Use the Uswitch app to spot energy guzzlers. Download the Uswitch app and connect it to your smart meter to track energy usage and get tips on how to save on your energy bill.
See if you can save by comparing energy deals at Uswitch.com
For more information
Beverley Noble | Energy PR Manager
beverley.noble@rvu.co.uk
Twitter: @UswitchPR
Notes to editors
1. See savings in table within release.
2. Calculated using Ofgem usage figures for a medium-use household. Based on price cap unit rates, the average household spends £519.96 on gas between October and March, and £207.99 from April to September. This is a difference of £311.98.
3. Average tumble dryer uses 3kWh per cycle. One cycle x £0.2573/kWh = £0.77. Swapping using a tumble dryer for hanging clothes outside twice a week for 16 weeks = saving of £24.70.
4. WhatSpa?: How much does it cost to run a hot tub?
5. 30 minutes x 2 kW x £0.2573/kWh = £0.2573. £0.2573 x 16 weeks = £4.12 in savings.
6. Two hours x 185W x £0.2573/kWh = £0.095. £0.095 x 7 days a week x 16 weeks = £10.66 in savings.
7. 1 hour x 2.4 kW x £0.2573/kWh = 62p an hour.
About Uswitch
Uswitch is one of the UK’s top comparison websites for home services switching, including energy, broadband and mobiles.
More people go to Uswitch to find their energy, broadband and mobile deals than any other site, and we have saved consumers over £2.7 billion off their bills since we launched in September 2000.
Free mobile app Utrack also helps households manage their home energy usage and make potential savings.
Uswitch is part of RVU, a group of online brands with a mission to empower consumers to make more confident home services, insurance and financial decisions.