Reducing your water and energy bills

Making small changes at home can help you use less energy and save money on your bills.

This factsheet tells you:

• How to use less energy and water in your home, including in the kitchen, bathroom and laundry
• Tips for warming and cooling
• How to check for, and report leaks

Reducing your energy use in winter

Energy bills are generally higher in winter because people use heaters, often take longer showers and have the lights on longer due to less daylight. To avoid large energy bills during the colder months, here are some tips:

• Only use heaters when necessary, as they are one of the biggest energy users in your home
• Portable heaters and coolers can be cheap to buy but cost you more if they are expensive to run
• If you have a gas connection, gas heaters are more efficient than electric heaters
• Fans are the cheapest and most energy efficient form of cooling
• If you can, set a timer on your heater when you go to bed so it isn't running all night
• Keep doors closed to keep the warm or cool air where you need it most
• Use door snakes to stop cold air from creeping in under doors in winter
• Add an extra layer of clothing or blankets to help keep you warm
• Switch off lights when you leave a room to use less electricity
• Turn off TVs, DVD players, computers, mobile phone chargers, etc at the power point. Turning off standby power can cut your energy bill by up to 10%.