As feul bills soar, we help you cut your energy costs

Tomorrow is the start of Energy Saving Week...and it’s never been more important to cut costs as fuel charges go through the roof.

The average power bill has now soared to £1,345 a year with gas rises averaging 17 per cent and ­electricity almost 11 per cent.

Yet there are still ways you can save money...

SWITCH SUPPLIERS

“People who aren’t shopping around for the best deal are simply ­burning money,” says Scott Byrom of MoneySupermarket.com

The cheapest online tariff is npower’s Sign Online 24 at £1,050 on average a year. But for the same price you can protect yourself from rises for a year with EDF Energy’s Fix for 2012 tariff or OVO Energy’s New ­Energy Fixed product.

FIT INSULATION

If you live in a three-bedroom semi you could save up to £175 a year by insulating your loft, according to the Energy Saving Trust. Cavity wall insulation will also cut your fuel bill by £135 a year, while ­filling in gaps around your floor could save another £25 a year.

REDUCE WHAT YOU USE

Identify the most ­power-hungry electrical ­appliances in your home by investing in an energy monitor. It could help you cut your overall usage by at least five per cent a year. And just turning off ­appliances at the plug rather than leaving them on standby could reduce your energy bills by £35 a year.

Turning down your thermostat by two degrees could reduce your heating bill by £60 a year, while ­washing clothes at 30C rather than at a higher temperature will save you about £12 a year.
Only filling the kettle with as much water as you need could save another £7 a year.

THINK BEFORE YOU BUY

When buying any electrical goods, remember that the more energy-efficient the product, the lower your bills will be. For example an energy-saving fridge-freezer could be up to £26 a year cheaper to run and a new tumble dryer could save you about £21. The type of television you buy can be just as important. You could save £30 a year if you go for an LCD model rather than a plasma screen TV.

Look out for the Energy ­Saving Trust ­Recommended logo.

23/10/2011 - Mirror.co.uk

Are you looking to switch energy supplier? Check out the Reduce Comparison Gas & Electricity Comparison Service now!