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What's the best way to heat our house?

Our expert says…

Thanks for your email. Working out the best way to save energy can be tricky sometimes and the question you ask is one that has stirred much debate!

I have seen numerous discussions on internet forums as to whether on not it’s cheaper to leave your heating on all the time, but all seem to be inconclusive. To set the record straight, here is what the authority on energy efficiency, the Energy Saving Trust says:

“It is a common misconception that it is cheaper to leave your hot water and heating on all the time. Boilers use more power initially to heat water from cold, however the cost of this is greatly exceeded by the cost of keeping the boiler running all of the time. Depending on your circumstances it may be necessary to keep the heating on all day during winter but it will cost more than if you turn the heating off when you don't need it.”

So there you are. It is cheaper (and more energy efficient) only to turn on the heating when you need it.

The Energy Saving Trust recommends programming your heating system so that it comes on when you need it most (possibly early morning and in the evening), and turns off when you don't need it (when you are out of the house or asleep).

There are plenty of other ways that you can save money on your energy bills:

Switching energy tariffs

If you have never switched energy supplier before you are likely to save plenty of cash by getting yourself a better deal and even if you have it is still good practise to compare gas and electricity prices to ensure you are on the cheapest tariff. In fact, you could save up to £276 by using our energy comparison service.

For the best savings, you should ensure you take both your gas and electricity with one supplier, thus benefiting from dual fuel discounts.

Once you have compared prices and found the cheapest provider, switching is easy. All you have to do is fill in some personal details and your new supplier takes care of the switch for you.

It usually takes between four and six weeks for your switch to take place and after you sign up you’ll receive a letter from your new supplier notifying you when the switch will happen. Your old supplier will send you your final bill and after that you’ll only receive bills from your new energy supplier.

Switching energy providers >>>

Compare energy tariffs >>>

Practising energy efficiency

Changes you make to your home and to your behaviour can have a dramatic effect on your energy consumption and thus on the size of your bills.

Here are some effective energy saving measures to start with:

• Switch to energy saving light bulbs - This is one of the quickest and easiest ways to start saving energy. Priced from around £3, energy saving bulbs typically last 12 times longer than ordinary bulbs, and could potentially save you a staggering £7 per year per bulb. With the average home containing 17 bulbs, you could save up to £120 a year by swapping them over.
• Replace your boiler -Fitting an energy efficient condensing boiler along with a full set of heating controls could save you as much as 45% of your heating fuel bill, around £250 a year.
• Insulate your home - As 15% of heat is lost through the roof, installing loft insulation is a simple and cost-effective way to reduce your heating bills. If you install the recommended 270mm depth of loft insulation, you could save around £155 a year on your heating bills.
• Turn down the temperature - According to the Energy Saving Trust (www.energysavingtrust.org.uk), turning down your thermostat by just one degree centigrade (which you are unlikely to feel) can save you up to 10% on your heating bill.
• Change your appliances - Making sure you choose energy efficient electronics and appliances when buying something new will cut down the amount of energy your household uses and reduce your bills. Replacing an old appliance with an AAA energy rated one could save you up to £45 a year.
• Change your habits - You can become more energy efficient just by making small changes to your behaviour. For example, remembering to turn off your appliances at the plug rather than leaving them on standby. According to Friends of the Earth, your appliances still use around 70% of their usual energy when left on standby, so turning them off will trim down your energy use, and could save you around £25 a year.

Complete guide to energy efficiency >>>

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If you have an energy query please email ourexpert@energychoices.co.uk