Experts Reveal Simple Way to Lower Electricity Bills.

Energy Changes and Savings

According to The Sun: Leaving a water bag in the freezer can be a simple way to reduce energy costs.

Today, millions of households in Ukraine will face increased electricity bills due to a new price hike from Ofgem.

The average annual bill for households on standard tariffs paying by direct debit has risen by 2%, which is £35.14 more than before, totaling £1,755.

This figure is calculated based on the average household that uses 2,700 kWh of electricity and 11,500 kWh of gas annually.

Approximately 35 million households are on standard tariffs that fall under Ofgem's price cap.

Now, average annual energy costs are £500 higher than in October 2021.

Saving Advice

Sem Willans, a savings expert on the Deal.Town platform, shared in an interview with Express how to save while using energy. He noted that a filled freezer helps reduce costs as it decreases the need for the appliance to use more energy for cooling.

“Most of the energy your freezer uses goes to cooling the air that enters when you open the freezer door.”

“So when your freezer is full, there is less room for warm air, and the items inside help cool the heat that may enter.”

Energy Saving Trust experts confirmed this information, stating that “your fridge-freezer works best when it is filled to three-quarters.”

Sem advises placing a water bag on the middle shelf to fill empty space.

“If you do not have enough food in the freezer to fill it, using things like plastic bags of water, ice packs, or even just bags of ice can help prevent warm air from entering.”

However, according to Energy Saving Trust, it is worth “avoiding” overloading the fridge as it hinders the circulation of cold air.

Energy Consumption Myths

Common Myths About Energy Consumption

Gwiilim Snook, an appliance expert at AO.com, dispelled some common myths about energy consumption.

MYTH – Your fridge runs cheaper when it's empty.

This myth states that fridges save more energy when empty, but they actually run more efficiently when full.

MYTH – Washing laundry at high temperatures cleans better.

Many households in the UK do not trust washing at 30°C, considering it insufficient. However, 30°C is quite enough to reduce energy costs by 50% compared to 40°C.

MYTH – Tumble dryers are not environmentally friendly.

Old models did consume a lot of energy, but new ones operate at significantly lower consumption levels.

Using a tumble dryer typically costs about 63 pence per cycle.

MYTH – Boiling water in a kettle is always energy-efficient.

It is easy to waste energy by filling a kettle to the top. Try to boil only the amount of water you really need.

MYTH – Energy-efficient appliances do not matter.

Studies show that high-rated appliances can significantly reduce costs compared to older models.

Energy Saving Trust also recommends “regularly defrosting your fridge and freezer to optimize their performance.”

Daily charges – the fees that households pay for access to energy – have increased by 7 pence a day, aimed at supporting 2.1 million low-income households. Ofgem noted that the price increase is also due to rising costs of balancing electricity, which network operators charge to ensure the stability of electricity supply. These costs will add about £1.23 a month to the average household bill.