Be energy efficient:

Much of the country is in the midst of a cold snap, and those freezing temperatures mean the heating system could be working overtime and your heating cost will go up as a result. But what if you could keep your bills under control without having to battle hypothermia? The key is being energy efficient.

Research has uncovered a widespread lack of knowledge about energy efficiency, with just 14% of respondents knowing that the optimal temperature for a home is 21°C, with 24% believing it to be higher than that. Similarly, respondents also underestimate the amount of money spent to power appliances on standby mode: 17% believe that £41 to £50 is spent each year by leaving appliances on standby, when actually it’s almost twice that, costing an average of £80.

Despite these clear energy mistakes, it seems that most people think they’re pretty good when it comes to energy saving, with 70% of those polled describing themselves as energy efficient. It’s perhaps for this reason that people don’t view investing in energy efficient measures a priority: respondents spent an average of £315 on boosting the energy efficiency of their home over the last year, compared with £900 spent on improving the look and decoration of their property.

However, having an energy-efficient home can be a key factor when selling a property – 73% said they take it into account when looking to buy – so focusing on improving it could be profitable in more ways than one.

The vast majority of people in this research also didn’t know that some energy efficient measures can be installed in the home free of charge. Check out on this site to see if you are entitled to any assistance or grants, a little time spent now could save thousands in the long run.