Here are some tips to reduce energy bills this winter

Britain is facing a terrible crisis when it comes to the cost-of-living, with energy bills being one of the most expensive things to think about. Unfortunately, maintenance loans for students in Birmingham have not risen in line with inflation and a lot of students are having to bear the brunt of increased energy bills in student flats and houses. These are some tips to reduce the energy bill from heating and cooking. Please remember your wellbeing comes first, so do not freeze or only eat cold meals as it will make you ill and affect your mental and physical health. If you need cost-of-living support this link has more information.

Firstly, it is important to make sure you are staying warm and feel comfortable in your home. There is an energy price cap, but remember if you use more you will pay more. When it comes to radiators, it is recommended that your house is heated during the cold periods in the winter months to prevent pipes from bursting. When the radiators are on make sure that furniture isn’t blocking the heat coming out. You also may have clauses in your rental contract regarding heating so it is worth looking at it to check.

Image Credit: Amin Hasani on Unsplash

Staying Warm

There are also ways you can heat the human not the home. One is by buying an electric blanket which is plugged in and has a timer. You could have it on before you sleep or when you watch television, as it is cheaper to run than central heating at only three pence per hour. Buying a hot water bottle is another way to warm yourself up in the winter.

Another idea is wearing layers of clothing. Ideally the first layer should not be cotton as this traps moisture and so will cool you down. Other layers could be a T-shirt and a jumper depending on the temperature. Floors are often cold so wearing fluffy socks and slippers will help. Placing rugs down will help too. Gloves, scarves and hats are beneficial for trapping heat. If you have been sweating from exercise make sure you change into fresh clothes to stay warm. It might help to have a hot shower before bed to heat you up rather than in the morning.

If you want to save on central heating bills in December and January you could spend most of the day on campus studying, or treat yourself to lunch in a cafe where there will be heating on.

Cooking

Along with heating, cooking meals uses a lot of gas and electricity. Luckily, having at least one hot meal a day will warm you up. If you live with a group of housemates you could save money by cooking a big meal together, or planning on using the oven at the same time. If you can cook six people’s meals in the oven for 20 minutes that means you can reduce bills. Also it is fun having a nacho night or a Sunday roast with your friends.

When you’re cooking in the kitchen it will heat the room up so close the doors to trap the heat. Boiling water in pans can be kept on the stove with the gas off to heat the room up once you’ve finished cooking. Using the microwave is cheaper than the oven so batch-cooking meals as a house then heating them in the microwave for lunch or dinner is a potential option to save cash. Another tip is to buy a thermos and put leftover water from your kettle in there to keep it hot. Then when you have a hot drink you don’t have to keep boiling the water.

Appliances

When using washing machines and dishwashers it’s good to only run them when full. If the appliances have an ‘Eco Mode’ that will reduce bills as the temperature is lower. Avoid using tumble dryers by hanging your washing outside, or inside as long as the room is ventilated to prevent damp and mould. When it comes to lights, they don’t contribute to a lot of the energy bills so don’t sit in the dark when you’re eating or studying – just remember to turn them off when you aren’t using them. The same advice goes for charging appliances and switching toasters and kettles off at the socket.

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