Cut the cost of your energy bills by making a few simple changes – it’s easier than you think, as Michelle Higgs explains
“First of all, check what tariff you’re on with your energy supplier and whether they can offer a better deal”
“Another great way to stay toasty is to snuggle under throws or soft blankets on the sofa for cosy film nights. And if you’re all in one room, close the door to keep the heat in”
“Try to get into the habit of switching devices off at the wall when you’re not using them – and always turn the light off when you leave an empty room”
“For the windows, consider buying thicker curtains and don’t forget to close them at dusk to keep the heat in”
Facts/stats
59% of students avoid putting the heating on to save money
(Save the Student, National Student Accommodation Survey 2025)
£88 is the average monthly energy bill for students who pay bills separately from rent
(Save the Student, National Student Accommodation Survey 2025)
41% of students struggle to pay their bills, including those for energy, from time to time
(Save the Student, National Student Accommodation Survey 2025)
The energy crisis is ongoing, but that doesn’t mean you have to put up with extortionate gas and electricity bills. To save money, remember this mantra: the less energy you use, the less you’ll pay. Even better, you’ll be reducing your carbon footprint and helping to save the planet at the same time.
The good news is there are lots of easy ways to save energy, even in the winter. To make a real difference, everyone in your house or flat needs to commit to making small changes in their user behaviour. This can be tricky, but if all your housemates are focused on breaking their energy-wasting habits, you’ll be quids in!
Compare energy deals
First of all, check what tariff you’re on with your energy supplier and whether they can offer a better deal. If you’re on a variable tariff, use a price comparison site to identify if there’s a cheaper fixed price tariff with another supplier (this would also help with budgeting as bills wouldn’t keep going up and down). It will always cost less if you choose a dual fuel tariff where you buy gas and electricity from the same supplier; you can usually get extra discounts if you pay by direct debit and/or buy online.
Programme your thermostat
When you first move into your student house, it’s important that you and your housemates understand how to set the heating thermostat correctly. The key is to get the timing right so that energy isn’t wasted. It should be set to come on half an hour before everyone gets up, and turn off when you’re all out at uni. Then it should be programmed to come on again half an hour before you all return, and turn off just before you go to bed. Don’t forget you’ll need different settings at the weekends.
Turn the heating down
This might sound counter-intuitive in the middle of winter, but if you turn the thermostat down by just 1°C, you could cut your gas bill by around £90 a year. Most healthy adults should feel comfortable with a room temperature of between 18 and 20°C. If your thermostat is often above that, you could definitely save money so test it out. Remember, it’s important to keep your rental heated during the colder months, especially if it’s prone to damp and condensation.
If you feel chilly indoors when the heating’s turned down, get into the habit of putting on another layer such as a jumper, cardigan or fleece. Warm air is trapped between the layers so this hack really works. Another great way to stay toasty is to snuggle under throws or soft blankets on the sofa for cosy film nights. And if you’re all in one room, close the door to keep the heat in.
Use appliances wisely
With any luck, your student house or flat will be kitted out with energy-efficient appliances, but you’ll still need to make sure you’re not wasting energy without realising it. Turn off appliances at the wall when they’re not being used, and defrost the freezer regularly so that it runs efficiently (it should never be difficult to pull out the drawers or put things in the icebox).
When making a cuppa using a kettle, only boil as much water as you need, and use the microwave instead of the main oven if it’s just you cooking a meal. Try challenging each other to cut shower time by a minute (this will also help reduce your water bill if you have a water meter).
Take tech off standby
Leaving devices like TVs, set-top boxes, games consoles and microwaves on standby is one of the most common energy-wasting habits. But gadgets will still be using electricity even if they’re switched off, and it applies to any tech with a light showing. You’ll also be wasting energy if you leave a smartphone or laptop plugged in after it’s charged. So try to get into the habit of switching devices off at the wall when you’re not using them – and always turn the light off when you leave an empty room.
Block out draughts
Many student rentals are in older properties where there may be single-glazed windows and doors that don’t fit properly. If that’s the case, you’ll definitely feel cold draughts! Use draught excluders to cover the gaps under the doors; if you’re into crafts, you could even make your own sausage dog. For the windows, consider buying thicker curtains and don’t forget to close them at dusk to keep the heat in. You could also put self-adhesive draught-proofing strips around the windows, but check with the landlord first.
Wash clothes less often
Want to save money on energy and make your clothes last longer? Wash them less often! For instance, there’s no need to wash a pair of jeans you’ve only worn once. When you do use the washing machine, always put in a full load and a colour catcher so there’s no need to wash whites and coloured clothes separately.
Modern washing machines can clean lightly soiled clothes at colder temperatures, so turn the dial down to 30°C. Bear in mind this doesn’t work for heavily stained items, so there’ll be times you’ll need to wash at 40°C, or higher.
Dry laundry for free
Instead of using a tumble dryer, try drying your clothes inside when the heating is on in the evenings. All you’ll need is a concertina-style airer positioned in front of the radiator; a three-tier design should dry a full load of clothes. You could also add a drying rack to the radiator for towels and hook a mini airer with pegs for underwear to the side of the main airer.
Be aware that drying clothes inside can cause damp and condensation issues, especially in older properties. You can avoid this by opening the window of the room in which the washing is drying and closing the door; this means that moisture can escape through the window. In the summer, clothes can be dried outside with free sunshine!
5 ways to get the most from your smart meter
- Just because a property has a smart meter doesn’t mean you’ll instantly save energy – it’s up to you and your housemates to kick those energy-wasting habits.
- Smart meters monitor usage in real time so pay attention to the data to identify where the most energy is being used and where cuts could be made.
- Find out if your energy company offers free electricity at specific times, and plan your laundry, cooking or other electricity-guzzling chores for those slots.
- Make sure you know how to read the gas and electricity meters and do it regularly; errors can occur if there’s an issue with the smart meter connection.
- If there isn’t a smart meter at your rental, ask the landlord if one can be installed, or use an app to get similar real-time data (see the apps box).
5 energy-related apps
Electricity Cost Calculator (Android, iOS, free)
A simple, easy-to-use app that will calculate the cost of running electrical appliances and devices in your accommodation.
Hugo Energy (iOS, free)
This smart energy app connects to your smart meter, helping you to keep track of your energy consumption and save money on bills.
Loop (Android, iOS, free)
With this useful app, you can analyse data from your smart meter and understand your energy habits, making it easy to identify changes that save energy.
Splitwise (Android, iOS, free)
This clever app helps you to split your bills with your housemates; it keeps track of who owes who and allows you to settle up with each other.
Treeapp (Android, iOS, free)
With this app, you can plant trees for free by watching ads from sustainable brands; you can also reduce your carbon footprint further by funding your own trees.
