HOUSEHOLDS are struggling to keep up with rising energy bills – but you can outfit your home with devices that will help you cut costs.
Prime Minister Liz Truss has promised support to deal with rising energy costs, but many people are still struggling.
7
Household energy bills have already risen by 54% after the average home price cap rose to £1,971 in April.
There’s not much that can be done to avoid higher costs, and many people are considering ways to reduce usage to avoid paying more.
You can invest in a few nifty devices in your home that will do the work for you and prevent you from wasting so much energy every day.
However, do some research and compare prices before making a purchase to ensure you are getting the best value for your money.
And if you order online, remember to factor in shipping costs.
Here are six gadgets you can get your hands on to cut the cost of your energy bills:
Heated Dunelm Fan – £40
7
The £40 unit costs just 7p for an hour of run time, making it a nifty and cheaper alternative to a tumble dryer.
Heated drying racks are like a regular clothes drying rack, but you plug them into the wall and they heat up.
This allows your laundry to dry faster, which is particularly useful in winter.
They’re also fairly cheap to run, only costing pennies an hour – check out our guide to find out exactly how much.
The unit, which can hold up to 10kg of laundry, comes with heated bars and the versatile piece folds flat, making it ideal for easy storage.
It can be purchased here.
Argos also sells a heated indoor electric drying rack for £55. B&Q customers can also get a similar device for £47.99.
We have also listed the best heated drying racks for sale in 2022.
Breville HotCup hot water dispenser – £40
7
As a nation of tea drinkers, households are likely to spend more than they need to keep their kettles boiling.
An easy way to save on costs is to invest in an energy efficient kettle, but also only boil one cup of water at a time.
This little trick alone could save you around £6 a year, according to the Energy Trust.
Try Breville’s £40 HotCup hot water dispenser, which only boils one cup at a time.
It is available from Amazon.
Wilko LED Bulbs – 3 for £15
7
Leaving the lights on at home accounts for about 10-20% of your electricity bill.
But upgrading your old lightbulbs to LED — the more energy-efficient option — could help lower your bill.
And the cost of LED bulbs has come down to just £2 or £3 each in recent years, so you don’t have to spend all that much upfront to install the energy-saving feature.
Uswitch says you could save around £6 a year per bulb by swapping them out for the alternatives.
It may not sound like a lot, but with an average of 12 lightbulbs in each household, that’s £72 a year.
Wilko is currently selling three LED lightbulbs for £15 – and you can find them here.
Silentnight electric blanket – from £25
7
Electric blankets don’t cost the earth and let you warm up without having to heat the whole house.
With this Silentnight Comfort Control heating blanket from B&M you can get through the cold nights and cool mornings.
The device is easy to use, just plug the blanket into the nearest socket, place it on your bed and let it heat up in just a few minutes.
Designed with three different heat settings that allow you to control your body temperature.
The electric blanket is also a quick and effective way to gently relieve aches and pains, allowing you to enjoy a soothing and soothing sleep all year round.
The blanket is washable, but be sure to unplug it first.
It is available in three sizes – single (£25), double (£30) and king (£35).
You can bag this electric blanker in store or online here.
Salter Aero Grill Pro hot air fryer – £99
7
Using an air fryer is a great way to prepare a meal—and save you money, too.
They use less oil, making them a healthier alternative to frying or frying, and experts believe they’re more energy efficient too.
The Salter Aero Grill Pro offers all the advantages of air frying, but also with a grill.
There’s even a temperature sensor that tells you when your meat, fish or cake is perfectly cooked.
It has more than enough space for all your favorite dishes but is a bit heavy so this is definitely one you would keep on the counter.
This model heats up to 265 degrees for a crispy finish on your dishes.
That Salter Aero Grill Pro hot air fryer is available from Currys for £99.
Energenie 3 pack remote controlled plugs – £30
7
Households are full of connected devices, televisions, lamps and rechargeable phones that consume electricity and make utility bills skyrocket.
However, Energy Trust says you can save around £35 a year on costs by remembering to switch off your appliances.
Turning off all outlets in the house would be one way to prevent this problem, but an easier solution is to use energy-saving plugs.
With the Argos Energenie remote control plugs, you can make sure everything is off without having to reach for the switch.
They are available from Argos for £30.
What other help with energy bills is coming?
From October 1st, all households will receive a £400 rebate on their energy bill.
The payment will be made by your energy supplier and will be split into six rebates between October and March next year.
Households get a £66 rebate on energy bills in October and November and a £67 rebate in December, January, February and March.
Millions of households are lining up between December and March 2023 to claim the £150 Warm Home Discount.
The Household Support Fund is a scheme launched in October last year to help Britons fund their way through the winter amid a cost of living crisis.
It was only supposed to run until March, but has since been extended to the end of this month.
Any local authority can distribute the money to people in their area and the help available depends on where you live.
Many communities have published instructions on their websites. So once you know your community, it’s probably best to google and see how you can apply.
You can do this using the government local authority verification tool by entering your zip code.
