Five energy-consuming habits to kick before the price cap rise in January

Keeping energy prices down is a priority for many households, especially following the cold snap this week and more rain and snow expected to arrive with Storm Bert.

The colder weather means more people will want to turn on the heating, but Britons are feeling the pinch after the energy regulator Ofgem announced on Friday 22 November that the average annual gas and electricity bill will rise 1.2% to £1,738 in January- an increase of £21 a year.

Ofgem is encouraging consumers to switch tariffs to save money, and has said that savings of up to £140 are currently available.

Many of us will be also looking for new ways to bring down our energy usage - and that can include kicking a few habits that may be using more energy than you think.

Here are five things you can stop doing right away to start reducing your energy use and start making savings.

💡 Stop leaving your lights on

One really bad habit that is pushing your energy bills up is leaving the lights on in rooms you’re not using.

You’re far from alone - according to renewable energy and green gas supplier 100Green, Brits leave the lights on unnecessarily for an estimated three hours and 36 seconds every single day, equivalent to 21 hours, four minutes and 12 seconds per week!

The amount of energy your lights use depends on the light bulbs you have. A standard 100W light bulb uses much more energy than LED light bulbs, so it’s recommended that you make the swap to bring your energy usage down.

But even after you’ve swapped standard light bulbs for LED ones, it’s still important to remember to turn them off when not in use.

🖥️ Stop letting energy vampires get the best of you

According to smart metre company ivie, some of the biggest ‘energy vampire’ culprits are your home entertainment gadgets, such as smart TVs and laptops.

While these modern technologies seem more efficient than ever, they require more power to run thanks to more advanced hardware.

Ivie recommends either investing in a smart plug that would allow you to turn devices off standby from your phone, or simply switching these devices off at the socket before turning in for the night.

❄️ Stop leaving your freezer half-full

The freezer can sometimes seem like a chilly abyss with mystery items at the bottom of the drawer, but filling it to capacity can actually help the appliance be more energy-efficient.

Filling the freezer to the brim (without stuff falling out or preventing the drawer from closing, of course) can minimise the amount of warm air that enters it whenever you open the door.

How Stuff Works recommends using non-food items like newspapers and containers filled with water to fill empty spaces in the freezer, in order to make it more energy efficient.

☕ Stop leaving limescale in your kettle

Energy companies often talk about the importance of only boiling the amount of water you need for a cuppa or a pot, but did you know that limescale can also affect how energy efficient your kettle is?

According to Which?, a kettle full of limescale will take longer and use more energy to boil the same amount of water as a clean one.

You should descale your kettle regularly, especially if you live in a hard water area. You can use citric acid, Which? says, as it is stronger than vinegar or lemon juice and won’t leave lingering tastes or smells.

🌡️ Stop turning up your thermostat

It's tempting to turn up the heating when you're feeling cold, but this won't warm things up faster, and in fact, could leave you with a heftier bill.

Instead, turn down your thermostat by 1C, advised Jordan Chance, heating expert from PlumbNation.

"By doing this, you can save up to 10% on your heating bill," he explained to Yahoo UK. "Contrary to popular belief, turning up your thermostat does not heat up your room quicker. This method will only send your energy bills skyrocketing."

Read more about family finances:

• How to save £900 on food a year, according to an expert (Yahoo Life UK, 9-min read)

• 'I'm a thrifty bargain lover - I save £510 a year with these simple changes' (Manchester Evening News, 5-min read)

• Savvy shopper unveils little-known 'secret' to saving £200 a month on food bills (BirminghamLive, 4-min read)