- Energy Saving Trust’s cost projections are based on a typical three-bedroom semi-detached house, using a gas price of 4.65p/kWh and electricity price of 20.06p/kWh. The calculations assume an average gas consumption of 13,768 kWh/year and electricity consumption of 3,586 kWh/year.
- The figures are based on a three-year average of energy costs between 2018 and 2020, compared with projected prices for 2022. Using a three-year average of costs represents the actual cost to households, compared to 2020 figures alone, as these were distorted due to the lockdowns during the pandemic.
New research by Energy Saving Trust has found that energy bills could rise by £240 in 2022 for a typical three-bedroom, gas-heated home, with this household projected to spend a total £1,360 on energy.
With the expected rise of the energy price cap early next year, many people could see the cost of heating their homes rise to unprecedented levels. Energy Saving Trust has provided the new calculations to help ensure that people understand what the energy price increases could mean for them, and how to minimise their bills.
To help people protect themselves against the projected increase, Energy Saving Trust has provided 12 simple tips to save energy, cash and reduce carbon. Households who take the below actions could save up to £248 on their energy bills – reducing the impact of the projected increase in energy costs on people’s pockets, without compromising their health, wellbeing or lifestyle.
Using energy at home emits around 3,300kg CO2e per year. Taking the below steps would also result in a reduction of 674kg of carbon dioxide from the typical house, helping to protect the planet, reducing the typical home’s energy carbon footprint by 20%. 674kg CO2 is the same as driving 2,400 miles – that’s driving from London to Bristol 20 times.
| Simple energy saving steps for every household | Annual cost saving | Annual carbon dioxide saving and carbon equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Turn devices around the home off standby, or onto idle mode. | £40 | 50kg CO2 (Driving 180 miles – Manchester to Newcastle) |
| 2. Draught-proof gaps around windows, doors and floorboards by fitting foam strips, plastic seals or brushes – and seal gaps between floors and skirting boards with a simple sealant bought from any DIY store. | £30 | 105kg CO2 (Driving 380 miles – Exeter to Hull) |
| 3. Turn the lights off when leaving a room. | £14 | 17kg CO2 (Driving 61 miles – London to Canterbury) |
| 4. Use your washing machine on a 30-degree cycle instead of higher temperatures. | £10 | 12kg CO2 (Driving 43 miles – Edinburgh to Glasgow) |
| 5. Only boil the water you need in your kettle. | £8 | 10kg CO2 (Driving 36 miles - Sheffield to Leeds) |
| 6. Effective insulation of your hot water cylinder is important: even if you have thin spray foam or a loose 25mm jacket, you can benefit from increasing the insulation to a British Standard Jacket 80mm thick. | £20 | 110kg CO2 (Driving 390 miles – Birmingham to Aberdeen) |
| 7. Keep your shower time to 4 minutes. | £45 | 195kg CO2 (Driving 700 miles – Birmingham to Aberdeen and back again) |
| 8. Swap one bath a week with a 4-minute shower. | £7 | 35kg CO2 (Driving 120 miles – London to Bristol) |
| 9. Fit an aerator onto your existing kitchen tap to reduce the amount of water coming out without affecting its effectiveness. An aerator is a small gadget with tiny holes - they attach to the spout of taps and are cheap and easy to install. | £14 | 65kg CO2 (Driving 230 miles – London to Bristol and back again) |
| 10. Only run your dishwasher when it is full to reduce the amount of water you use. Reducing your dishwasher by one run per week for a year could save you money. | £10 | 12kg CO2 (Driving 43 miles – Edinburgh to Glasgow) |
| 11. Similarly, only wash your clothes in your washing machine when you have a full load. Reducing your washing machine use by one run per week for a year could save you money. | £10 | 13kg CO2 (Driving 47 miles – Edinburgh to Glasgow) |
| 12. Avoid using a tumble dryer for your clothes: dry clothes on racks inside where possible or outside in warmer weather. | £40 | 40kg CO2 (Driving 180 miles – Manchester to Newcastle) |
Ofgem increased the energy price cap by £139 a year at the start of October 2021 and is expected to increase it again in April 2022. This will affect around 15 million people – meaning that unless people’s energy supply is currently on a fixed tariff, their energy costs will be more expensive. The UK energy sector faces significant difficulty this winter, with more than 20 companies collapsing since September.
Mike Thornton, chief executive of Energy Saving Trust, said: “Rising energy bills are understandably causing concern for people across the UK, with households potentially facing some of the highest energy bills on record this winter. But the good news is that by taking small steps around our homes, we can make a big difference to minimising our energy bills.
“As well as protecting people’s pockets, taking small steps to reduce energy consumption will also help to protect the planet by cutting the carbon emitted from our homes.”
Energy Saving Trust’s compares calculations using projected prices for 2022 with the three-year average of actual energy costs between 2018 and 2020. Figures are based on a typical three-bedroom semi-detached house, using a gas price of 4.65p/kWh and electricity price of 20.06p/kWh. The calculations assume an average gas consumption of 13,768 kWh/year and electricity consumption of 3,586 kWh/year.
Customers who are worried about paying their energy bill are encouraged to contact their supplier to access available support – and to check their eligibility for the Warm Home Discount Scheme, which offers a one-off payment to help meet heating costs. Additional help, including energy saving advice and potential sources of financial assistance, is available from the following places:
- In England, go to Simple Energy Advice.
- In Scotland, check out Home Energy Scotland.
- In Wales, check out Nest.
- In Northern Ireland, contact NISEP and the Energy Advice Line.
For more detailed energy advice, visit our Energy at home page.
ENDS
For more information contact sam@forster.co.uk / 07801 849 967
About the research
Carbon equivalents
674kg CO2 is:
- The same amount as 1,400 people would save if they took the bus rather than their car when they go on a shopping trip.
- The same amount as 440 families would save by walking or cycling the school commute rather than taking their car one day.
- The equivalent of flying from London Heathrow to Lisbon twice.
Other carbon equivalents: burning coal based on a typical bucket volume of 24 litres holding 24kg of coal, driving a car based on average car emitting 0.276kg CO2e per mile and flights based on airplane emissions ranging from 0.156 to 0.244 kg CO2e/km on a per passenger basis, not the entire aircraft. Typical house emissions in the UK using 2019 data.
Energy Saving Trust
Energy Saving Trust is an independent organisation dedicated to promoting energy efficiency, low carbon transport and sustainable energy use. We aim to address the climate emergency and deliver the wider benefits of clean energy as the UK transitions to net zero.
We empower householders to make better choices, deliver transformative programmes for governments and support businesses with strategy, research and assurance – enabling everyone to play their part in building a sustainable future.