The cost of running a home might feel uncontrollable, but for thousands of UK households, making small, smart changes has led to significant savings. Octopus Energy, a supplier renowned for its customer-centric approach, has collected and tested the most effective ways to slash your consumption—proven tips that have collectively saved customers over £5 million in one winter alone.
We’ve compiled the essential, expert-backed advice from Octopus Energy’s own specialists. By implementing these eight core tips, you could see your annual energy bill reduced by over £600.
Read on to discover the simple tweaks you can make today, and don’t miss the chance to save even more by claiming your £50 switching credit at the end of this guide!
The Big 8: Quickest Wins for £600+ in Savings
The biggest mistake people make is overlooking simple, often free, adjustments. These top eight tips are guaranteed to deliver the highest returns for the least effort.
1. Tweak Your Boiler Flow Temperature: The £65 Save
Your boiler’s default setting is likely wasting gas. The flow temperature controls how hot the water leaves the boiler and is often set unnecessarily high (80°C+).
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Combi Boilers: Experts recommend setting the flow temperature to 50°C for heating and 55°C for hot water. This simple change allows the boiler to operate in “condensing mode,” where it recycles heat that would otherwise be lost up the flue.
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Saving: According to Nesta, this tweak alone can cut your gas consumption by up to 12% and save you around £65 a year.
Safety Note: If you have a separate hot water cylinder, ensure the cylinder is set to 60°C to prevent the growth of Legionella bacteria.
2. Control Your Thermostat: The £145 Save
The most effective use of your heating system is to ‘set and forget’ your thermostat. Using it as an on/off switch or constantly boosting the temperature wastes energy as the system struggles to catch up.
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The Sweet Spot: Set your thermostat to an ideal comfortable range (typically between 18°C and 21°C) and leave it.
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Biggest Win: Turning the temperature down by just 1 degree Celsius could save a staggering £145 on your annual bill.
3. Mind the Gaps (Draught-Proofing): The £80 Save
Unwanted cold air entering your home is a continuous drain on your heating. Draught-proofing is one of the cheapest and most immediate ways to boost energy efficiency.
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Target Areas: Focus on gaps around external doors, windows, keyholes, and unused chimneys.
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Simple DIY: Use cheap self-adhesive strips for window and door frames, or even create a door sausage (draught excluder) from old fabric scraps.
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Pro Tip: Pulling your curtains or blinds closed as soon as the sun sets can reduce heat loss through windows by up to 17%.
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Saving: Professional or DIY draught-proofing can save you around £80 per year.
4. Ditch the Tumble Dryer: The £50 Save
The tumble dryer is one of the most energy-intensive appliances in the home.
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The Switch: Ditch it in favour of a clothes horse or washing line. In winter, place the clothes horse near a window or in a room with good airflow.
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Warning: Avoid drying clothes directly on radiators. This creates condensation and forces your boiler to work harder, cancelling out any savings.
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Saving: Switching to air-drying could save you approximately £50 per year.
5. Switch Off Standby Power: The £45 Save (The Vampire Drain)
Many appliances continue to draw power even when turned off, often called “vampire drain.”
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Identify Culprits: TVs, games consoles, desktop computers, and chargers left plugged in are the main culprits.
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The Fix: Get into the habit of switching devices off at the plug or using a single multi-socket extension lead that can be turned off completely before bed.
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Saving: Switching off standby could save a typical household up to £45 annually.
6. Brighten Up with LEDs: The £136 Save
Lighting accounts for a significant portion (around 11%) of a household’s electricity bill. If you haven’t switched to LED bulbs yet, now is the time.
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Efficiency: LEDs use 70-80% less electricity than old incandescent or halogen bulbs.
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Dual Approach: When replacing bulbs, choose LEDs, and remember the cheapest energy is the energy you don’t use: switch off the lights when leaving a room.
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Saving: Replacing an average household’s 34 bulbs can save between £4-£10 per bulb, per year, equating to a total potential saving of £136.
7. Shorten Your Shower Time: The £60 Save
Heating the water for baths and showers is a major energy cost.
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The Four-Minute Challenge: Aim to keep your showers to just four minutes. Use a timer or a waterproof clock to monitor your time.
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Saving: Cutting your shower time could save a typical household approximately £60 a year on heating water.
8. Insulate Your Hot Water Tank: The £40 Save
If you have a separate hot water cylinder, heat loss from the tank can waste energy.
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The Solution: Add a British Standard Jacket that is at least 80mm thick to your hot water tank. You can also use foam tubing to insulate exposed pipes between the cylinder and the boiler.
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Saving: This simple addition helps keep your water hotter for longer, saving you around £40 annually.
Maximize Your Savings: Why Octopus Energy is the Smart Choice
While these physical tips will lower your usage, choosing the right supplier and tariff will lower your rate, multiplying your savings. Octopus Energy is known for its customer service, fair pricing, and innovative tariffs that reward smart energy use.
Whether you’re looking for their highly-rated Flexible tariff or specialised options like Intelligent Octopus Go for EV charging, making the switch ensures you are on a tariff designed for the future.
Claim Your £50 Switching Credit!
The best part? When you switch to Octopus Energy using a valid referral link, they reward both you and the referrer with a £50 credit applied directly to your new energy account. It’s a risk-free way to immediately chip away at your first bill while securing a great rate.
Use the referral link below to switch today and claim your £50 credit:
Start implementing these easy tips today, and pair your low usage with a market-leading tariff. Your bank account will thank you!