1. Wash Cooler

Washing your clothes at 30°C rather than 40°C can save an estimated 40% in electricity, as most of the electricity used by a washing machine goes on heating the water. Reducing the temperature is also kinder to fabrics, meaning you can make an extra long term saving by getting more wear out of your clothes.

2. Use Your Oven Efficiently

Plan your meals and look for opportunities to use your oven as efficiently as possible. For example, you may be able to cook a few meals at once, or make larger portions, which you can then reheat in the microwave later in the week. After all, if you're paying to heat your oven, it makes sense to get the most out of the heat. In colder months, when you've finished cooking leave your oven door open to help heat your home.

3. Control the Temperature

Thermostatic and smart programmable heating controls let you maintain the temperature inside your home. Using your heaters at a moderate temperature consistently, rather than turning on and off throughout the day, can actually be a more efficient way to heat your home.

4. Dry Clothing Naturally

Drying clothes outdoors can provide significant savings over using a tumble dryer, which can often be one of the more expensive appliances to run. Obviously drying outside is dependent on the weather, and not as practical in the winter. An indoor clothes horse is another option - you should avoid drying wet clothes on radiators however as this can make your heating system less efficient; keep some windows open if drying indoors to ensure ventilation is adequate to avoid damp and mould.

5. Use an Energy Efficient Shower

Taking a shower is usually quicker and more efficient than taking a bath, however taking things a step further with efficient showers and water saving shower heads can help to reduce bills even further.

6. Generate Your Own Energy

Renewable energy, such as that obtained by solar panels or wind turbines, can be a good way to cut your household bills - either by covering some of the energy you use, or by enabling you to sell energy back to the grid and earn additional income.

7. Insulate Properly

As most people know; a well insulated home stops heat from escaping during winter and means it costs less to stay warm indoors. Check that your loft and wall cavities are insulated as well as is possible in the property (pre 1920s houses usually won't have wall cavities). You can also often add insulation between floors and ceilings to help keep rooms even warmer.

8. Find the Best Deal

Most of us can make savings on our household bills simply by shopping around for a better deal on things like gas and electricity, mobile phones, insurance, TV & broadband. Companies are usually keen to keep customers, so threatening to move to a competitor can often help secure a discount.

9. Install LED Lighting

LED light bulbs can make a big difference to the energy consumption of a home, particularly if you are swapping from older filament bulbs. The initial cost per bulb may seem higher than other bulbs, including other types of energy efficient bulbs, however good quality LEDs should be a lot cheaper to run and last for many years; enabling you to achieve significant savings over their lifetime.

10. Turn Down The Heat

Turning down your heating by just a degree or two can have a significant impact on the size of your bills and save the average household around £90 per year (according to the Energy Saving Trust).

11. Switch off Standby

Unless turned completely off, most appliances will continue to draw a small current if left plugged in or on standby. Wherever possible, unplug appliances when not in use, particularly those that you use infrequently. You can also use smart sockets to help manage your appliances and make turning on and off easier.

12. Fill Your Fridge

Fridges work more efficiently when they are full rather than empty, and when the contents are spread evenly throughout the space. This doesn't mean you should overfill your fridge, but keeping it well stocked means that energy isn't wasted cooling down empty space, which is quicker to heat up than denser food items.

13. Grow Your Own

Growing your own fruit and veg helps you to save on the weekly grocery bill and is something that many people really enjoy. Try to grow a range of produce throughout the year, so you've always got something seasonal to help you save.

14. Eliminate Draughts

Getting rid of draughts means that your home feels warmer and more comfortable, and that you are not wasting money by heating air that is escaping outdoors. Use draught excluders under doors and ensure that your windows are sealed and in good order. Sealing up chimneys that are not used also helps to retain the heat you've paid for, that would otherwise escape.

15. Keep Your Appliances Clean

Your kitchen appliances will work more efficiently if you keep them clean and well maintained. For example, food and dirt on a hob will absorb heat so you'll need to use more energy to cook. A dirty dishwasher will give less than ideal results and may mean you need to run more or longer cycles. Keeping your kettle clean and de-scaled will also mean it doesn't have to work harder than intended to boil so stay stocked up on kitchen cleaning products and make taking care of your appliances part of your weekly or monthly routine.