HOUSEHOLDS have been given a glimmer of hope with the news that gas and electricity bills may fall this spring, but simple tricks can cut your costs until then.
Energy costs went up last month in line with the latest Ofgem price cap.
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This has seen the typical bill increase from £1,834 to £1,928, a rise of £94.
However, the new price cap level for April 1 to June 30 is expected to fall from current levels when it is announced later this month, with predictions of a further slight drop in July.
While this will come as welcome news, it’s important to remember that the wholesale energy market is unpredictable, and that prices can increase for a host of unforeseeable reasons.
Right now, it’s important to continue taking all the steps you can take to keep a lid on energy costs.
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One easy hack you might not have thought about simply involves hanging pictures on your walls, according to Johanna Constantinou, interior trends expert at Tapi Carpets & Floors.
And it could cut your bills by hundreds of pounds, depending on how many you put up.
She told The Sun: “You might not realise it, but you can use artwork to save on your energy bills.
“Strategically hanging large-scale art can provide an extra layer of insulation to your room.”
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This, she explains, keeps cold air out and warm air in.
“Picture hangings block airflow through the walls while also preventing cool air from seeping in,” she said.
“It makes a lot of sense to cover your walls with artwork.”
How to cut energy costs and get help with FOUR key household bills
Before you worry about having to pay a small fortune for a masterpiece, if you’re not using photos, then fear not.
You can pick up some brilliant options at bargain basement prices.
Dunelm has a range of canvases, including a “tree landscape” (50cm x 40cm) for £6.
At Ikea, you can find some great value “ready-to-hang” pictures in frames, including extra-large ones, such as the aluminium-colour world map (200cm x 140cm) for £65.
Another top tip from Johanna involves hanging large-scale rugs on your walls to boost insulation.
“Hanging woven rugs in particular can be very useful in helping you keep your room warm,” she said.
“This is because the rug size, texture and material all have insulating properties.”
This, she adds, has two upsides.
“Not only do you create an aesthetically-pleasing environment, but a warm one, too,” she said
The good news is, investing in a handful of rugs needn’t break the bank.
At Wayfair, for example, the handmade braided multi-colour rug (61cm x 91cm) is reduced from £29 to £22.99, and there loads of large rugs on Amazon for less than £20.
At Ikea, you can pick up a flat-woven jute rug (120cm x 180cm) for £35.
Other ways to cut your bills
While there may be better news on the horizon in regards to energy bills, right now, many consumers are still struggling to make ends meet as eye-watering gas and electricity costs continue to burn huge holes in household budgets.
One thing you need to realise is that even though the price cap currently sits at £1,928 a year, this does not limit your total bill.
It is the average amount, meaning you could find yourself paying more based on the amount of energy you use, the way you pay for your energy, and your meter type.
With family finances stretched to their limits, rather than turn up your heating, now is the time to look to bring bills down by taking action to heat your home more efficiently.
Johanna said: “With the weather taking a turn for the worst in the past few weeks – and gas and electricity prices having increased once again in January – it’s important to stay warm without having to spend too much on energy bills.”
The good news is, you don’t need to make huge changes – or fork out massive sums of money – to make a big difference.
You could find that boosting your home’s insulation with simple tweak’s such as adding pictures or rugs allows you to turn your thermostat down by one degree.
This could save you more than £100 a year on your energy bills, according to the Energy Saving Trust.
Johanna said: “Implementing a few changes in your home – such as art or rugs – can help you achieve an optimal temperature – while also reducing your energy bill.”
The average temperature in UK homes is set to around 20 degrees, which is one degree higher than climate experts recommend.
By lowering your thermostat just a notch, you will not only save on your energy bill, but also lower your carbon footprint – while keeping the temperature of your home within the recommended comfortable levels.
If you’re thinking about other ways to keep your home cosy for less, remember a warm carpet with thick underlay is a really efficient way to keep rooms warm, as it can provide another layer of insulation.
And don’t forget to take steps to block out draughts, too.
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Thermal curtains or blinds can be great for temperature control, and it’s also worth adding draught excluders to the bottom of your doors.
If you don’t want to fork out for these, try fashioning your own draught excluders by stuffing rags into the legs of an old pair of tights.
