Winter is coming. No, Game of Thrones isn’t making a return, but unfortunately higher energy bills are. Comfort and warmth during the chillier months shouldn’t mean a showdown with your bank account. That’s why we’ve listed smart, intentional ways to keep your home cosy while still running efficiently. Room by room, you can make small changes that deliver big returns in both comfort and savings.
Focus on comfort as well as waste
Debates over the thermostat can often get a little heated (ahem) and many of us can relate to the phrase, “it’s like a sauna in here!”.
So, where do you sit on the spectrum between being extremely energy efficient and being effortlessly energy errant? Here are a few simple questions to help you find out:
- Do you know how much your energy bill really is?
- Do you know your biggest energy spend?
- Are you getting value for what you spend?
How these questions can help your energy bills
Keeping an eye on how we use energy is simply a part of everyday life. But, the real goal isn’t just cutting back in the hope of saving pennies, it’s making sure we’re comfortable, not wasteful. In other words, paying for warmth and light you enjoy, not heat slipping through the cracks and lights left on in in empty rooms.
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How much are UK energy bills?
The average dual-fuel household bill in the UK is hovering around £1,700 per year according to USwitch. The current energy price cap is £1,849 until October 2025, with the next price cap review in November 2025, an important consideration as we enter the colder months. If you’re paying significantly more, it’s worth asking where the extra costs are creeping in.
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The UK's biggest energy spend
Knowing where the spend is going can make it easier to focus your efforts without sacrificing comfort. For most households, the major costs break down roughly like this (Source: Nesta): Heating uses up 61%, with hot water (17%) and appliances (15%) second and third. Lighting and cooking both come in equal fourth at 3% each. So, if your home is typical, focusing on heating, hot water, and appliances will usually make the biggest difference. Simple changes like turning your thermostat down by 1 degree could cut energy bills by up to 10% .
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Value for money
From a warmer duvet to thicker curtains, small investments can often pay for themselves within a year. Think about how you use energy, not just how much, focusing on reducing waste without rationing comfort.
Cosy comfort ideas for every room
Let’s walk around your home and look at effective ways to increase comfort while lowering bills, so you can see real payback and not just nice frills.
The living room
Windows: Thick or thermal curtains or lined blinds. They’ll let sunlight in during the day and trap warmth at night.
Floor: Lay rugs, especially on hard floors like tiles or wood, can help reduce heat loss and gives a warmer, cosy feel and look.
Furniture: Keep furniture away from radiators to let heat circulate.
Lighting: Use warm toned LEDs and lamps instead of harsh overhead lighting. You could also consider timers or motion sensors in areas you don’t use often such as hallways.
Bedrooms
Sleep: Use an electric blanket or hot water bottle to pre-warm the bed instead of cranking the central heating overnight. Layer bedding: flannel sheets, heavier duvets.
Draughts: Add a draft excluder under the door; seal windows.
Warmth: Consider a heat lamp for a short time before bed rather than heating the whole house late into the night.
Bathroom
Drying: Put your heated towel rail on a timer so towels are warm around shower time but not all day.
Showering: Keeping your shower time to just four minutes could save you £45 a year in GB and £65 in NI on your energy bills according to The Energy Saving Trust.
Ventilation: Draught proof extractor fans when not in use.
Kitchen
Cooking: Use slow cookers or air fryers instead of heating the oven for long periods. Batch cook and freeze meals and only boil the water you need in the kettle. Keep lids on pans so food cooks quicker.
Washing: Run dishwashers only when full, wash clothes at 30°C, and swap the tumble dryer for line drying where possible.
Freezing: Defrost your fridge-freezer regularly so it runs efficiently. Keep the fridge at 5°C and freezer at -18°C no colder.
Conservatory
Access: Close off rooms you don’t use like conservatories. Installing doors and/or thermal curtains are great for containing heat.
Windows: Thermal blinds or window film will help keep heat in and the cold out.
Heating: If you’re warming the room, a small space heater for occasional use rather than keeping central heating on high for whole house.
Home office
Desk: If you’re working for hours at a desk, make sure you have the right set up for warmth and comfort. A small heater, a warm throw and an ergonomic chair are great starting points.
Electrics: Laptops, monitors and chargers use energy year round when you work from home. Switch them off at the end of each working day and consider a smart plug to cut phantom power from equipment on standby.
Light: Good lighting can make a huge difference to concentration. LED lamps can help keep a calm and kinder feel on your eyes, while also adding comfort on darker days.
Remember: The savings you make will always depend on your home and lifestyle. Energy use is shaped by the size of your property, insulation, and heating type, as well as how many people live there, their health, age, and habits.
Where else can you “wrap-up”
Comfort doesn’t have to come at a cost of high bills and cutting energy use doesn’t mean having to feel more of the chill this winter. Focus on small but smart changes and see where you can make savings.
Retrofit changes
We’ve partnered with Eco Approach, an award-winning company that helps homeowners make their properties more energy efficient. They can help you explore tailor made short- and long-term upgrades for your home, get quotes from accredited suppliers, and even assess the impact of improvements on well being factors like thermal comfort and air quality. Find out more about Eco Approach.
Winter savings fund
Winter can throw unexpected costs our way, from boiler breakdowns to smaller essentials like rugs, curtains and bedding. Setting aside a little extra each month for a winter savings fund means you can cover these costs without the stress and even invest in upgrades that reduce bills year on year.
An Easy Access savings account is a flexible option: top it up when you can, withdraw when you need to, no strings attached. Think of it as your comfort cushion for the colder months.
Our Easy Access savings account gives you the freedom, flexibility and security you need to make the most of your money. It’s simple to open, easy to manage and there’s no waiting around when you need your savings. Complete our online application to open your Easy Access savings account.
This article is correct at time of publishing and for general information purposes only. We recommend you speak to a professional financial adviser for advice. You can find a financial adviser and further personal finance information at https://www.unbiased.co.uk/.
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