Quick swaps to save energy at home

Taking the time to fully understand your energy bills helps you to identify which areas of the home are sucking up the most power. You can then start looking at making changes to your habits, or to look at investing in more energy efficient or eco-friendly items that can help you save money in the long term. We’ve researched some of the most helpful products that could make a real impact on your ability to save energy at home – and FAST!

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Shower timer: £0 – £15

Try the four-minute shower rule that will help you take shorter showers to save on your water bills (up to £65 a year!).

A lot of heating bills are taken up by hot water so, to reduce both your energy and water usage, pop a timer inside your shower. This will work as a great reminder not just for yourself, but also for children who spend too long in the shower! If you don’t want to shell out on a timer, this Spotify playlist has a great selection of songs to help you time your showers to four minutes perfectly. There’s even a playlist for kids too!

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LED light bulbs: £4

Traditional halogen light bulbs use a lot more energy than LED bulbs and cost you more in the long run. By replacing all your bulbs with LED lights, you could save around £60 a year. This might not seem like too much, but consider the lifespan too: a halogen bulb lasts only two years while an LED bulb can last over 25 years depending on which type you get.

Use code IVIELED10 for 10% off at Simply LED via the link below!

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Dryer Balls: £5

Dryer balls are a great invention, especially if you’re limited on space for drying your clothes. Pop these into your tumble dryer along with your washing to reduce drying time and energy costs. Some can even shorten drying time by 30%!

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Window film: £5 – £10

Window film improves the insulating properties of windows to keep the cold air outside. By applying window film, you’re practically turning a single-pane window into a double pane, and a double-pane into a triple pane. 

💡ivie insight: Along with assisting with heat retention, it also helps with cooling in the summertime.

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Draught Excluder: £3 – £20

Draughts are a big contributor to heat loss when it’s cold outside. A draught excluder does exactly what it says on the tin. You could make a decorative version for your external doors, or buy something to suit your home style.

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Foam door seal tape: £10

Make your home cosier and free of draughts by taping around doors, windows, and your loft hatch with some extra thick foam sealing tape. This is a great buy if you’re looking to better insulate your home on a budget.

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Radiator heat reflectors: £8 – £25

These reflect heat from the radiator back into the room, rather than losing heat through the walls they are attached to. Radiator heat reflectors are great for providing extra insulation and are easy to install by yourself.

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Eco shower head: £7 – £30

Water-saving shower heads restrict the amount of water that comes through while still letting you have an enjoyable shower. With this product, the typical family could save £30 on gas and around £30 on water per year.

💡ivie insight: Water-efficient shower-heads not only save you water but also gas and electricity. 70% of the water used in a typical shower is hot, so reducing your water usage is crucial for cutting heating costs!

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British Standard hot water jacket: £16 – £22

If you have a hot water tank, you can insulate it with a British Standard jacket to help save energy on your heating. Not only are they easy to install, but they can also save you up to £45 yearly on your bills if you top up from 25mm to 80mm. Even better, if you have no insulation on your hot water tank, you could save up to £215 yearly by adding insulation, depending on what type of property you live in.

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Chimney draught excluder: £12 – £24

Have a chimney? Install a draught excluder to stop hot air from escaping and cold draughts from creeping in while it’s not in use. By doing this, you could save £65 per year.

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Smart plug: £7 – £30

Smart plugs allow you to switch off key appliances, from your TV to the kettle, using an app on your phone. They’re a great way to monitor your appliances and make sure you’re not wasting energy while you’re out.

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Electric blanket: £35 – £140

Looking to keep warm but don’t want to spend a fortune on heating? The answer is a heated blanket. There are plenty to choose from, with some costing as little as 1p for two hours on low heat.

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ivie Bud in-home display: £49.99

An in-home display is a great home addition for anyone with a smart meter looking to improve their understanding of how much energy they’re using and spending in real-time. We’ve designed the ivie Bud to be super intuitive and clear, to help you both understand where you’re using energy and exactly what you’re spending. Even better, it doesn’t require an engineer to get started – you can set it up yourself in moments!

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If you have found these tips useful and want to discover more, check out our FREE Ultimate Energy Saving Guide using the button below.