With households still reeling from winter energy costs, new research suggests the biggest savings come from stopping heat escaping and changing when doing household chores.
An analysis of hundreds of real-world online Reddit discussions by Norton Insurance Brokers found families reporting bill cuts of up to 25 per cent were focusing on a handful of high-impact changes rather than simply “using less”.
Instead of sitting in colder homes or obsessively switching lights off, those seeing the largest reductions prioritised draught-proofing, better insulation, shifting electricity use to cheaper off-peak hours, and properly measuring where their energy was going.
Stop the heat escaping
Heating remains the single biggest driver of household energy costs. But sharply lowering the thermostat was not the common factor among those reporting the largest savings.
Instead, households concentrated on keeping warmth inside their homes. Sealing gaps around doors, windows, keyholes and floorboards – particularly in older properties – was repeatedly cited as transformative.
Thick curtains, thermal blinds and simple secondary glazing also helped trap warmth indoors. In several cases, households reported heating cost reductions of up to 25% after improving insulation and tackling draughts.
Short, sharp ventilation was also highlighted as important. One contributor said: “Do open windows and doors for 15 minutes per room every day. This helps with damp and circulating the air. Even if it’s raining or snowing, just do it, but in series rather than all at once.”
Opening windows for 10 to 15 minutes per room can reduce damp and humidity, helping homes feel warmer at lower temperatures and reducing the need to turn the heating up.
Shift usage to save cash
Timing energy use proved just as important as cutting consumption. Households on time-of-use tariffs who moved high-demand activities – such as running washing machines, dishwashers and heating hot water – to off-peak hours reported monthly bills around 25 per cent lower.
In electricity-only homes, hot water systems can account for more than half of total electricity use, making overnight heating a particularly effective switch.
Smart meters and half-hourly usage data were frequently credited with helping households spot expensive peak periods and adjust routines accordingly.
Measure first, then cut
Another clear theme was that many families were wrong about what was driving their bills until they started tracking usage.
Energy monitoring plugs revealed that always-on devices – particularly desktop computers and multiple screens left running around the clock – were among the biggest electricity users in some homes. By contrast, older appliances such as freezers often consumed far less than feared.
One user advised: “Buy an energy monitoring plug. Put it on each appliance and allow it to gather data for a week. Switch the plug to another device and repeat. You’ll very soon realise what is consuming most of your energy and you can make cuts as necessary.”
What makes less difference
Some popular habits were found to have only a marginal impact on their own.
Constantly switching off LED lights made little noticeable difference to bills. Turning appliances off at the wall saved small amounts, but households reported limited overall impact unless combined with bigger measures such as insulation upgrades or off-peak load shifting.
Longer-term upgrades pay off
Where households were able to invest, structural improvements delivered more lasting savings. Loft insulation, sealing gaps, cleaning and balancing heating systems, installing smarter thermostats and upgrading glazing were all linked to sustained reductions.
One homeowner who replaced double glazing, sealed draughts and ensured the loft was properly insulated said: “Since our new system upgrades, our energy bill (electric and gas) has gone down by £65 a month.”
Mark Wilkinson, managing director at Norton Insurance Brokers, said: “The findings suggest that cutting energy bills does not require extreme measures. The households that achieved the biggest reductions focused on a small number of high-impact actions rather than trying to change everything at once.
“Preventing heat loss, shifting energy use to cheaper times, and identifying hidden high-usage devices consistently delivers the largest savings. These changes can help households lower bills while maintaining normal routines and comfort at home.”
