Why Energy Efficiency Matters More Than Ever

Gas heating accounts for a significant portion of most household energy bills — especially during the colder months. While you can't control commodity prices, you can reduce how much gas your home actually uses. Small, consistent changes often add up to meaningful savings over a heating season.

1. Turn Down the Thermostat by Just One Degree

Reducing your central heating thermostat by even 1°C can noticeably reduce your annual gas consumption. Most people find temperatures between 18°C and 21°C comfortable indoors. Use a programmable or smart thermostat to dial back heating when you're asleep or away from home.

2. Use a Smart Thermostat

Smart thermostats learn your heating habits and optimise your boiler's schedule accordingly. Many models can be controlled remotely via a smartphone app, so you never heat an empty home. Look for models compatible with your existing boiler system.

3. Bleed Your Radiators Regularly

If your radiators have cold spots — particularly at the top — they likely contain trapped air that reduces heating efficiency. Bleeding radiators releases this air and restores full heat output, meaning your boiler doesn't have to work as hard.

4. Insulate Your Home Properly

Heat loss through walls, roofs, floors, and windows is one of the biggest inefficiencies in older homes. Consider:

  • Loft insulation: One of the most cost-effective upgrades available.
  • Cavity wall insulation: Can significantly reduce heat escaping through external walls.
  • Draught-proofing: Seal gaps around doors, windows, letter boxes, and skirting boards.
  • Double or triple glazing: Reduces heat loss through windows considerably.

5. Service Your Boiler Annually

A boiler that isn't serviced regularly loses efficiency over time. Annual servicing keeps your boiler burning gas at its optimal rate, ensures the heat exchanger isn't clogged, and helps catch problems before they become expensive repairs.

6. Insulate Your Hot Water Cylinder

If you have a hot water storage cylinder, a good insulation jacket can reduce heat loss significantly. This is a simple and inexpensive upgrade that can pay for itself quickly.

7. Lower Your Hot Water Temperature

Many boilers and hot water cylinders are set hotter than necessary. Setting your hot water cylinder thermostat to around 60°C is recommended for hygiene (to prevent legionella growth) — but many people have theirs set much higher, wasting energy.

8. Use Thermostatic Radiator Valves (TRVs)

TRVs allow you to control the temperature in individual rooms. Rooms that are rarely used — spare bedrooms, storage rooms — don't need to be heated to the same level as living areas. Fitting TRVs and turning them down in unused rooms reduces unnecessary gas consumption.

9. Take Shorter Showers

If your hot water is heated by gas, the shower is one of the biggest consumers. Reducing shower time by even a few minutes per day can make a meaningful difference across a household over a year.

10. Consider Upgrading to a High-Efficiency Condensing Boiler

If your boiler is more than 10–15 years old, it may be running at significantly lower efficiency than a modern condensing boiler. A new A-rated boiler can convert over 90% of the gas it burns into usable heat, compared to as low as 60–70% for older models. The upfront cost can often be offset by long-term energy savings.

Quick Reference: Energy-Saving Impact

Action Estimated Difficulty Potential Impact
Lower thermostat 1°C Easy Moderate saving
Smart thermostat Easy–Medium Good saving
Bleed radiators Easy Small–moderate
Loft insulation Medium High saving
Annual boiler service Easy (hire engineer) Moderate saving
New condensing boiler High (installation) Very high saving

Start with the easiest changes and work your way up. The cumulative effect of multiple improvements is often greater than any single measure alone.