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There are many ways you can save energy, such as turning down the thermostat or washing your clothes at a lower temperature. But as well as changing your habits, you can also make changes to your home to make it more energy efficient. 

Here, we look at:

Everyday energy-saving tips

Switching your energy supplier

What is retrofitting?

Ways to reduce heat loss in your home

Heating your home using lower carbon fuel

Generating your own renewable energy

Ways to finance energy-saving home improvements

Making your home more energy efficient can help lower your energy bills and keep your home warmer. This guide explains simple everyday changes you can make, along with larger home improvements such as insulation and heat pumps. It also outlines ways you may be able to pay for these upgrades, including grants and other support.

The first step to saving money on energy is understanding what you spend. A smart meter tells you how much gas and electricity you use in real time. This can help you see when energy is wasted.

Once you know your energy usage, you can use a few quick wins to reduce it. You could try:

Other simple steps include turning off gadgets instead of leaving them on standby. Use draught excluders around doors. Draught-proofing fireplaces, chimneys, and windows can also help reduce heat loss.

You could save money on your energy bills by keeping showers to 4 minutes. You can also fit an energy-efficient shower head. This may reduce your water and sewerage bills. Swapping one bath a week for a 4-minute shower is another easy way to cut costs.

Avoid putting your washing machine on a high setting. Most detergents work at lower temperatures, like 30 degrees. Use an eco-wash setting. Wait until you have a full load. Hang clothes to dry instead of using a tumble dryer.

Switching energy suppliers is one of the easiest ways to save money. You can use accredited price comparison websites to shop around and find a better deal. Organisations like and provide guides on how to switch suppliers. 

Retrofitting means improving the energy efficiency of your home. This can lower your home’s energy bills. It can also reduce carbon emissions and help your home stay warmer for longer.  

Some retrofitting actions are cheaper and quicker, like changing your light bulbs to more energy-efficient ones. Other actions may be more costly and require professional help, like installing a heat pump. 

Making your home more energy-efficient could:  

A cavity wall has 2 walls with a gap between them, called the cavity. To reduce heat loss and potentially lower energy costs, insulation material can be injected into the cavity from the outside.

A solid wall has no cavity. It can be insulated from the inside or outside to prevent heat escaping and help reduce your energy bills. Internal wall insulation is usually cheaper but can be more disruptive. External wall insulation could require planning permission.

Installing floor insulation can help make your home feel warmer and reduce draughts. In most cases, only the ground floor will need insulation. However, you can also insulate floors above unheated spaces, like garages. 

According to the Energy Saving Trust, a in an uninsulated home. Insulating your loft, attic or roof can help reduce heat loss and may reduce your heating bills. Adding rolls of mineral wool to your loft or roof can help keep it insulated. The minimum recommended depth being 270mm.

Double and triple-glazed windows can reduce heat loss and condensation, and may shield your home from outside noise.

According to the Energy Saving Trust, over half of the fuel bills are spent on heating and hot water in most homes. An efficient heating system can help lower your fuel bills and your carbon emissions.

Heat pumps transfer heat from the air or ground into your home using electricity, heating your home and water. They use less electricity than the amount of heat that they generate, making them more energy efficient. Costs depend on the size of the heat pump and your property. They’re suitable for most homes.

The Energy Saving Trust say a typical heat pump could save 2 tonnes of carbon a year and reduce energy costs substantially.

Renewable energy comes from sources like sunlight and wind. These sources are replaced naturally, unlike fossil fuels that will eventually run out. 

Installing . They convert sunlight into electricity, which you can use to power your appliances and lighting. You can also invest in a solar panel battery to store generated electricity for later use.

The amount of energy generated will depend on the size of your home and the number of solar panels installed. However, buying and installing solar panels can be expensive. Compare installers and products to get the best value for money. 

You might be able to get help for energy-saving improvements to your home, including access to grants, loans, and government initiatives. For example:

If you have cash available, using your savings can be an option to fund home improvements, especially smaller projects such as draught-proofing. You can also avoid paying possible interest that may come with borrowing. Check to see if there are any charges for withdrawing your savings. Also check you’ll still have enough money left over for an emergency fund.

You may be able to borrow more money against your home. This can help fund home improvements, like making your home more energy efficient. Think carefully about securing a loan against your home. Your home may be repossessed if you can't keep up with the repayments.

Calculate what your monthly repayments could be. 

A home improvement loan allows you to spread the cost of your project without increasing your mortgage. Our home improvement loan calculator can help you work out what your monthly payments could be.

Today we finance a number of industries that significantly contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. We have a strategy to help our customers to reduce their emissions and to reduce our own. For more information visit . 

If you're struggling with heating costs, you might qualify for government support.

This article was last updated on 10/07/2026, 07:29