8 Everyday Habits That Increase Your Electricity And Gas Bills

Finding out which simple routines quietly drive up your monthly utility costs can free up extra cash without sacrificing comfort. From devices drawing power when you think they’re off to showering routines that gulp hot water, many common practices add hidden pounds to your energy bills.

By pinpointing the worst offenders, you can take targeted action and see real savings on your electricity and gas statements. This guide breaks down eight habits, paired two per section, so you can tackle them one step at a time.

1. Standby Power and Phantom Loads

Even when turned “off,” many gadgets continue to draw electricity. Known as vampire energy, this background load can account for up to 10% of your yearly consumption in an average UK home.

Leaving phone chargers, TVs, game consoles or printers plugged in overnight means you’re paying for idle electronics. To curb this:

  • Plug clusters of devices into switched multi-sockets and flick them off when not in use.
  • Consider smart plugs that monitor usage and automatically cut power to appliances drawing excessive standby current.
  • Unplug rarely used kitchen gadgets—like bread machines or pasta makers—to prevent them leeching energy unnoticed.

Eliminating phantom energy drains is one of the fastest ways to shrink your electricity spending without any change to your daily routine.

2. Thermostat Misuse and Poor Insulation

Heating makes up the lion’s share of home energy costs, so misusing temperature controls can have an immediate impact. Simply setting your thermostat two degrees higher than needed can boost gas consumption by around 8–10%.

Combine unseasonable thermostat settings with gaps around windows or doors, and your boiler runs even longer to make up for escaped warmth. Improving heat retention involves:

  1. Sealing drafts around skirting boards, window frames and letterboxes with brush seals or weather-stripping.
  2. Installing a programmable controller to lower your heating automatically at night or when the house is empty.
  3. Adding loft insulation or cavity wall foam—often available through UK government grants—to cut heat loss by up to 25%.

By fixing simple insulation issues and using your thermostat wisely, you’ll reduce gas usage and keep living spaces comfortably warm.

3. Inefficient Appliances and Long Showers

Outdated white goods bearing G- or F-energy ratings guzzle more power than modern A- or B-rated machines. Running a 15-year-old fridge-freezer, for instance, could cost £100–£150 more in electricity each year compared with a new A-rated model.

Meanwhile, indulgent hot showers of ten minutes or more drive up both gas and electricity use (if you have an electric shower). To tackle these drains:

  • Swap old washing machines and dishwashers for energy-efficient alternatives that save up to 40% per cycle.
  • Fit a low-flow showerhead to cut water usage by 30% without sacrificing pressure.
  • Limit showers to five minutes and adjust your boiler’s temperature to 38–40 °C to balance comfort and efficiency.

These swaps and simple behaviour changes deliver quick wins on both your electricity meter and water-heating costs.

4. Overlighting and Door and Window Drafts

Many homes still rely on halogen, incandescent or compact fluorescent bulbs that waste a large share of the electricity they draw as heat. Switching every fitting—even exterior security lights—to LED can reduce lighting energy use by up to 75%.

At the same time, chilly air sneaking through poorly sealed doors or single-glazed windows forces your central heating to work overtime. To seal up heat loss:

  • Replace external porch or garden lights with motion-sensor LEDs that only illuminate when needed.
  • Install draft excluders on letterboxes and under doors, and add secondary glazing strips to sliding sash windows.
  • Apply thermal window film or hang thick curtains to improve retention during winter months.

By combining efficient lighting with effective draught-proofing, you’ll stop energy—and money—from leaking out of your home.

Taking small steps to break these energy-sapping habits doesn’t require a full-scale retrofit or major lifestyle shifts. Start by identifying which of the eight issues on this list apply to your home, and tackle them one at a time. Before long, you’ll notice cooler electricity readings, fewer gas units on your bill and a cozier, more cost-effective living environment.