6 savvy energy savers to heat your home for less

Home accessories express our personalities and make things more homely – but that’s not all they do.

Some appliances make it easier on you and your wallet to keep your home toasty warm during the cold winter months – a welcome relief amid soaring energy bills and living costs.

To help you beat the chill and melt the looming price cap increase, we’ve compiled six energy-saving electricals to keep you and your loved ones warm all winter while keeping costs down.

Shall we have a look then?

VonShef Variable Temperature Kettle, £44.99

Variable temperature kettles control the temperature of the water you’re boiling and feature energy-saving quick boil functions for when the kettle is partially full.

They’re also great for different teas enjoyed at specific temperatures, like green tea which brews best around 70°C.

Here are our top kettle tips to help you save energy:

·         Use the hot water right away after your kettle has finished boiling.

·         Only fill up the required amount.

·         Save the extra hot water in a flask.

·         Always turn your plug off at the mains when not in use.

·         Regularly descale your kettle because limescale build-up affects kettle performance, especially if you live in a hard water area.

·         If your favourite hot drink tastes best at a lower temperature, a varied temperature kettle can reduce your energy usage. E.g., Brewing green tea with water that just reached 176°F/80°C is more energy efficient than letting the water reach boiling point and waiting for it to cool.

VonShef 1800W Air Fryer, £69.99

Air fryers are sweeping the nation as a healthy alternative to pan and oil frying.

They roast food like ovens (air fryer is a misnomer!), but the large fan and heating element makes food super-crispy like it’s been fried.

Here are some cooking tips to save energy this winter:

·         Air fryers are a quick, healthy way to cook. They don’t need preheating, so they use less energy and cook quicker than conventional ovens and deep fryers.

·         If possible, defrost food before cooking to reduce cooking times and energy consumption.

·         Always turn off plugs at the mains when not in use.

Hungry for more air fryer info? Check out our complete air fryer guide.

Induction hobs are incredibly energy efficient as they heat the pan rather than the hob itself. Older hobs use a heating element that heats the surface area and then the pan, but this can take a while. Meanwhile, induction hobs heat the pan directly, which is much quicker and more energy efficient.

Use these tips to increase your hob’s efficiency and save those all-important pennies:

·         Always put a lid on your pan to prevent heat from escaping during cooking.

·         Use the same pan size as the hob to avoid wasting heat energy. 

·         Always turn off the plug at the mains when not in use.

Portable radiators have been around for ages, but the first iterations were less energy efficient than built-in radiators. Fortunately, modern portable radiators are far more efficient and could help slash your energy bill this winter.

These features will help you monitor your energy usage when the mercury drops:

·         You can move a portable radiator to heat any room, saving on central heating costs.

·         A handy timer lets you set the radiator to heat for a specified period.  

·         You can use the radiator to dry your washing, reducing the use of your tumble dryer and central heating.  

Electric blankets are a super-cosy way to reduce your bills this winter. Using minimal electricity, they keep you warm instead of heating all your radiators – pretty savvy.

Here’s how electric blankets can curb your home energy consumption:

·         Using an electric blanket at night reduces the need to use the central heating.

·         Cuddling up under a heated throw on the sofa – think catching up on reading or your favourite Netflix series – eliminates the need to heat your entire home. 

3 Blade Stove & Log Burner Fan, £24.99

Like regular fans, stove fans circulate warm air around a room. The difference with stove fans? They take the hot air from your stove or log burner and blow it into the room.

This mechanism rapidly heats a room and keeps it warmer for longer, saving you energy and high central heating costs – win-win!   

So, there you have it, six savvy energy savers to curb your energy use this winter.

And if this whetted your appetite for more lifestyle hacks, check out our blog – you’ll find loads of handy how-to articles, buyer’s guides, healthy recipes, and more! 

Until next time friends, stay safe and watch those pennies!