As the winter draws in and homeowners require increased amounts of heat and light to power their property, Bankrate.com has offered five easy steps which, if followed, could
drive down energy bills.
Some of the more obvious ways to save energy, the website states, are already widely known and used - such as turning off lights when leaving a room, using the washing machine only when it is full and spending as little time in the shower as possible.
But there are also ways to
slash energy bills that are less common, but could have just as big an impact on a homeowner's bank balance.
Firstly, according to the online financial expert, switching to a programmable thermostat can reap massive rewards.
By using the pre-determined timer setting, it is possible to lower the amount of energy used at times it is not required - such as the middle of the night.
The second tip - and arguably the one which will create the greatest return on investment - is to change all of a home's lightbulbs to energy-saving models.
Despite being slightly more expensive than normal bulbs, energy-saving alternatives will result in a noticeable drop in energy use and on the expense of a monthly bill, says Bankrate.com.
Another way to save cash is to unplug all appliances that are not in regular use - such as televisions, microwaves and washing machines, all of which waste power even on standby.
Other options suggested are arranging an energy audit, where an expert visits a property to assess what more could be done to drive down consumption and to sign up to rebate schemes and incentives offered by energy providers.
