Households can save almost £500 each Winter on utility bills with these tips

Worried about saving money this winter? Find expert advice on www.amdea.org.uk/Know-Watts-What Households can reduce their utility bills by close to £500 per year by making small changes to the way they use all their appliances, say the Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Appliances (AMDEA). By simply always using the ‘eco-cycle’ on their washing machines and dishwashers, they can save an average of over £90 a year. Taking a similar approach to the savings offered by all their essential appliances, householders can reduce their annual bills by around 20 per cent says AMDEA. Washing on ‘eco’ is one of many easy ways to reduce utility bills, outlined on “Know Watt’s What”, a website providing expert advice direct from the appliance manufacturers, to help households save money using the energy efficient features in the 156 million appliances installed in our homes. “Know Watt’s What” highlights many potential ways to save, including: The recommendations come as everyone braces for higher energy bills this winter. Even with the most recent changes to the price caps, at 34p/kWh electricity charges will be 80 per cent higher than a year ago (18.9p/kWh) and despite government guarantees, the more homes use the more they will be charged –reducing is a priority. The keys to savings are using the design features better, choosing energy efficient replacements and preserving the appliances’ performance with good maintenance. Currently, the vast majority of users ignore the eco settings on their washing machines. Research for AMDEA found that less than one third of the machines that offer this programme are always used on this setting. Manufacturers indicate that simply pressing the eco button instead of other alternatives means average household washing bills would drop by up to £54 on laundry and £37 on dishes, for at least 16 million washing machines and 4.6 million dishwashers that have eco-mode. AMDEA chief executive Paul Hide said: “Millions are missing out on the money-saving potential that that the technology in-built in their appliances can provide. Our industry experts are keen to show householders – facing current cost of living pressures -- that today’s fridges and washing machines can do a great job using a fraction of the energy and water needed a decade ago. Know Watt’s What is the coming together of industry advice to householders on how to purchase, use, maintain and repair appliances, to reduce energy use. Other features on Know Watt’s What include: