Cutting household energy use: measure first

Rank heating, hot water, appliances and standby actions by annual pounds, cost and comfort.

Heating and long-running loads usually dominate; measurement prevents spending heavily to solve a tiny load.

Health, ventilation, damp prevention and electrical safety come before theoretical savings.

Annual balance

Separate space heating, hot water, cooking, appliances and transport.

Measure

Use meter history and plug monitoring over representative periods.

Prioritise

Compare annual pounds saved, investment, lifetime and maintenance.

Verify

Normalise for weather, occupancy and tariff changes.

Frequently asked questions

Should every old appliance be replaced?

Not without evidence. Compare actual use, remaining life and replacement cost.

How current are the figures?

Each page shows its review date. Your live tariff and the latest official publication always take priority.

Sources and review date

Content reviewed on: 2026-08-03.