10 ways to save energy and money when renting

Nearly 20% of UK homes are privately rented.¹ So if you’re one of the many renters out there looking to reduce your energy use, bills, and carbon footprint – we’re here to help.

We know saving energy while renting can be a little more tricky, as you don’t have total control over major changes, like installing insulation or replacing windows. But there are still plenty of things you can do without making permanent changes to your home.

From simple tweaks, like shifting energy use to greener times, to talking to your landlord about bigger energy-efficiency upgrades – this guide can help you save both energy and money.

1. Check your home’s EPC rating

To understand a bit more about the energy efficiency of your rental home, a great place to start is your EPC (energy performance certificate). Your landlord should have given you one by law, unless there’s a valid exemption in place.

An EPC rates the energy efficiency and environmental impact of a property – with A being the best and G being the worst. A higher rated EPC typically means lower energy bills, while a lower rated one usually means higher energy bills.

An EPC will also give recommendations to help your home lose less heat, use less electricity, and make your heating system run more efficiently. While most of the improvements will be the responsibility of your landlord, you might be able to do some for yourself – like switching to more energy-efficient bulbs.

If your home’s EPC falls below an E, your landlord should have already taken steps to make your home more energy efficient. This is in line with Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) regulations. You shouldn’t have been able to start a new tenancy after 1 April 2020 in a property with an EPC rating of F or G without it having an exemption in place.² 

If your EPC is rated D or E, you can still talk to your landlord about making energy improvements to help you save on things like heating and lighting.

2. Look to improve the insulation

Since you can lose as much as 25% of your home’s heat from an uninsulated roof ³ – and more through the windows, doors, floor, and walls – insulation plays a critical role in reducing energy waste and bills.

Your EPC can tell you more about the insulation in your home. If it says there’s room for improvement, talk to your landlord to see if they’re willing to make some upgrades for you.

Your home might even be eligible for free or cheaper insulation through the Great British Insulation Scheme. Your landlord can apply or, with their consent, you can apply for them. It’s worth chatting to them about the scheme anyway, as they might not even know it exists.

You can also try these simple ways to help stop heat from escaping:

• Move furniture away from radiators, as they block and absorb heat
• Install secondary glazing film onto your windows (if they’re not double glazed) 
• Use radiator reflectors to prevent heat being absorbed in the wall
• Place draught blockers around windows and doors to prevent heat from getting out and cold wind coming in
• Put up heavy curtains and sealed blinds to trap heat

3. Turn your thermostat down by 1°C

Did you know that lowering your main thermostat by 1 degree can save around 10% on your energy bill? If everyone in Great Britain did this, it could save £670 million and cut 3.5 million tonnes of CO2 a year.⁴

Please be aware that the government advises that the rooms you use most often, like your living room, should be at least 18°C.5.

4. Choose energy-efficient appliances

A-rated appliances are the most energy efficient you can find, because they use less electricity and/or water than lower-rated models. This will help to reduce your energy use, cutting both your bills and carbon footprint.

The old rating scale used to run from A+++ (most efficient) to D (least efficient) but this became confusing, as lots of appliances achieved A+. So in 2021, this was scrapped and replaced by a simpler scale that only runs from A to D.

5. Upgrade your lights with LED bulbs

LED light bulbs are far more energy efficient than traditional halogen bulbs. If you can swap any halogen bulbs with new LED ones, each bulb could save you up to £2 to £3 a year. ⁶ It’s estimated that if the average UK household replaced all of their bulbs with LEDs, it would cost around £100 and save about £40 a year on bills.⁶ 

6. Get a smart thermostat

Taking control of your heating with a smart thermostat is a nifty way to help reduce energy waste, and cut bills, too. It connects your heating system to the internet, so you can control your heating on the go – from your phone, tablet, or another device. 

We love the tado° Smart Thermostat and you can get it through us for a reduced price. The tado° will:

Let you plan your temperature by the hour with Smart Schedule. So your heating is always just right. Adapt to your local weather forecast, turning down the heating on sunny days to save you energy. Cleverly detect open windows and suggest when to adjust your heating.

Remind you to turn down the heating when you leave home, and to turn it up before you get home. To install a smart thermostat, you’ll need to get your landlord’s permission – and it’s worth asking if they’ll pay for it, too.

7. Reduce hot water use

Hot water costs more than cold water because you need to pay for the energy to heat it up. While we certainly wouldn't want to stop using hot water altogether, we can make some simple changes to use less of it.

Here are some ideas:

• Consider shorter showers – setting a timer to 4-minutes could save you 30 litres a day.⁷
• Shower more than bathe – swapping just 1 bath a week for a 4-minute shower could save you £9 a year on your energy bills, and an extra £13 on your water bills.⁸ 
• Switch to a water-efficient shower head – it’ll reduce the amount of water you use.
• Turn down the water temperature – change your hot water cylinder to 60-65°C.
• Fill up the dishwasher and washing machine – get the most out of each load.
• Wash laundry at 30°C – it should still be hot enough to clean them properly.
• Check your power-shower pump for flow controls – if you can, reduce the flow of water.
• Rinse dishes in a separate bowl – it’s less wasteful than running them under the hot tap. 
• Fix that dripping tap – incredibly, it can waste thousands of litres of water a year.⁹

It’s important to know that your landlord is responsible for keeping your heating and hot water working. This includes the maintenance and repairs, and making sure your boiler is working and running safely. If your boiler is over 15 years old, it’s time to speak to them about replacing it for a more energy efficient one. 

8. Shift electricity use to greener times

There are certain times of the day when the National Grid (also known as “the grid”) is under pressure, because lots of people are using power at once. This is usually between 7pm and 9pm. To maintain a stable supply of electricity to us all, carbon-heavy fossil fuel power stations fire up to fill the gap.

At OVO, we’re helping to solve this problem with Power Move. It challenges you to shift your non-essential electricity use to greener times of the day – in return for credit on your energy bill. It’s completely free and could earn you up to £10 a month. Give Power Move a try.

9. Get a smart meter installed

A smart meter is a digital gas or electricity meter that sends readings to your supplier automatically. It also lets you see your energy use in kWh, and pounds and pence – all in real time. So once you understand where your energy is going, you can take steps to cut back.

Nearly 3 out of 4 customers with a smart meter say it’s helped them become more aware of their energy use. 

If you’re interested in going smart, you might want to read this guide on smart meters for renters. Or if you’re ready, you can book your installation with OVO now. You won’t need to get your landlord’s permission if your name is on the energy bills. But it's worth checking your tenancy agreement for any rules around changing the meter, and letting them know anyway.

If your bills are included in your rent, or your landlord or agency manages your home’s energy account, then they’re in charge of the property’s energy meter. So you’ll have to ask them if you want to change the meter. It will be their decision.

10. Switch energy supplier

Making sure you’re on the best-value tariff will help to keep your energy costs down. While low unit rates and standing charges are usually the main motivation for switching, it’s also good to see what else your supplier can offer you.

 At OVO, we believe energy can be better for you, your wallet, and the planet. That’s why we’re on a mission to help our customers cut their energy bills and our collective carbon footprint. It’s all part of the Path to Zero.

Why not get a quote from us to see if we can save you money?

If your landlord pays the energy supplier, you’ll need to ask them to switch for you. But if your name is on your energy bill, you can switch today.

Ways to get financial support

If you’re struggling financially or you’re worried about your energy bills, please contact our team – we can help. Our Customer Support Package also includes financial help and guidance.