How to use less electricity Why save electricity?

Lightbulb in the shape of a pound sign

Use less electricity to cut your energy bills

Burning fossil fuels to produce electricity releases carbon emissions, which in turn are linked to climate change.

Using less electricity will mean fewer damaging emissions are created each time you turn on a light, boil your kettle or charge your mobile phone.

The great news is that saving electricity will reduce your electricity bills, and as the price of electricity is expected to rise even further, there’s never been a better incentive to save electricity.

Start saving electricity

There’s lots you can do to start saving energy. As well as the household tips listed in this article, you can also invest in more energy-efficient household goods. If you want to go straight to the heart of the problem, consider generating your own electricity or switching to a green electricity tariff.

But it’s not all about grand gestures. Smaller changes, such as unplugging your mobile phone charger once it is charged, may shave only a few pence off your electricity bill, but can have a huge impact on the environment if we all get in the habit of making them.

Measuring electricity consumption

Electricity consumption is often measured in kilowatt hours, or kWh for short. An electrical item rated at 1000W switched on for one hour uses 1kWh of energy (1000W = 1kW).

  • A 100W light bulb, on for one hour, uses 0.1 kWh of electricity. 
  • A 60W light bulb, on for one hour, uses 0.06 kWh of electricity.
  • A 60W light bulb, on for two hours, uses 0.12 kWh of electricity.

Measuring electricity costs

Electricity meter

Electricity suppliers sometimes call each kWh of electricity 'one unit of electricity'. They have a charge for each kWh (or each unit) - this is currently around 13 pence. 

So, having a 100W light bulb on for one hour uses 0.1 kWh of electricity - 1.3 pence. With many household bulbs, and indeed many electrical appliances, being on for several hours a day, it's easy to see how electricity costs can add up.

Most suppliers also have a daily standing charge for being connected to their electricity supply, before adding their charge per unit used.

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