Rising energy bills are a hot topic at the moment. With winter approaching and prices at an all-time high, lots of people are wondering how they can cut costs.

Thankfully, there are lots of ways you can save money on your energy bills. You just need to take a few simple steps.

Today, we are going to run through some of our top tips. Keep reading to learn more.

1. Use Your Laptop Battery

Woman sitting in front of laptop with a cup

Let's begin by looking at consumer electronics. There are lots of ways you can improve your energy conservation by changing the way you use them.

First up: laptops. It is much more efficient to run your laptop using its battery, then recharge it once it nears depletion. Leaving your laptop plugged in 24/7 is a sure-fire way to run up the bills unnecessarily.

Of course, using your laptop battery regularly will also prolong its lifespan, which will also help to save you some money down the road.

2. Buy Energy-Efficient Devices

row of lightbulbs

These days, almost all appliance manufacturers will offer an energy rating for their products. Even though extremely energy-efficient devices might cost a little bit more upfront, they will save you a lot in the long run.

This is especially true for products that a) use a lot of power and b) typically have a very long lifespan. We're talking about units such as fridges, dishwashers, microwaves, and air conditioning mini-splits.

3. Don't Rely on Standby Modes

Devices such as TVs, streaming boxes, hi-fis, and gaming consoles all offer a standby mode. When your press the power button on your remote, you're not really killing the power at all. Yes, you are reducing its electricity consumption, but you are not eliminating it altogether. Indeed, research suggests that 75% of the energy used to power household electronics is consumed when they are "switched off."

To save money on your electric bill, you should instead make sure the device is disconnected from the power entirely. Doing so will kill the device's electricity draw and save you money.

In cases where it is not practical to physically unplug a gadget (for example, if your TV connects to a socket behind a sideboard), you should consider installing smart plugs that you can turn on and off from your smartphone.

4. Turn Off the Lights

Photo of a light switch on a wall

Most people are guilty of running too many lights. There will naturally be times when you absentmindedly leave a light on in a room, but you don't need to make leaving the lights on a standard habit.

This advice extends beyond the home, though. For instance, do you need to run outdoor security lights all night? It will save money on your electric bills if you use motion-detecting security lights instead.

Also, consider the types of lightbulbs that you use. While energy-efficient lightbulbs are now fairly commonplace inside the home, replacing powerful security bulbs with LED options outside the home can help to slash your bill.

5. Use a Smart Thermostat

Photo of a thermostat on a wall

In the winter, it is tempting to power up your thermostat and leave it running around the clock. After all, no one wants to walk into a freezing cold house after a long day at the office.

However, taking this approach is one of the biggest culprits when it comes to large electricity bills. If you instead install a smart thermostat, you can program it to work at the times you desire and can override it remotely if a winter's day is unseasonably warm and you don't need the extra heat.

Another great energy-saving tip for your heating system is to turn off all the radiators in rooms you do not use. There is no point in keeping the spare room nice and toasty when you only go in there once every few weeks.

6. Change Your Windows

Photo of a house interior with large windows

Poor quality windows are another massive drain on your bill in winter. Changing your windows isn't a cheap endeavor (and if you are renting, it might not be possible at all), so you should only go to the expensive if you are confident that you will be living in the same place for the next few years.

If you do change them, make sure you get double-glazed replacements. And if you live in a place that sees hot summers, you also want to ensure they have e-coating. It will help to reflect heat away and keep the inside cooler, thus reducing your air conditioning use.

7. Change Your Washing Habits

Photo of various washing machines in a room

While everyone loves a nice soak in a hot tub from time to time, if you are serious about reducing your electricity bills, you're going to need to cut down on the amount of time that you spend in the bath.

Bathing uses much more water than showering, which in turn means your water heater needs to work harder to get the water up to temperature. In winter, when the mains water is starting from a much lower temperature than in the summer, which can increase your bills dramatically.

And speaking of the heater, can you reduce the temperature that it warms your water up to? There is little need to have the hot water come out of the tap scolding hot; a pleasantly warm temperature is more than fine for showering, washing dishes, and washing clothes.

8. Run Appliances at Full Capacity

Photo of a person loading a dishwasher

It is tempting to run your washing machine and dishwasher every day, even if they are not at full capacity. Using this method will have a negative impact on your bills.

Instead, make sure you have enough clothes to fill your appliances to the current level before you start the cycle.

But beware; in the case of a washing machine, do not overfill it. If the drum is filled beyond its recommended level, it will use more power to spin the excess weight (and also dramatically reduce the lifespan of the appliance)

Use All of These Energy Saving Tips Together

Many of these tips aren't going to magically conserve energy if you perform them in isolation. You need to take on board all of these tips and try and action them at the same time.

Making a concerted effort across your entire lifestyle is the only way to conserve a good amount of energy and see a noticeable reduction in your electricity bills.