TEMPERATURES across Britain are set to soar this weekend but that doesn’t always mean you will spend less on your energy bills.
Households will be hoping for a drop in their monthly bill as warmer weather finally makes a return across the UK.
But you should be careful of these summer appliances which could add £200 to your energy bill if you are not careful.
Of course, how much you’ll actually pay depends on how often you use the appliance and what make and model you have.
All of the costs below are based on the average unit rates according to the energy price cap, which is set at £1,568 from July 1, 2024.
Leaving an electric fan on all night is an easy way to stay cool over night but if you are not careful it can add a hefty sum to your bill.
Uswitch told The Sun a desktop electric fan costs approximately 63p per week to use if you have it on for nine hours every night.
Over six weeks, this will add £3.78 to energy bills.
The exact costs will depend on your energy tariff and the device you have.
But you can use this equation to work it out: Cost = power (kilowatt) × time (hour) × cost of 1 kWh (pence).
The cost of 1 kWh under the new energy price cap will be 22.36p.
One hack to stay cool on a budget is ditching your duvet.
Remove your duvet cover from your bed sheets and place them in the cupboard for the summer months.
You can just use your sheets as a cover while you sleep, and you might find it gives instant relief.
Using bed sheets with the lightest material is also important as you do not want warm fabrics to cause you to heat up.
We tend to shower more in summer due to the hot weather and activities making us sweatier.
But keep your energy bills in mind when you’re hopping in the shower.
A 10.8kW shower will cost you £2.81 a week to run, based on a ten minute shower, according to sust-it.
If there are four people in your household, this could cost you an eye watering £78.68 over the period of a week.
Cutting the your shower to just four minutes should reduce the average household’s energy costs by £55 a year, the Energy Saving Trust estimates.
It will also cut your water bill if you are on a meter.
These cooling devices are great when you are hosting parties over the summer.
But if you are not careful fridge freezers can add a hefty sum to your energy bill.
According to T.M Hughes and Son gas services, a fridge freezer can cost £98 over the year.
So make sure you empty and turn off your spare fridge when you are not using it.
A budget friendly alternative is filling a bucket with ice – this will keep your drinks cool for a fraction of the price.
Outdoor lights are an easy way to add the wow factor to your garden party, however if you are not careful they can bite into your finances.
If you had four 60W outdoor lights on for an hour a day this would cost around 5p, according to Nicholas Auckland, energy expert at Trade Radiators.
Uswitch energy comparison shared with The Sun the best tips to stay cool without adding to your energy bill
Create a cooling breeze: Place a bowl of ice cubes in front of an electric fan to create a refreshing breeze as it blows the ice-cold air around the room.
Close the curtains: Keep your curtains shut during the day. It may be tempting to let the light in, but the sunshine will heat the room, turning your home into a greenhouse.
Unplug the tech: Plugged-in gadgets produce heat, including those that are on standby. Unplug them when you are not using them to keep the room cool.
Take advantage of the daylight: Switch the lights off during the day. Lightbulbs release heat causing a room to get warmer, so turning them off or switching to LED bulbs that give off less heat can help reduce the overall temperature. With the sun setting late in the evening during summer you can keep the lights off for longer and therefore keep the room cooler.
Use a hot water bottle: You don’t have to use a hot water bottle just to keep warm. Instead, you can fill it with cold water to keep you cool during the night.
For 4 hours with all 4 lights on, this would increase to roughly 20p, and over the course of 7 days it would add up to £1.40.
Over a 31 day month,this would be roughly £6.20 and for the whole of the summer, this would be £18.60.
If you wish to fork out for this accessory it is entirely up to you, as they can be a fun way to brighten up your garden.
Sunny spells of weather are the perfect opportunity to relax outside and listen to some music.
But smart speakers are some of the most expensive devices to leave on standby.
Your Alexa, or device of choice, has a fairly low energy usage at around 3 watts.
But surprisingly, it uses almost as much when it’s left on standby too, eating up two watts of energy even when you’re not using it.
That adds an extra £2.28 a year onto your energy bill if you leave it plugged in but not in use 24 hours a day.
So while it is great to listen your favourite music in the sun, make sure you unplug your device when you are done.
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