Despite steadying inflation, many households are still feeling the post-Christmas pinch and the bite of hefty energy bills during the winter months.
However, households could save around €1,230 per year on energy bills, according to price comparison website Switcher.ie.
Here are six easy changes you can make.
1.Dial it down
Keeping houses warm can cost between €8 and €15 per day, depending on the size and energy efficiency of your home.
However, just turning your gas central heating off an hour earlier each day can save you around €10 per week and dialling down the thermostat one degree can save an extra €7 per week - altogether reducing a typical gas bill around 25 per cent off a typical gas bill.
Only using one room? Consider an energy-efficient portable heater rather than heating the whole house. Swap out your old fan heater for an infrared one, and save €6 per week.
You could save: Up to €400 per year
2. Switch it up
Switch to solar-powered outdoor lights, and light up your neighbourhood for free even if it's cloudy.
You can also replace your old 60 watt bulbs with low energy 5 watt LED bulbs and save at least €2.60 per week. USB-powered lamps could save you even more.
You could save: Over €135 per year
3. Cut the power
Cut back on dishwashing costs by loading your dishwasher to the max and halving your cycles from 6 per week to 3. Using less power on dirty dishes could save around €87 per year.
If you're buying power tools, make sure to go cordless, as you'll use less power and only pay for charging time. Simply hoovering with a cordless model can save around €10 a year.
You could save: Around €90 per year
4. Ditch the dryer
Save over €3 per week on laundry costs by ditching the dryer. It's one of the most expensive appliances to run, using up to 3 kilowatts per hour, so air dry whenever possible, reduce your use or shorten the cycle.
Also, fill your machine and cut the number of loads you run each week. Squeezing more into the drum, reducing the number of cycles, and air-drying instead of tumble drying could save around €15 per month.
You could save: Around €177 per year
5. Entertain for less
Kitchen activities typically account for around 20 per cent of the average energy bill over the Christmas period.
Next year, consider switching off the oven and plugging in smarter gadgets. Gently cooking the meat in a crockpot, cooking roast potatoes in an air fryer and steaming veg in the microwave could save time and money on big family events.
You could save: Around €173 per year
6. Scale back shower time
Reduce your shower time by 5 minutes and save over €100 per year. Dial down the temperature and save even more. Just drying your hair for 10 minutes daily could cost around 0.80c per week, so spend longer towel drying your hair and cut your blow dry by 5 minutes to halve costs.
You could save: €109 per year
