Energy & Technology

Heating, hot water and appliances account for the vast majority of home energy use. Understanding where the energy goes helps you focus on what actually matters — rather than chasing marginal gains on things that barely register.

Where home energy goes

In most homes, space heating and cooling is by far the largest energy use — often more than half the total bill. Heating water is usually the second biggest. Then come major appliances like fridges, washing machines and dryers, followed by cooking, lighting and everything plugged in on standby.

This order matters a lot. It means that draught-proofing, better insulation and smarter thermostat use almost always save more energy than any number of swapped light bulbs or switched-off phone chargers. That doesn't mean the small things are worthless — just that you get more return focusing on the big categories first.

• Space heating and cooling: typically the dominant energy cost, especially in climates with cold winters or hot summers.
• Water heating: every shower, bath and hot tap adds up; tank insulation and shower habits make a real difference.
• Fridges and freezers: they run continuously, so efficiency matters more than for appliances used occasionally.
• Washing and drying: tumble dryers are particularly hungry; washing machines use most of their energy heating water.
• Standby and phantom loads: TVs, consoles, routers and chargers draw power around the clock even when "off."

Quick efficiency wins

Before spending anything, there's a lot you can do with behaviour and habits. Our detailed guide to saving energy at home walks through the full list, but the biggest quick wins are:

• Turn the thermostat down one degree. You'll barely notice the difference in comfort, but it makes a real dent in your heating bill. Add a layer of clothing first.
• Heat by timer, not by default. Set the heating to come on only when you're home and awake. Programme or schedule it if your system allows.
• Seal the gaps. Draughts around doors, windows and letterboxes let heat out faster than almost anything else. Draught excluders and weatherstripping cost very little and pay back in days or weeks.
• Wash laundry at lower temperatures and air-dry it when you can. Tumble dryers are among the most energy-hungry appliances in most homes.
• Kill standby loads. A switched power strip lets you turn off a TV, streaming box and games console together with one click — all devices that can draw power for hours when idle.
• Switch remaining bulbs to LED. LEDs use a fraction of the energy of older bulbs and last for years.

Choosing and using appliances well

When an appliance needs replacing, efficiency labels are your friend. Most countries use a rating scheme (A-G in Europe, star ratings elsewhere) that lets you compare running costs at a glance. The highest-rated model in the right size for your household is almost always the smart buy over the full life of the appliance.

Right-sizing matters as much as efficiency rating. A large fridge running half-empty, or a washing machine run with tiny loads, uses more energy per kilogram of food kept cold or clothes washed than a smaller machine used fully. Match the appliance to how you actually live.

• Run the dishwasher and washing machine only when full, and use eco or low-temperature settings.
• Keep fridge coils clean, check door seals, and don't set it colder than necessary.
• Use the right size ring or burner on the hob and keep lids on pans to cook faster with less heat.
• A kettle, microwave or air fryer uses far less energy than a full oven for small portions.
• When replacing an old fridge or freezer that runs continuously and is over ten years old, upgrading to an efficient model often pays back in a few years on the electricity bill alone.
• For most other appliances used occasionally, run what you have until it genuinely needs replacing.

Renewables and green tariffs

Once you've cut the energy you use, the next step is thinking about where it comes from. There are several routes depending on your situation.

Rooftop solar makes sense for many homeowners, particularly where electricity is expensive, roofs get good sun, and government incentives or feed-in tariffs are available. Costs have fallen dramatically in recent years. It's worth getting several quotes, checking what grants or rebates apply in your area, and running the numbers for your specific roof and location rather than relying on rules of thumb. Renters and those with unsuitable roofs can often access community solar schemes that let you buy into shared arrays.

Heat pumps transfer heat from outside air or the ground into your home rather than generating it by burning fuel. Done right, they can heat a home very efficiently — but they work best in well-insulated homes, and the economics depend heavily on local electricity and gas prices, climate and available incentives. If you're considering one, check what support is available in your country before deciding.

Green electricity tariffs vary widely. Some directly match your consumption with verified renewable generation; others are less transparent. Look for suppliers that clearly disclose their energy sources. Even if the electrons reaching your home are identical regardless of supplier, switching money toward renewable providers helps fund more clean capacity.

Sustainable tech habits

Our devices — phones, laptops, TVs, routers — carry a real footprint, most of it in their manufacture rather than their running. The single most impactful tech choice is usually keeping what you have working for as long as possible.

• Repair before replacing. A new battery, a replaced screen or a fixed charging port can add years to a device's life for a fraction of the cost and environmental impact of buying new. Local repair shops, manufacturer repair services, and online guides make this more accessible than ever.
• Buy refurbished. Certified refurbished phones and laptops go through quality checks and come with warranties. They cost less and avoid the heavy footprint of new manufacturing.
• Extend device lifespan actively. Keep software updated, avoid letting batteries run to zero repeatedly, use a good case, and don't upgrade just because a newer model exists.
• Recycle e-waste properly. Old phones, batteries and electronics contain materials that can be recovered and toxins that must be kept out of landfill. Never bin them — use a certified e-waste drop-off or take-back scheme.
• Streaming and cloud use. Data centres and networks do use real energy, though the exact footprint of any individual stream is small. Downloading content you watch repeatedly, lowering video resolution when you don't need HD, and clearing out cloud storage you don't use are all reasonable habits without needing to stress about every click.

Your easy wins checklist

• Lower the thermostat by one degree and set a heating timer.
• Seal one draughty door or window this week.
• Switch laundry to a cooler wash and air-dry the next load.
• Put the TV and entertainment setup on a switched power strip.
• Replace your most-used remaining halogen or incandescent bulbs with LEDs.
• Check if any appliance over 10 years old is worth replacing with an efficient model.
• Look up e-waste drop-off options for any old devices sitting in a drawer.