Millions of Britons are being urged to make a simple change to their boiler settings that could save £112 a year. Money-saving charities Nesta and Which? have launched a campaign with energy firms EDF, E.ON Next and Octopus to help households reduce soaring energy bills this winter.
Nesta says people with combi gas boilers should set the “flow temperature” to 60°C or below to use gas most efficiently. Many boilers run hotter, causing heat loss from pipes and higher gas usage. The flow temperature is different from the thermostat and is adjusted via a dial or buttons on the boiler front.
Lowering the flow temperature from 80°C to 60°C can save 9% of total gas use, or £112 for an average home, according to Nesta. If 10 million households with combi boilers reset their flow temperature, it would cut £1bn from energy bills and save 1.7 million tonnes of carbon.
Madeleine Gabriel, Director of Sustainable Future at Nesta, said the £112 saving is bigger than most well-known energy tips. She added: “Many people are already doing as much as they can to save money on energy bills. But there are hidden tricks that people can take themselves that don’t affect their comfort.”
The campaign comes after the Government rejected calls for a £15m energy-saving campaign this winter, with Climate Minister Graham Stuart saying, “we’re not a nanny-state Government.” However, National Grid has warned of potential blackouts in an extreme scenario.
