Cutting your shower time to four minutes can help you save around £60 annually on energy bills, according to EDF Energy
Countless Brits are grappling with higher energy costs this winter after Ofgem’s latest 0.2% price cap adjustment, following a 2% increase between October and December. Yet, EDF Energy offers several tips that may reduce its impact, including a simple habit change.
It might seem overly straightforward, but the energy supplier’s recommendation centres on how long you spend in the shower. Whilst studies indicate that many of us spend up to 10 minutes washing ourselves, reducing this to just four could substantially reduce energy use.
In a 2024 online energy-saving guide, EDF explained: “Cutting your shower time to 4 minutes can save you around £60 a year on energy bills. Do you prefer baths? Consider swapping one bath a week for a shorter shower or running shallower baths to save water.”
EDF Energy is far from the only organisation advocating this approach. The Energy Saving Trust also highlights that reducing your shower duration will not only cut costs but could preserve roughly 17,000 litres of water annually.
The Trust’s calculations differ somewhat from EDF Energy’s, suggesting that typical households could save approximately £45 per year by limiting showers to four minutes. For homes in Northern Ireland, this figure could climb to £65.
The Energy Saving Trust explained online: “Shortening the time that you spend in the shower will reduce the volume of water that goes down the drain, as well as saving you money on the energy used to heat the water.”
Both EDF Energy and the Energy Saving Trust provide a wealth of additional advice for reducing energy consumption beyond showering. Another crucial recommendation concerns draught-proofing, which means sealing gaps around doors, windows and chimneys to stop heat escaping.
Thermal cameras are particularly effective for identifying heat loss in homes because they measure surface temperatures. Homeowners can identify the warmest spots in red and the coldest in blue.
Tackling common heat-loss areas such as windows, doors and skirting boards can help maintain warmth in your property for longer, minimising the need to increase heating. Households with more flexible budgets might also consider a professional thermal survey, which typically costs around £300 for smaller properties and £750 for larger ones.
For more energy-saving tips you can head to EDF Energy’s blog here and The Energy Saving Trust’s website here.
What is the energy price cap?
The energy price cap for England, Wales and Scotland rose by 0.2% between January 1 and March 31, 2026, meaning typical dual-fuel households are now paying approximately £1,758 per year. Whilst 0.2% might appear to be a modest rise, the new figure is £20 higher than the level between January and March 2025.
Ofgem clarifies that its energy price cap represents the ‘maximum amount’ energy suppliers can charge for each unit of energy and the ‘standard charge’ for those on a standard variable tariff. Whilst there’s a general figure for what ‘typical’ households might spend, the precise cost varies depending on factors such as your postcode, meter type, and how you pay.
Ofgem’s price cap doesn’t apply to everyone, but customers on a default tariff who settle electricity and gas bills via standard credit, Direct Debit, a prepayment meter, or an Economy 7 meter are typically covered.
Official guidance from Ofgem adds: “The actual amount you pay will depend on how much energy your household uses, where you live and the type of meter you have.
“You could pay less for your energy by changing your energy tariff or payment type. Find out if you can change or fix your tariff and how to switch energy supplier. Tell your energy supplier if you cannot pay your bills. They must help you if you ask. They could set up a repayment plan or provide you with emergency credit.”
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