6 easy swaps to slash energy bills by €1,232 per year

Despite steadying inflation, many households are still feeling the post-Christmas pinch and the bite of hefty energy bills during the winter months.

Switcher.ie‘s calculations show that households could save around €1,230 per year on their energy bills by switching up, scaling back or making simple swaps.

1. Dial it down

Keeping our homes warm can quickly burn a hole in our pockets during the winter months. It 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 slashing around 25% off a typical gas bill.

Only using one room? Consider an energy-efficient portable heater to take the chill off 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

Winters can be pretty gloomy in Ireland, with house lights on for up to 10 hours a day. Add outdoor lighting to the mix, and electricity costs can rocket.

Switch to solar-powered outdoor lights, and glow up your neighbourhood for free even on cloudy days.

Lift the spirits indoors by replacing your old 60-watt bulbs with low-energy 5-watt LED bulbs and save at least €2.60 per week. For a cosy glow, USB-powered lamps could save you even more.

You could save:  Over €135 per year

3. Cut the power

Cut back on dishwashing costs and stack up savings 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.

Buying power tools for a spot of DIY, or gardening? Go cordless – 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 (kWh) per hour, so air dry whenever possible, reduce your use or shorten the cycle.

To further shrink your washing costs, 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

The energy-guzzling Christmas period drains many household budgets, with kitchen activities typically accounting for around 20% of the average energy bill.

Next year, consider switching off the oven and plugging in smarter gadgets for big family get-togethers. Gently cooking the meat in a crockpot, rustling up roast potatoes in an air fryer and steaming veg in the microwave could save time and money on big family events.

Together, these smart swaps carried into 2026 could snip €173 per year off your energy bill.

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.

Together, a shorter morning routine could save you almost €10.00 per month and give you 10 mins extra in bed each day!

You could save:  €109 per year

Switcher.ie’s Energy Expert, Eoin Clarke says

   “Whilst the cost of living crisis has eased and energy prices have stabilised, households are bound to be feeling the post-Christmas pinch now the cold weather has set in and energy bills bite.

On the upside, there are several simple swaps we can make around the home to lower our energy costs.

Whether you need to replace big-ticket goods like your fridge and washing machine, or smaller items like light bulbs, always choose the energy-saving option and consider investing in new kitchen gadgets like air fryers and slow cookers. Switching to smarter, efficient appliances can not only cut cooking costs but also save time.

Other ways to reduce your bills include changing everyday routines, such as showering and laundry. Simply cutting back on shower time, washing one less load per week, and ditching the dryer can save hundreds of euros per year.

Some of the biggest savings can be found by making small adjustments to your heating habits, such as turning off the heat earlier in the evening, or dialling down your thermostat and hot water temperatures. Small switches really can add up to big savings at this time of year.”

For more tips on reducing heating costs and cutting energy bills visit Switcher.ie for more expert guides.

Here’s a summary of potential savings:

Based on one kWh of electricity costing 34.03 cents (Including VAT) and one kWh of gas costing 11.17 cents (including VAT) in December 2025. Standard unit price, 24-hour flat rate, smart meter, Electric Ireland.

* heating only between October and March (calculated for 25 weeks)