British Gas tells households to use ‘4-minute rule’ for £70 back on bills | Personal Finance | Finance

The winter months are always an expensive time of the year for energy bills, with things like heating, washing and spending more time indoors driving up costs.

But there are smart ways to save money by making simple changes at home, including a ‘four minute rule’ recommended by British Gas. According to the major energy supplier, cutting down your time in the shower to just four minutes can actually yield significant savings, giving the average household £70 per year back on their energy bills. While you might not think taking a shower is a particularly expensive task, it is something that is part of most households’ daily routine, with some even opting for two showers per day, so the costs can quickly add up – particularly if you’re partial to a long soak.

As such, limiting your shower time to just four minutes is a small yet effective way to keep your energy costs down.

British Gas said: “Everything uses electricity, and we often leave our telly on standby or overfill the kettle for our morning cuppa. But we have some handy energy-saving tips to help you save money by doing the smallest things around your home.”

In its general energy saving tips, the supplier added: “Cut your shower time to just 4 minutes and you could save up to £70 a year.”

Not only does a shorter shower reduce your energy bills, it can also help to save around 17,000 litres of water annually, according to the Energy Saving Trust, so you can make a positive impact on the environment simply by having a quick wash.

And if you like having a relaxing soak in the tub, it’s also worth giving up your bubble bath at least once a week for a shower instead as it’s a really easy way to save you money.

The Energy Saving Trust says opting for a four minute shower once a week instead of a bath can give the typical UK household £10 per year back and save 4,000 litres of water annually.

Of course, if giving up long showers isn’t for you then you could opt to install a water-saving shower head instead to cut down your energy costs.

You can do this by visiting the Save Water Save Money website and entering your postcode to check which free items, like the shower heads, your water company is offering, but the availability depends on where you live and stock levels. If you are eligible, you can order the shower head directly through the website and have it delivered to your home.

Turning the shower off while using shampoo, soap or shower gel and then switching it back on to rinse is another free and easy way to save on both energy and water. You’ll also heat less water by doing this which helps reduce your energy costs, as well as your water usage.

And for those brave enough, you could also opt to take a cold shower as this will reduce your energy usage and time spent in the shower – it’s also said to have physical and mental health benefits too.