Utrack, a new app developed by comparison experts at Uswitch.com, allows consumers to connect to their home smart meter, to help households track and reduce their energy use and save money on their bills.
The free mobile app has been designed to link to a home smart meter to help consumers understand their household energy consumption, monitor when they are using the most power and find ways to cut costs around the home, as well as generate insights based on the customer’s usage.
With features focused on controlling your home energy by connecting to your smart meter, it could help you reduce the cost of your household bills. With Utrack, you can:
- Track your energy across the day and monitor changes in your energy spend
- Get dynamic energy insights, such as peak usage times
- Calculate potential savings with handy household tips
- Download for free here.
Alongside the development of the app, Uswitch.com investigated how British households will be preparing to save on their winter energy bills, as well as provide some helpful tips.
Turning appliances off at the wall is the most common way people will reduce their energy consumption this winter and will be favoured by 53% of households, followed by running their washing machine at a lower temperature, which 47% of homes are doing.
Nearly half (46%) of bill-payers plan to turn the thermostat down, with a similar proportion using their washing machine less (44%).
Table: Top ten changes households are making to prepare for winter
| Action | Total | Already done | Planning to do |
| Turn appliances off at the wall | 53% | 35% | 17% |
| Run the washing machine at cooler temperature | 47% | 32% | 15% |
| Turn the thermostat down | 46% | 29% | 17% |
| Use washing machine less | 44% | 29% | 15% |
| Upgrade light bulbs to LEDs | 42% | 30% | 12% |
| Start taking showers instead of baths | 36% | 27% | 8% |
| Stop / reduced using a tumble dryer | 35% | 24% | 11% |
| Start using the microwave instead of the oven | 30% | 21% | 10% |
| Install insulation | 29% | 26% | 3% |
| Buy a slow cooker | 28% | 23% | 5% |
Source: Uswitch.com
A third (35%) say they will reduce the number of times they use their oven to cut their energy use this winter. More than a quarter (28%) will use a more efficient slow cooker, while the same proportion will also invest in an air fryer.
While many people may already be working on reducing their energy consumption, here are a few tips and small changes that might help reduce your energy and save money.
- If you’re using the kettle to boil water, try to avoid overfilling it, as this could save £11 a year on your electricity bills.
- It might be simple, but turning the lights off when you leave a room is a significant source of energy wastage and could save you £20 per year.
- Turning your thermostat down by a single degree can save you as much as £60 per year, by making the small change.
- Reducing the amount you run your dishwasher by one each week, could save £14 per year.
- When washing your clothes, try to use a cold water or 30°C cycle, where possible. It’s only for particularly dirty clothes that you are likely to need warmer temperatures, and you can save around £28 per year by limiting the hot water you use.
Ben Gallizzi, energy expert at Uswitch.com, said: “With the days becoming colder and darker, Brits are already feeling the pressures of rising energy bills combined with the cost of living.
“Making small changes can have a significant impact. Turning off electrical items at the plug sockets, making sure lights are turned off when rooms aren’t being used and using more energy efficient appliances can all help to shave pounds off your bills.
“Using an app like Utrack, alongside simple, cost-saving practices can help provide consumers a better understanding of their energy usage and learn how to reduce bills in a safe, sensible way.”
Find out how to save on your household energy bills here.
