Despite falling inflation, many households are still feeling the pinch as Christmas looms and the cold weather brings with it bigger bills.
According to Switcher.ie calculations, households could save around €130 per month during the winter months - and over €1,000 per year - on their energy bills with a few simple steps.
The price comparison service has said that six easy changes can slash energy bills for households.
1. Switch it up
During gloomy winter months, house lights can be on for up to 10 hours a day. With Christmas lights added to the mix, electricity costs can rocket.
Switcher.ie recommends swapping your old fairy lights for LED strings for a cosy, festive glow, as it will cost less than €1 for the whole 12 days of Christmas.
By buying solar-powered outdoor lights, you will get a Yuletide light show for free even on cloudy days.
Simply replacing your 60 watt bulbs with 5 watt LED bulbs in a couple of rooms could save at least €2.60 per week and USB-powered lamps could save even more.
By doing these steps, households could save around €12 per month during winter.
2. Dial it down
Heating a family home during winter can cost around €10 per day, and often more if is a large house or you are at home more during the day.
Switcher.ie recommends switching your gas central heating off an hour earlier each day, and you will be around €42 per month better off. Dial it down one degree and save up to 10 per cent on your heating bills.
If you are only using one room in the evening, consider a portable heater - like an oil-filled radiator - to take the chill off. It will cost around €0.50 per hour.
By doing this, households could save around €72 per month during winter.
3. Cut the power
If you are buying any home appliances or power tools this Christmas, consider cordless.
Switch.ie said you will use less power and only pay for charging time, saving around €10 a year, just on hoovering.
Cut back on dishwashing costs and stack up savings by loading your dishwasher to the max and halving your cycles from six per week to three. Using less power on dirty dishes could save around €87 per year.
This could save households €8.50 per month or around €100 per year.
4. Ditch the dryer
If you ditch the dryer, you could save around €4 per week on laundry costs.
Switcher.ie said it is one of the most expensive appliances in our homes, using up to 3 kilowatts (kWh) per hour, so use it sparingly.
Reduce the number of laundry loads to shrink your washing costs even further. One less washing machine cycle per week could save €1.56 per month.
Set the temp to 30 degrees and fully fill your drum. If your washing machine has an eco programme, use it to save up to 30 per cent more energy.
By doing this, households could save €19 per month, or €230 per year.
5. Crack down on cooking costs
The kitchen consumes around 20 per cent of your energy bill, making the Christmas and New Year period especially "energy-guzzling", Switcher.ie said.
Consider switching off the oven and plugging in smarter gadgets for big family get-togethers.
Gently cooking the Christmas turkey in a crockpot, rustling up roast potatoes and pigs in blankets in an air fryer, and steaming vegetables in the microwave could save time and money on the big day.
Together these swaps carried into 2025 could snip €135 per year off your energy bill, or €11 per month.
6. Scale back shower time
Reduce your shower time by five minutes and save up to €1.70 per week. Dial down the temperature and save even more.
Simply drying your hair for 10 mins daily could cost around 0.80c per week, Switcher.ie said, so the energy price comparision service recommends towel drying your hair for longer and trimming your blowdry to five minutes to halve costs.
Together, a shorter morning routine could save you almost €10 per month and give you 10 mins extra in bed each day.
By doing this, you could save €9 per month, or around €100 per year.
Switcher.ie energy expert, Eoin Clarke, said: "Whilst inflation has stabilised and energy rates are finally falling, households are still feeling the pinch now the cold weather has returned and government electricity credits have been reduced.
"Despite the gloom, there are many simple swaps we can make around the home to lower our energy costs.
"If you need to replace your fridge, washing machine, or light bulbs, always choose the energy saving option and consider investing in kitchen gadgets like air fryers and slow cookers. Switching to smarter, energy-efficient appliances can cut cooking costs and even buy precious time."
