With energy prices sharply rising and household budgets under pressure, many Britons are seeking practical ways to reduce their expenses. Trusted financial expert Martin Lewis, known for his Money Saving Expert platform and appearances on BBC and ITV, emphasizes a simple yet effective tip to help cut heating bills by roughly 10%.
This advice, originally shared on his ITV show in November 2022 and still relevant today despite ongoing high energy costs, advises homeowners to lower their thermostat by just one degree Celsius whenever possible. Dubbed the ‘1C rule,’ this small change can translate into significant savings over time.
Lewis explains the reasoning clearly: “The World Health Organisation says 18 degrees Celsius is suitable for healthy adults. If you’re younger, older, or unwell, you may need it warmer. But for most people, reducing your thermostat from 21°C to 20°C could save around 10% on your heating bill.”
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He further clarifies, “It’s not about dropping the temperature from zero to 20, but rather adjusting from the actual heated level — if your heating starts working at 15°C and you normally heat to 21°C, lowering it to 20°C means less energy spent maintaining heat.”
He also cautions against the common reaction to cold weather: turning up the thermostat. “Your thermostat controls the target temperature. Turning it up won’t warm your home faster; it just means your heating works longer and costs more.”
The Money Saving Expert team describes this ‘one-degree’ adjustment as one of the simplest and most effective ways to save energy. The Energy Saving Trust estimates that reducing heating by one degree can save approximately £90 annually for the average household.
Many households keep their thermostats set in the 20s, and even a single-degree reduction can make a notable difference. The Trust explains, “If your home is already around 13°C inside, heating it one degree less can significantly reduce your bills.”
This approach aligns with World Health Organisation guidelines, which recommend indoor temperatures of at least 18°C for healthy adults during winter. Those more vulnerable to cold, including children, the elderly, and ill individuals, should maintain a minimum of 20°C.
By adopting Martin Lewis’s ‘1C rule,’ millions can achieve meaningful savings on energy costs with minimal effort and without sacrificing comfort.