Energy saving advice for families

Having an energy-efficient home is good for many reasons. Using less energy will help you save money on household bills. It is also better for the environment. There are lots of ways to save energy, from small habit changes to home improvements.

There are changes you can make to your home to make it more energy efficient. If your home has an energy performance certificate (EPC), this will tell you how energy efficient your home is and what you can do to improve it. You can search for your EPC on GOV.UK and find ways to save energy in your home.

If you own your home, you may be able to apply for a grant for energy efficiency improvements.

If you rent from the council or a private landlord, they must make sure your home meets certain energy efficiency standards.

Citizens Advice has more guidance on how to make your home more energy efficient.

You can involve the whole family in energy saving. Set an example and make energy saving habits part of your household routine.

You and your children can:

• turn off the lights when you leave a room
• put on extra clothes instead of turning the heating on
• switch off or unplug electrical items when you’re not using them
• read books, play games and get creative to spend less time on electric devices
• walk, cycle or use public transport, instead of taking the car when possible
• take shorter showers and turn off the tap when brushing teeth

If your child starts energy saving habits while they’re young, these behaviours will be natural to them as they grow older.

Read more energy saving tips.

Depending on your child’s age and understanding, you can talk to them about energy and why it matters. You could explain that saving energy helps to save money and is good for the planet.

BBC Bitesize has a video explaining energy saving for children.

Your child might start to learn about environmental issues at school in lessons like science and geography. You could talk to them about what they’ve already learnt and how energy saving is good for the environment.

If your child is worried about the environment, acknowledge their fears but help them to put it into perspective. Talk about:

• what is true right now rather than what might happen in the future
• if something is going to happen, it is a long way in the future
• how lots of people are working hard to find solutions before then
• how as well as bad news, there is positive climate news

If you’re worried about how this is affecting your child, you can read our advice for talking to your child about upsetting news stories.

If you are on certain benefits, you might be eligible for a grant when the temperature is below 0°C. Find out if you can get a cold weather payment.

If you are in Scotland, you can’t get cold weather payment, but you might be able to get a winter heating payment or child winter heating payment.

If you get behind with your energy bills, contact your energy company to see how they can help. You can also read our debt advice.

If your child is worried about the environment, acknowledge their fears but help them to put it into perspective. Talk about:

• what is true right now rather than what might happen in the future
• if something is going to happen, it is a long way in the future
• how lots of people are working hard to find solutions before then
• how as well as bad news, there is positive climate news

Explain to them that although there are things we can be doing, it is not their problem to solve alone. Explain to them that scientists, engineers and governments all over the world are working to save the planet.

Climate anxiety or eco-anxiety is when someone feels heightened fear or worry about the impact of climate change. If you’re worried about how this is affecting your child, you can read our advice for talking to your child about upsetting news stories.

Climate change can be worrying for parents and carers too. It can help to talk to other parents who share your concerns. The Climate Psychology Alliance hold parent carer climate circles.

Page last reviewed: November 2025
Next review due: November 2028