Busting energy saving myths: What we should and shouldn’t do this winter

There are good ways to keep your energy bill down and there are bad ways. Check out this list before the winter chill to ensure that you don't waste energy and money.

By Mattias Dahlström

The winter season can be a challenge for anyone who has to pay an energy bill. Not only is more energy needed to heat your house or apartment, but also prices for electricity, heating and gas normally increase: few people will forget the winter of 2022 when energy prices went through the roof.

Naturally, people look for advice on ways to keep the cost down to a bearable level. But there is good and bad advice as well as a lot of misconceptions and myths that could risk boosting your bill.

Rob van der Plas, is very knowledgeable on the subject. As a technical energy advisor for Vattenfall in the Netherlands, his job is to visit people's homes and help them make their energy consumption as efficient as possible.

"Most people are aware of how to save money on energy, and they know that heating and hot water is where the biggest consumption is. Still, I too often encounter homeowners who have fallen for some of the myths about energy savings - and that can turn out to be costly," he says.

Jens Berggren is Vattenfall's climate coach in Sweden. Here are his five best energy saving tips for the winter: