Indian Summer: Expert Reveals How to Make Your Garden More Energy Efficient during a Heatwave

Jazzing up your garden for the warmer months could be adding as much as £2.57 to your energy bills per hour, new research finds. 

With the average monthly electricity bill in the UK standing at £80.40 and typical household consumption at 225 kWh, it's important to consider the impact of summer enhancements on your costs. Patio heaters and hot tubs, popular for enjoying warmer evenings, contribute significantly to electricity use, with patio heaters costing between £1.26 and £2.31 to run for 3 hours and hot tubs between £0.15 and £0.26 for the same duration.

With reports suggesting that parts of the UK are set to experience temperatures of up to 27 degrees in September, many households will be excited to make the most out of their outdoor spaces over the next few weeks to enjoy the last glimpse of summer. But how can you ensure that your garden remains as energy-efficient as possible, whilst still maintaining the enjoyment of an outdoor sanctuary? 

Intrigued to find out more, energy comparison site Confused.com Energy explores the biggest culprits of energy in a garden. It’ll also look at tips and tricks on how to promote energy-efficiency without any unwanted financial surprises! 

How to make your garden more energy-efficient during a heatwave

1. Replace Outdoor Patio Heaters 

Even on the sunniest of days, the UK can be faced with chilly evenings. Because of this,  many of us are partial to using an outdoor heater to warm up whilst still enjoying the fresh air. Although it depends on a range of variables, such as the size of the heater, running costs generally can cost between £0.42 - £0.77 per hour. 

If you use the heater for 3 hours per night, the cost for a single night would be between £1.26 and £2.31. Over the course of 5 nights a week, the weekly cost ranges from £6.30 to £11.55. When extended to a month, assuming you use the heater 5 nights a week, the monthly cost could be between £27.30 and £50.09. These costs can quickly add up, making it important to consider how often you use your outdoor heater to manage your energy bills effectively.

You could improve the energy efficiency of your garden and save a few extra pounds, by replacing outdoor patio heaters, with an energy efficient alternative, such as a chiminea. Chimineas can be more energy efficient as they reduce the need for continuous fuel consumption. The initial purchase may set you back around £100. But chimineas have the ability to give your garden an alfresco flare,  while relying on firewood to warm you up on those chilly evenings. 

2. Consider Hot Tub Efficiency 

Many of us are partial to the luxury of an outdoor hot tub, even throughout the warmer months. They give us  a spa-like feel from the comfort of our own garden, helping to release tension and enhancing social connections with both family and friends. However, this luxury comes with a cost. Hot tubs can significantly increase energy bills, with reports suggesting that they use between 3.5 and 6 kWh per day, leading to an average running cost of £30 to £60 per month. On an hourly basis, the cost is approximately £0.53 to £0.90, depending on factors such as the size and model of the hot tub, frequency of use, water temperature, and how long the jets are running.

There are plenty of ways to reduce hot tub running costs. For example, you can make sure the cover is properly sealed every time you’re finished so you don’t lose heat through the surface. If a cover isn’t properly sealed, energy consumption will increase due to your hot tub needing to work harder to regain the required temperature. In addition to this, experts suggest that reducing the temperature of your hot tub by just 1° or 2° will reduce your bills by roughly ten percent. 

3. Swap to Solar Powered Lighting Alternatives 

LED lights are more energy efficient than the likes of filament bulbs and cost just £3.72 a year to run. However, solar powered lighting is also an attractive option. You can make your garden more efficient, while still maintaining an eye-catching light display in your garden. 

During the day, the battery for a solar powered light charges from the solar panel. When it’s dark, the  photoresistor detects little to no light and activates the light to turn on. Solar powered garden lights can be sold in a variety of different shapes and sizes, from garden lamps to fairy lights. This ensures that your garden still maintains its aesthetic appeal while also increasing your home’s energy efficiency. 

4. Utilise Energy Saving Modes for Outdoor TVs 

Many of us spent a lot of time in the comfort of our own home during lockdown. Some households spent their income on sprucing up their garden, by investing in the likes of an outdoor TV.  These are an excellent investment if you’re regularly entertaining guests. But anti-glare coatings and higher brightness levels to fight off the sun come at a cost for both the initial investment and running costs. On average, outdoor TVs can consume significantly more energy than indoor models, with running costs ranging from £0.10 to £0.40 per hour, depending on the size and settings.

To keep your garden energy efficient while entertaining guests, optimise TV settings by adjusting brightness or contrast and utilise  eco and energy saving modes. Using energy saving features on regular TV’s can cut power consumption by a third. But when it’s used in outdoor settings, the need for increased brightness may reduce this saving.

5. Install Water Butts and Rain Barrels 

The UK reported 1,381.4 millimetres of rainfall in 2023 alone. Although warmer weather is predicted over the coming weeks, the UK reportedly saw 82.4 millimetres of rain in July 2024, so it’s wise to collect rainwater, even throughout the summer months. 

Collecting rainwater can be easily achieved by installing rain barrels or water butts around your garden, roof, shed or greenhouse. You can buy water buttsat many household stores. But if you are a beginner gardener or have young children, why not get creative and create your own DIY water butt?The financial and resource savings from a project like this is minimal. But it’s  fun and an engaging way to incorporate sustainable practices into your gardening routine.

How to create a DIY water butt:

1. Plastic is the best material to create a DIY water bottle. Clean and dry the item of your choice, such as a milk bottle, and be sure to remove any unwanted packaging or labels. 

2. Carefully cut the bottom from the bottle.

3. Add a personalised touch to the milk bottle, whether it be a different colour to reflect the area it is going in to suit your garden theme, stickers or pom poms, or perhaps adding motivational messages onto the bottle about the importance of water saving. 

4. Once the bottle is dry, ensure that the lid of the bottle is facing downwards, and use twine or cables to attach the bottle to your chosen area. 

Collected rainwater can also be used for tasks such as watering plants, reducing usage of household water supplies. 

 Confused.com’s Energy expert gives more tips  on how to get the most value for money out of your garden appliances without hiking up your energy bill: 

“As soon as the UK experiences the odd glance of warmer weather, many of us are keen to enjoy the high temperatures from the comforts of our own garden. This is especially when we’re entertaining guests. 

“But it’s important to remember that while improving your garden aesthetic, some items can cause a sharp increase in your household energy bills. Be sure to make minor changes to contribute to energy efficiency. For example,swap LED lights to solar powered alternatives or collect rainwater to reduce your water usage. 

“For bigger investments, such as hot tubs, be sure to consider efficiency throughout, keeping the temperature and usage of jets to a minimum. It is also important to ensure that the cover is completely sealed when exiting the hot tub, to avoid a spike in energy usage when reusing.”