How to save on energy bills

Plus Aldi's Le Creuset dupes, Samsung's SS2 review and Charlotte Tilbury's new face oil [View in browser]( [IndyBest]( [Ellie Fry]( Ellie Fry [Deputy IndyBest Editor]( February 11, 2022 Partygate continues to be the talk of the town (will Sue Gray ever get to publish her full report?) but the real political scandal we’re facing is the cost of living crisis, as energy prices are set to skyrocket in April. A figure that’s probably already imprinted on your brain, gas and electricity bills are set to rise by an average of £693 a year for millions of households. At IndyBest, we’ve been brainstorming on how to help our readers tackle these surging costs. While investing in [smart home technology]( may sound counterintuitive when you're feeling the pinch, it can pay for itself over time and eventually make a dent in that bill. It’s by no means a miracle solution, but as our tech writer, [Steve Hogarty](, puts it: “Combined with a smart electricity meter, these smart home gadgets can make you more aware of how and when you’re using electricity, who the biggest energy-draining culprits are, and how best to change your behaviour to cut down on bills.” From thermostats to LED lightbulbs, we’ve rounded up our [favourite smart tech]( to help you trim down your gas and electricity bills as much as possible. We’ve also written a [guide to keeping your house warm without turning up the thermostat](, sharing our favourite high-tog duvets, hot water bottles and teas for staying toasty from the inside out. Lightbulb moments Time for some bulb chat: did you know that LED bulbs offer between 10 and 20 per cent energy savings over traditional CFL bulbs? They don't even have to be smart (and by smart, we mean connected to your phone or tablet) but having that connectivity ensures you’re not wasting light when you’re not around, as you can switch them off from afar or set schedules. [Smart technology]( There's plenty of other [nifty tech]( that will make a difference too: smart thermostats learn to understand your lifestyle needs and predict when you want the house to warm up. We've rounded up the [best of the bunch](, including smart plugs and smart water controllers. [Read more]( Dishy delights We know you love an Aldi dupe, and the budget supermarket has come up trumps for Valentine's Day with its [heart-shaped casserole dishes]( that rival Le Creuset's signature pots. [Aldi casserole dishes]( Costing just £19.99 compared with Le Creuset’s £190 version, the wonderfully kitsch dishes would make an excellent gift or cooking companion for a romantic meal. While we've not tried the heart-shaped numbers ourselves, our editor, [Emma Henderson](, did test out [Aldi's standard round dishes](. Comparing them to her trusty Le Creuset, she was seriously impressed with the similarities. [Read more]( The king of Android It's been a big week for tech announcements, with [Nintendo's Direct live-stream]( unveiling upcoming games and Samsung's Unpacked event showcasing its new flagship phone, [the S22 ultra](, among other launches. Our tech writer, Steve Hogarty, got a [first-look at the debut device]( to give us the low-down. It's a "marriage of the retired Galaxy note range and the flagship Galaxy S range," he explains, "that brings full S-Pen stylus functionality to Samsung’s do-it-all smartphone." [Samsung S22 review]( Adding that it "represents the absolute best of what Samsung can build," the new device certainly got high praise. For more details on the phone, read Steve's [first impression review](. [Read more]( Glow-getter [Charlotte Tilbury face oil]( Hot on the heels of its new ["beautiful skin" foundation]( that went viral on TikTok last month, Charlotte Tilbury is back with another launch: its [first-ever face oil](. Launching on 24 February, I got to try it before anyone else in an exclusive review. As someone who is acne prone, I was skeptical of adding a facial oil to my skincare regime, but was pleasantly surprised with the results. Read more in my [in-depth review]( of the golden elixir. [Read more]( Deals of the week The Independent’s journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our newsletter, we may earn commission. [Samsung S22 deal]( Snap up £300 worth of free tech with this [Samsung S22 pre-order deal]( [Get deal]( [Neom oil diffuser]( Save £45 on [Neom's oil diffuser]( in this Valentine's Day special [Get deal]( Don't miss a thing Keep up to date with all the latest IndyBest news over on social... 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