I'm an Irish electrician – here's my little-known tips to help reduce bills by hundreds & way to get FREE energy
WITH energy bills often being a top expense for Irish households, it may seem like there's not much you can do to save money.
But one electrician has shared his top tips for lowering your energy bills by hundreds of euro each year that many might not be aware of.
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Dan O'Shea is Screwfix's Trade Apprentice winner for 2025
Credit: Journalist Collect
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And he shared all of his tips to reduce energy costs in the home
Credit: Journalist Collect
Dan O'Shea is a 20-year-old electrician from
Raised in Newtowncashel, Dan gained his skills working alongside his father Enda in
His journey into becoming an electrician began after leaving his studies in agricultural science at UCD to pursue an apprenticeship.
Dan said: 'My parents always told me to do well in school so I did and I studied hard and got into UCD for agricultural science.
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'Within two weeks I dropped out. I was always surrounded by trades and working with my uncle and my dad so I decided to do an apprenticeship with FWhite electrical.'
Now the youngest winner of 2025's Screwfix's trade apprentice, this promising electrician has shared all of his tips to lower energy costs in the
One of Dan's first recommendations is to replace all fluorescent and conventional light bulbs with LED lighting due to their energy efficiency and longer lifespan.
LED lights consume up to 80 per cent less electricity than traditional incandescent or fluorescent bulbs, and Dan says this can lead to major savings on household
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Dan said: 'In many households there is old lighting, fluorescent tubes, fluorescent bulbs but nowadays we have LED lights.
'These are great - they have a longer shelf life, it's usually better lighting, it can be controlled from your phone and they are far handier on electricity costs.'
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Another tip Dan has is to switch off electrical appliances completely when they are not in use, as many devices continue to draw power and inflate energy costs.
Small habits, such as frequently turning lights on and off or repeatedly using appliances like toasters and kettles unnecessarily, can see a major increase in electricity consumption.
Everyday habits
And to help homeowners monitor their usage, Dan advises installing an
Smart meters allow users to see which appliances are the most energy-intensive and adjust their habits accordingly, making energy savings more achievable.
What's more, he said that there may be
Dan said: 'There are ESB smart meters and that allows you to track your energy usage.
'I've talked to a lot of people about them and it helps them to see what they're spending their energy on - if you're able to keep track of your energy usage and amend it over the long run that is how you will save money.'
Another tip Dan has is scheduling energy-heavy appliances, such as washing machines and dishwashers, to run during off-peak hours at night.
Running these appliances at night not only reduces energy costs but also eases demand on the national grid during peak daytime hours.
'Save thousands on your electricity bills'
And beyond everyday energy-saving habits, Dan believes that investing in solar panels is the single most effective way for Irish homeowners to reduce their energy costs.
Solar panels work by converting sunlight into usable electricity, which can then power household appliances.
They can significantly decrease electricity bills by generating free, renewable energy and in some cases, surplus energy can be sold back to the grid.
And Dan said while it may take 3/4 years to start seeing your return on your
He added: "The biggest one is solar panels - within four years they pay for themselves and it is pretty much free electricity from then on.
'It's gone crazy across Ireland and the majority of new homes are being built with them or installing them.
'You get your money back within a couple of years and then you save thousands on your electricity bills going forward.'
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Dan believes solar panels are the best way to reduce your energy costs
Credit: Journalist Collect
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