Bills might be included in your rent, but the energy and water you use still have an impact.

Leaving a light on, boiling a full kettle for one cuppa or running the heating with your window open might not feel like a big deal. But when thousands of students make a few small changes, it can make a real difference.

The good news? Saving energy doesn’t mean sitting in a cold room or completely changing your routine.

This guide covers simple ways to waste less energy and water when you’re cooking, showering, doing laundry or heating your room. It’ll also help you work out when something needs to be reported to your property team.

Energy-saving tips at a glance

Want the quick version? Start here:

• Switch off lights and electrical equipment when you’re not using them.

• Only use the water you need for showers, washing up and boiling the kettle.

• Match your pan to the hob ring and use a lid where you can.

• Wait until you have a sensible laundry load and choose a 30°C cycle where the care label allows.

• Use your heating controls properly and keep your windows closed while your room warms up.

• Report leaks, heating faults and ventilation problems as soon as you spot them.

Start with the easy wins. Switch things off, use only what you need and tell us when something isn’t working.

Jump to a section

• Why Should You Care?

• Start with the Easy Wins

• Save Energy When Cooking and Using Hot Water

• Make Your Laundry Count

• Getting Your Heating Right

• Managing Your Room in Hot and Cold Weather

• It All Adds Up

• What We're Doing

• FAQs

Why should you care?

Let’s be honest. If your bills are included, saving energy probably isn’t always at the top of your list.

But using only what you need helps reduce wasted energy, water use and carbon emissions across our buildings. You’ll also build habits that could help you save money once you’re paying your own bills.

A small action in one room might not feel like much. Across thousands of rooms, it all adds up.

It’s not all on you, either. We’re working to make our buildings more efficient through energy surveys, renewable electricity and improvements to heating, hot-water and ventilation systems.

Start with the easy wins

You don’t need to overhaul your whole routine. Most energy-saving habits only take a few seconds:

• Turn the lights off when you leave your bedroom, kitchen or shared space.

• Switch off your laptop, TV, games console and other equipment when you’ve finished using them.

• Unplug chargers once your device is charged.

• Avoid leaving equipment on standby when you don’t need to.

• Only boil the water you need in the kettle.

• Tell your property team if a light, tap, heater, control or ventilation system isn’t working properly.

Simple, but effective.

Save energy when cooking and using hot water

Cooking, washing up and showering all use energy as well as water. A few small habits can help you cut down on waste without making life harder:

• Match your pan to the size of the hob ring.

• Put a lid on your pan where you can to keep the heat in.

• Switch the hob or oven off as soon as you’ve finished cooking.

• Try not to open the oven door repeatedly, as heat escapes each time.

• Keep showers under five minutes where you can.

• Turn the tap off while brushing your teeth.

• Report dripping taps or water that keeps running, especially if it’s hot.

A leak or faulty control can waste a surprising amount of energy and water.

If you spot a problem, report it to your property team. Don’t try to repair or alter the equipment yourself.

Make your laundry count

Nobody enjoys doing laundry. So, when you do it, make the cycle count:

• Wait until you have a sensible load instead of running several small washes.

• Check the care label and wash at 30°C where it’s suitable for the fabric and level of staining.

• Choose the shortest suitable programme rather than automatically picking a longer one.

• Collect your laundry promptly when the cycle finishes so the machine is free for someone else.

Use appliances when you need them, choose an efficient setting and switch them off when you’re done.

Less wasted energy. Less waiting around.

Getting your heating right

Your room should feel comfortable.

We’re not asking you to sit in the cold or avoid using your heating. It’s about using the system effectively, avoiding wasted energy and knowing when something needs to be checked.

Heating controls differ between properties. They’re designed to let you make reasonable adjustments while helping the wider building operate safely and efficiently.

How to use your heating

Find the instructions for your room

You might find a QR code near your heating control explaining how it works.

If there’s no QR code, the guidance doesn’t match your control or you’re still unsure how to use it, ask your property team to show you.

Choose a comfortable temperature

During colder weather, adjust your heating thoughtfully, up to a maximum of 23°C where your control allows.

Turning the control to its highest setting won’t necessarily make your room warm up more quickly.

Give it time to respond

Heating systems don’t always react instantly.

Some controls provide a timed boost rather than continuous heating. Others use sensors to detect the room temperature, whether someone is in the room or whether a window is open.

This means your heating may reduce or switch off automatically when it isn’t needed.

Keep your window closed

Keep your window closed while the heating is running. Otherwise, the heat escapes and your room will take longer to warm up.

Keep heaters and sensors clear

Don’t cover your radiator or heater with clothes. Avoid putting furniture directly in front of it or blocking a room sensor with your belongings.

Turn it down when you don’t need as much heat

Once your room feels comfortable, turn the thermostat down rather than leaving it at a higher setting.

Report problems early

Don’t just put up with a room that’s uncomfortable.

Contact your property team if:

• Your heating control isn’t working.

• Your heater doesn’t warm up.

• You notice a persistent draught.

• Your room remains too hot or too cold.

• The heating appears to be running when it shouldn’t.

Don’t alter thermostats, valves, sensors, window restrictors or other building equipment. Some systems serve more than one room, so changing them could affect how the wider building operates.

Why does my heating sometimes switch off?

Your heating might switch off because:

• Your room has reached the temperature you selected.

• A timed heating boost has ended.

• The system thinks the room is empty.

• A window is open.

• The building is operating in its seasonal heating mode.

This doesn’t always mean there’s a fault.

If you’ve followed the instructions but your room remains uncomfortable, contact your property team. Don’t try to override the system yourself.

Can I use a portable heater or air-conditioning unit?

Portable heaters and portable air-conditioning units aren’t permitted.

They can:

• Interfere with building systems.

• Use a significant amount of energy.

• Create electrical or fire safety risks.

You can use a fan during hot weather.

If your installed heating isn’t working, tell your property team. They’ll arrange an appropriate solution.

Managing your room in hot and cold weather

UK weather can be unpredictable.

Summer temperatures are often between 15°C and 25°C, although heatwaves can push temperatures much higher. Winter temperatures are commonly between 2°C and 7°C, with colder, wetter and windier weather more likely in the north of England and Scotland.

Lots of UK buildings weren’t originally designed for long periods of extreme heat. We know overheating can be uncomfortable and that simply opening a window isn’t always enough.

We’re assessing overheating risks across our properties. This helps us understand where improved controls, ventilation or other cooling measures might be needed.

If your room feels too hot

Let’s face it, UK buildings aren’t always great during a heatwave. If your room starts to feel too warm:

• Close your curtains or blinds before direct sunlight reaches the room.

• Keep your window closed while it’s hotter outside than inside.

• Open your window when the outdoor air becomes cooler, such as during the evening or overnight, where it’s safe to do so.

• Switch off lights and electrical equipment you aren’t using, as they can add heat to the room.

• Use a fan to keep the air moving.

• Drink water regularly and follow public hot-weather guidance.

Contact your property team if your room is much hotter than the rest of the building or doesn’t cool down overnight.

When you report it, let them know:

• What time your room feels hottest.

• Whether it stays hot overnight.

• Whether the heating seems to be running unexpectedly.

Don’t remove or change window restrictors or other safety features.

If your room feels too cold

If your room isn’t warming up:

• Check that your heating control is on.

• Select a comfortable setting.

• Make sure your window is fully closed.

• Check that curtains, furniture or belongings aren’t covering the heater or blocking a sensor.

• Open your curtains during the day so sunlight can help warm your room.

• Close your curtains at night to help keep the heat in.

• Give the room time to respond after changing the setting.

Report the problem if:

• The control doesn’t respond.

• The heater stays cold.

• You notice a persistent draught.

• Your room doesn’t reach a comfortable temperature.

Don’t bring in a portable heater. Let your property team know so they can check the installed system and arrange the right solution.

Ventilation and moisture

Showering, cooking and drying clothes all create moisture. Good ventilation helps move that moisture out of your room and flat.

To help your ventilation work properly:

• Keep the bathroom door closed while showering.

• Use the extractor fan during your shower.

• Leave the extractor fan running afterwards.

• Use the kitchen ventilation provided when cooking.

• Don’t dry wet clothes over heaters.

• Report ventilation that doesn’t seem to be working.

During colder weather, open your window for a short period to ventilate the room. Avoid leaving it open for a long time while the heating is running.

It all adds up

Because utilities are included in your rent, we purchase the energy used across our properties. That includes energy used in bedrooms, flats and shared spaces.

The everyday energy used in our buildings forms part of our direct carbon footprint.

When thousands of students make a few small changes, it can make a real difference. You can help by:

• Switching off lights and equipment when you aren’t using them.

• Keeping your window closed while the heating is on.

• Using only the hot water you need.

• Cooking and doing laundry efficiently.

• Using the heating controls provided.

• Reporting leaks, faults or equipment that seems to be running unnecessarily.

That said, it isn’t all on you.

The design of a building, its insulation and its heating, hot-water and ventilation systems all affect how much energy it uses. We’re responsible for understanding these systems and improving how our properties perform.

Saving energy should never mean putting up with an uncomfortable room, avoiding necessary ventilation or working around broken equipment.

If something isn’t right, tell us.

What we’re doing

We’re working to reduce energy use and carbon emissions while making sure our buildings work well for the students living in them.

Checking every property

We’re carrying out detailed energy surveys across all Unite Students and Hello Student properties.

These surveys look at how each building uses energy and help us identify ways to:

• Improve heating, hot-water and ventilation efficiency.

• Reduce avoidable energy waste.

• Improve controls and system performance.

• Address repeated comfort or maintenance problems.

• Decide where investment is needed most.

• Support our longer-term plans to reduce carbon emissions.

Every property is different. These surveys help us create plans that reflect how each building actually works.

Using and supporting renewable electricity

The electricity purchased through the Unite Group supply contract is 100% certified renewable.

We’re also working to create a stronger connection between the electricity we use and renewable energy generation. This includes longer-term electricity purchasing arrangements.

Renewable electricity matters, but it doesn’t mean we should use more energy than we need.

Moving away from gas

Some of our existing properties still use gas boilers, particularly older buildings.

We’re assessing where fossil-fuel systems could be replaced with lower-carbon options when it’s technically and financially suitable. This includes air source heat pumps, which use electricity to extract heat from the air outside.

Any changes need to be carefully planned. New systems must:

• Provide reliable heating and hot water.

• Work with the existing building.

• Keep disruption for residents to a minimum.

Designing more efficient new buildings

Our new developments are designed to achieve an EPC A rating and a BREEAM Excellent rating.

We consider air source heat pumps and other lower-carbon technology alongside:

• Energy-efficient lighting.

• Improved controls.

• Effective ventilation.

• Better insulation.

• Ways to manage overheating.

Improving our existing properties

Most of our existing properties already perform strongly against Energy Performance Certificate ratings.

During 2025, 99.6% of our properties in England and Wales were rated A to C.

We continue to review certificates, improve the information we hold about our buildings and plan the work needed to meet future energy-efficiency requirements.

An EPC doesn’t show every part of how a building works day to day. That’s why monitoring, maintenance, resident feedback and detailed energy surveys matter too.

Understanding overheating and climate risk

We’re reviewing overheating risk as part of our wider work to prepare our properties for a changing climate.

This helps us understand which buildings or rooms might be more affected. It also helps us identify where better ventilation, controls, shading or other cooling measures could be considered.

FAQs

Does saving energy matter if utilities are included in my rent?

Yes. The energy used in your accommodation still has an environmental impact.

Avoiding unnecessary use helps reduce energy waste and carbon emissions. Small actions can make a real difference when lots of students take part.

What are the easiest ways to save energy?

Start with simple actions:

• Switch off lights and equipment when you aren’t using them.

• Only boil the water you need.

• Match your pan to the right-sized hob ring.

• Wait until you have a sensible laundry load.

• Keep your window closed while the heating is running.

• Report leaks and faults quickly.

Should I turn equipment off at the wall?

Where it’s safe and practical, switch off equipment you aren’t using instead of leaving it on standby.

Don’t switch off shared, safety-critical or building equipment.

Why can’t I set my room to any temperature I want?

Heating systems operate within set ranges so they can keep rooms comfortable while working safely and efficiently.

For many people, around 19°C to 21°C is considered comfortable. In many properties, you can adjust the heating up to 23°C.

If your control doesn’t respond or your room remains too hot or cold, contact your property team.

Is my heating being switched off to save energy?

Heating systems work differently across our properties.

Some follow a schedule or provide a timed boost. Others respond to the room temperature, whether someone is in the room or whether a window is open.

These controls help avoid heating empty rooms or wasting energy.

If you’ve followed the instructions but your room doesn’t warm up, contact your property team.

What should I do if my room is too hot?

During hot weather:

• Close your curtains or blinds before direct sunlight reaches the room.

• Keep your windows closed while it’s hotter outside.

• Open your windows when the outdoor air becomes cooler, where it’s safe to do so.

• Switch off lights and equipment you aren’t using.

• Use a fan.

• Drink water regularly.

During colder weather, check your heating control and report any unexpected heating.

Tell your property team if your room remains very hot or doesn’t cool down overnight. Don’t remove window restrictors or install a portable air-conditioning unit.

What should I do if my room is too cold?

Check your heating control and make sure your window is fully closed.

Keep your heater and any room sensors clear. After changing the setting, give the system time to respond.

Report the problem if:

• The heater doesn’t warm up.

• The control doesn’t respond.

• You notice a persistent draught.

• Your room remains uncomfortable.

Don’t bring in a portable heater.

Can I use a portable heater or air-conditioning unit?

No. Portable heaters and portable air-conditioning units can interfere with building systems, use a lot of energy and create electrical or fire safety risks.

You can use a fan during hot weather.

If a temporary heater is needed because the installed system is faulty, your property team will provide or approve an appropriate solution.

How do I find out how my heating control works?

Look for a QR code near your heating control or check the information provided for your property.

Speak to your property team if:

• You can’t find any instructions.

• The instructions don’t match your control.

• You’ve followed the guidance but the control still doesn’t respond.

What should I report?

Tell your property team about:

• Dripping taps.

• Leaking hot water.

• Heating faults.

• Ventilation problems.

• Damaged or unresponsive controls.

• Equipment that runs when it shouldn’t.

• A room that remains too hot or too cold.

Don’t try to alter or repair building equipment yourself.