Tips to reduce your Energy usage
Save Energy, Save Money
Did you know that in a year the households of North Derbyshire lose almost £24million in wasted energy. Since 2003 the cost of the average UK household bill for electricity has risen from £210 to £453 and from £400 to £700 for gas. Yet around 70% of us have never examined our homes for ways to save energy - and money.
Apart from the impact on your wallet, you can also help the environment by reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases through:
Improving Your Insulation
- Most heat is lost from outside walls, so consider cavity wall insulation to save up to 33% of your heating costs.
- Loft insulation should be at least 270mm (10.5 inches) deep, and will save around 25% of your heating costs.
- Draught proofing is a simple measure that could save £10-£20 a year on your fuel bill. Reflective radiator backing panels can reduce the amount of heat lost through walls behind radiators by up to 20%. please contact us if you would like more information on radiator panels.
- Think about your floor! - 11% of the heat in your home is lost through gaps in doors and through uninsulated floors. The Energy Saving Trust has information on insulation methods for floors, which will help cut down on heat loss!
- Fit insulation to your hot water tank and pipes - this is quick, cheap and easy and will pay for itself in about a year!
- Solid Wall Insulation
If your property does not have cavity walls you can insulate internally using a
product called Sempatap (a foam wall covering, 10mm thick and supplied in rolls).
Please call 0800 512 012 for more information.
Free Loft and Cavity Wall Insulation for over 70's
- People over 70 can now receive Cavity Wall and Loft insulation for free under a new scheme to help meet emissions targets set by the Government. The scheme is available to anyone over 70 whether they live in rented or privately owned accommodation and regardless of income.
- A wide range of power and utility companies are now offering the free insulation, and their contact details are included in the attachment below. Installation can depend on the depth of insulation you already have so it is worthwhile contacting two or three companies to find out what their individual guidelines are.
- For householders who are under 70 years old but who are not in receipt of any benefits there are also heavily discounted prices for insulation available. For information on these discounts and for sources of information for making your home more energy efficient, click on the attachment at the bottom of the page.
The Warm Front Grant
Warm Front is a government-funded scheme which provides insulation and heating grants to make your home warmer, healthier and more energy efficient. If you own your home or rent it from a private landlord, and receive certain means tested or disability benefits, you may be able to claim a contribution of up to £2700 towards energy efficiency improvements in your home.
In a typical home, around half the heat that is lost escapes through the walls and loft. Installing insulation can significantly reduce your energy bills.
- For general information on insulation products and a list of approved manufacturers, contact the National Insulation Association
- For more information on Cavity Insulation guarantees contact CIGA (the Cavity Insulation Guarantee Agency)
But remember, insulation still needs ventilation!
Even when your home is well insulated it still needs ventilation - especially in kitchens and bathrooms. Warm moist air together with lack of ventilation could lead to condensation and mould growth problems. To help avoid this, make sure:
- Any trickle vents you have in your windows are not blocked.
- Your kitchen and and bathroom doors are closed when the rooms are in use to stop warm air from cooking and bathing escaping into colder rooms, which could cause condensation problems.
- When you can, dry your clothes the natural way! Drying your laundry outside in the fresh air rather than using radiators not only saves you energy but also cuts down on moisture from wet clothes evaporating into your rooms which again could lead to condensation and mould growth.
Checking Your Energy Tariff
- Compare both price and complaint levels of the power companies. They now have to compete for your business.
- The gas and electricity watchdog 'Energywatch' has been replaced by a body called Consumer Focus, along with general help and advice on energy matters, they could help you to see how much money you could save by switching fuel supplier.
- Watch for special tariffs for certain groups such as pensioners, people who pay by different methods, or who need more power at certain times of day e.g for storage heaters.
- Direct debit or the internet are usually the cheapest way to pay with pre-payment meters the most expensive.
- It is usually cheaper to get both fuels from one company.
Switching Supplier
Power companies now have to compete for your custom. The companies listed below can offer a price comparison service that can help you decide which fuel company can offer the best service for you:
Please note that the companies listed are not recommendations of the Council. This is not a definitive list and there may be other companies available.
By contacting a fuel comparison site, they will be able to advise you which companies can offer the most suitable deals for those who use a pre-payment or card meter to pay for their fuel.
Buying New? - Buy Efficient
- When the time comes to buy new appliances such as washing machines, fridges or freezers, make sure you look for one with the highest EU energy rating possible. the EU Energy Ratings Label shows a sliding scale from A to G, with A being the most energy efficient, and G being the lowest for most appliances. Fridges and freezers can however, be rated up to A+ and A++. The rating each appliance has received will be highlighted on it's label. By law, the EU energy label should be displayed on all fridges, freezers, washing machines, dishwashers electric ovens and lighbulb packages, so look out for it.
- Look for the logo. The most energy efficient products will also have the Energy Saving Trust's logo on them. This means that they have been thoroughly tested for energy efficiency and are recommended by the Energy Saving Trust.
- Opt for a normal shower - some power showers can use as much water as a bath in around 10 minutes, so if you're putting in a new shower consider getting a standard flow one.
- Buy low energy lightbulbs. Low energy bulbs last up to 10 times longer than a standard bulb and over the course of just one bulb's lifetime you can reduce your lighting costs by up to £60. There is a wide variety of styles and fittings available, many more than a few years ago, so it's easy to find a bulb to suit your lighting needs!
Re-thinking Your Habits (At No Extra Cost!)
Improving the energy efficiency of your home doesn't necessarily mean you have to spend money in the first place. Even the smallest things we sometimes do without a second thought can add up to a big waste of energy and money! You can make your home more energy efficient for free by doing some, or all, of the ideas listed below:
- Turn the thermostat on your central heating down by 1ºC, this will save 10% of your heating bill.
- Your hot water should be hot but not scalding, setting your cylinder thermostat at 60ºC is fine for most people.
- Close curtains at dusk to stop heat escaping out of windows.
- Wait until you have a full load before using the washing machine.
- Take showers instead of baths to save on hot water.
- Remember to put the plug in the sink when you run hot water.
- Don’t overfill your kettle, and use lids on pans.
- Don’t leave the fridge door open longer than is necessary.
- Always allow heated food to cool down before putting it in the fridge - this is also important for food safety.
- Turn off lights when you leave a room and don’t leave appliances, such as TV’s, on ‘standby’- this can use as much power as having them fully switched on.
- Don’t leave appliances on charge unnecessarily.
For free, impartial advice on energy efficiency matters or if you, or someone you know, is having difficulty keeping warm at home, contact North East Derbyshire District Council's Energy Advice Centre at the number below. The staff there can provide information on the grant and discount schemes currently available to help you insulate and heat your home. They can also arrange for a free written energy survey of your home. Another source of advice is the Energy Saving Trust.
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