Home Energy Efficiency

Why is it important?

Money - you can save up to £300 per year on your energy bills
Health - you can avoid illnesses
Comfort - you can increase your home’s comfort by reducing drafts and dampness
Climate Change - you can help reduce Climate Change. In UK, our homes is responsible for about a third of the nations carbon dioxide emissions. This is for using energy (gas, oil, coal, electricity and such like) for heating, hot water, lightning, appliances and cooking

Actions to make your home more Energy Efficient

It is important to remember that there is an energy hierarchy, use this to decide in what order you do the changes. For example, it is better to start to reduce your energy use (by insulation measures, drought proofing, etc) before you invest in a new boiler or solar panels. This is because you will need a smaller and cheaper boiler and solar panels after you have reduced your energy demand.

The Wrights and Wrongs of Home Energy Efficiency

The Wrights and Wrongs of Home Energy Efficiency takes a fun look at the serious business of saving energy and cutting bills. It shows residents how they could potentially save hundreds of pounds a year as well as doing their bit to halt climate change.

It features friends and neighbours Graham Wright and Gary Wrong. While Graham and his wife save enough money for expensive holidays, the Wrongs can only afford another cheap and very wet campsite. So what makes the difference?

The film follows a typical day within the Wright and Wrong households with energy meters running in the background. It shows that with a few simple changes to lifestyle and some straightforward improvements to their home, anyone could potentially see their energy bill tumble. Click on the above link to watch the webcast.

Switch to a Green Tariff

This is very simple, at the Green Electricity Marketplace you will find out which green tariffs are available to you. You will still get your energy from the National Grid but by switching to a green tariff you will help to ensure that more investments are made to the production of renewable energy and a sense of wellbeing knowing you have decreased your carbon dioxide emissions by at least a third.

Click here to visit the Green Electricity Marketplace

Insulation

One of the most cost effective measure to save energy is loft insulation. If you have no insulation at all and you insulate your loft up to the recommended depth of 270mm you could save between £140- £170 per year. If you already have loft insulation but less than 270mm it is still worth to top it up to the recommended 270mm and save yourself between £40-£50 per year.

If your house was built between the 1930's and 1980's it is likely to have unfilled cavity walls. In the majority of homes, the highest energy loss is through the walls (due to their larger surface area compared to the roof) and is therefore a very cost-efficient way to cut heat loss from your home. You can save between £100-£120 per year on your heating bills if you fill your cavity walls.

If you have a hot water cylinder it should be insulated with a hot water jacket. It is also important to ensure all hot water pipes are properly insulated. A hot water jacket will only cost you around £10 and you can find one in most DIY stores.

Draught Proof

Draught proofing is an easy, cost-effective way to reduce heating bills. There are several types of materials available - from brushes, foams and sealants to strips and shaped rubber or plastic. Most materials are available from DIY stores - check for draughts around windows, doors, skirting floor boards, the letterbox and the keyhole. Remember to check the quality of the products they should conform to the standard BS 7386.

The Draught Proofing Advisory Association members that can help you decide what is best for your home, click here to visit their website.

Boilers

... if it isn't broken, it still might need fixing ...

If your boiler is over 15 years old, it's probably time you replaced it with a new energy efficient one. To compare the efficiency of old and new boilers visit the Boiler Efficiency database at www.boilers.org.uk. High efficiency condensing boilers are the most energy efficient and will save you around a third on your heating bills straight away.

Energy Efficiency Recommended logo Look for the logo ...

Look out for the energy efficiency recommended logo when you're buying new electrical appliances.

Replacing an old, energy inefficient fridge-freezer with a new
Energy Efficient Recommended one could save you up to £45 per year.

Look for the label …

The EU Energy label, tells you more exactly how energy efficient an appliance is. For an example a washing mashine that is 'A' rated for both energy efficiency and performence, together with lower than average water consumption, will save you the most money - as well as being the best for the environment cutting the use of energy by a third.

An 'A' rated dishwasher will save you 70 kg of CO2 compared with using an unefficient one. This energy saving results in a cash saving of £20 per year.

A is best

Double Glazing

Double-glazing cuts heat loss through windows by 50% and could cut your heating bill by over £60 a year.

A bright idea ... buy energy efficient light bulbs

Energy efficient light bulbs last up to 12 times longer and they only use a quarter of the energy an inefficient bulb use. This means that for each bulb you fit, you can save up to £9 on your annual electricity bill.

Now you can find as many shapes and sizes of low energy light bulbs as the old inefficient ones. They also come in different colours and you can even by dimmable bulbs now. Try to install energy efficient light bulbs at least in areas where lights are on for long periods of time. In most homes, lightning accounts for around 10-15 per cent of the electricity bill. So, it is definatley worth while to buy energy efficient light bulbs and to switch off the lights when leaving a room.

Most shops now stock energy efficient light bulbs but it may sometimes be a bit difficult to find the particular type of bulb that you want, click here if you want to buy or see a wide range of different low energy light bulbs.

11 no cost ways to save Energy and Money

Turning the thermostat down in your home by just 1°C can cut as much as 10% off your heating bills. The normal recommended room temperature is between 18°C and 21°C. However, homes with young children and elderly people should not have it colder than 21°C.
Set your water cylinder thermostat at 60°C/140°F. This is hot enough for bathing and washing. Remember that showering use a lot less energy than taking a bath.
Use the programmer for your central heating system and program it to switch off during the night and when you are away during the day. This can save you a lot of money, remember to allow for both a warming up period (the time it takes for the house to warm up) about 30-45 min and a cooling down period (time it takes for the house to cool down) when you are setting the program. The best thing is to test how long time it takes for your home to warm up and cool down, then you know for sure how long time your house need.
Turn off the TV, video, stereo, computer, monitor and other electrical appliances instead of leaving them on standby. Avoid leaving appliances on charge unnecessarily.
When using, washing machines, tumble dryers and dishwashers - always wash a full load and if you cannot, use a half-load or economy programme. Use the low temperature programme bearing in mind that modern washing powders are as effective at low temperatures as at high. Remember that tumble dryer’s use a lot of energy so when ever possible try to avoid using the dryer.
Defrost your fridge and freezer regularly to keep it running efficiently and cheaply. If it tends to frost up quickly, check the door seal. Do not leave the door open for longer then necessary and avoid putting hot or warm food straight into the fridge, allow it to cool first.
Use the right size pan and pot for the food and cooker, the base should just cover the cooking ring, and keep lids on when cooking. If the flames lick up the side then you are wasting heat.
When using a kettle only heat as much water as you are going to use, and if you are using an electric kettle make sure you cover the elements. Jug-type kettles need less water as they have smaller elements.
Draw the curtains in the evening to reduce heat loss through the windows. However, do not drape curtains over radiators as this will direct the heat towards the window and away from the room.
Move furniture away from radiators to allow the warm air to circulate.
A dripping hot water tap can in one day waste enough water to fill a bath. Make sure taps are off and replace old leaking ones immediately to minimise wastage.

Grants

If you feel that some of these options to make your home more energy efficient sounds initially pricey, you will be pleased to know that there may be grants and subsidies available to help you pay for them. The grants available are particularly generous if you are over 60 or on certain benefits.

You can contact the council, energy companies, Essex Energy Efficicency Advice Centre and the governmental funded programme, Warm Front to find out if you are eligable for a grant or to get more information.

Call Herts Essex Energy Partnership (HEEP Grant) on 0800 980 6026

Call Warmfront on 0800 316 6011

Call Essex Energy Efficiency Advice Centre on 0800 512 012

Or if you are not eligible for these grants call the Council on 01992 564092 and ask for Grants Team.

Click here for the Energy Saving Trust website to search for available grants

If you have problems heating your home to a comportable temperature call Home Heat Line on 0800 336699 for energy efficiency advice and for financial advice.

Or if you need help to pay off your energy debt?

Grants are availible to help!

Customer of British Gas & Scottish Gas click here

Customer with EDF Energy (London Energy, Seeboard Energy, and SWEB Energy) click here

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