Energy Saving Advice. Introduction. Home Appliances. Insulation

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1 Introduction This document gives you information about efficient use of energy in your home and tells you how to contact third parties who can provide you with further information. If you would like further information on energy efficiency you can call us free of charge on Home Appliances Energy efficient products consume less energy and so cost less to run. You can save on your energy bills by choosing more efficient products for your home. When buying new electrical items, check that they carry the Energy Saving Recommended logo this means the product meets or exceeds Government supported energy efficiency requirements. The logo can be found on a number of energy efficient appliances including light bulbs, refrigerators, laundry appliances, dishwashers and gas boilers. It can also be found on energy saving aids like cavity wall insulation. All new electrical appliances and gas boilers are rated according to how much energy they use. A rated appliances are the most efficient, with the ratings running downwards to G rated appliances which are the least efficient. Some refrigerators also carry A+ and A++ efficiency ratings. You can use these letter ratings to compare the efficiency of the products that you buy. The more efficient the product, the more money you ll save. Insulation Making sure that your home has the proper level of insulation fitted will also assist you in reducing your energy bills and saving money as without proper insulation more than half your home s heat can escape through the roof and walls. 1

2 Cavity wall insulation can be highly effective in reducing heat loss from your home by filling the gap between the two external walls. It is generally suitable for properties constructed since the 1940s, where external walls are made of two layers with a small gap (the cavity ) between them. The insulation is installed by drilling small holes in the mortar between the bricks and then pumping in the insulation material. The holes are then filled back in. Loft insulation works in the same way as cavity insulation but, rather than stopping heat escaping through the walls, it stops it escaping through the roof. Loft insulation should be installed to a depth of 12 inches or so. It is easy to install as it is just rolled out and laid across the floor of the loft. Home Heating The energy you use to heat your home during the Winter is likely to be a considerable proportion of your annual energy spend. Ensuring that your heating is running efficiently and that you are not wasting energy can assist you in saving on your energy bills. Our top tips to help you save energy: Don't leave the TV on standby! This also applies to DVD players, stereos and computers. To cut down on wasted energy, avoid leaving appliances on standby and remember not to leave mobile phones, MP3 players and laptops on charge unnecessarily. Only use what you need Only fill the kettle with the amount of water you need, but remember to cover the element if you're using an electric kettle. For washing machines, tumble driers and dishwashers always aim for a full load if you can't use a half-load or economy programme. 2

3 Use energy efficient light bulbs Trade your ordinary light bulbs for energy saving ones. Energy efficient light bulbs last 12 times longer and for each bulb you fit, you can save up to 9 on your annual electricity bill. Tame your heating and save 10% Is your heating on too high? The most important thing is to keep warm in winter, but turning your thermostat down by 1 C could cut your heating bills by up to 10%. And if you're going away for winter, leave the thermostat on a low setting to provide protection from freezing at minimum cost. By making a small adjustment to your heating you could save around 30 a year. Don't let your heating escape Double-glazing cuts heat loss through windows by 50% and could reduce your heating bill by up to 40 a year. Just closing your curtains at dusk will stop heat escaping through windows. If your boiler is more than ten years old, it s likely to be considerably less efficient than more modern boiler models. Replacing an old boiler with a new high efficiency condensing boiler can save you money on your heating bills straight away. As with electrical appliances, look out for the Energy Saving Recommended logo when selecting a new boiler. While it may cost slightly more to buy than a regular boiler, a high efficiency condensing boiler will cost less to run and so will save you money on your energy bills going forward. Whether or not you replace your existing boiler, it is important to make sure that you have your boiler serviced regularly (we recommend a minimum of every two years). It is also important to ensure that this service is only carried out by a registered Gas Safe engineer. 3

4 Heating controls also allow you to make sure that your home is heated as you want it. Most homes control their heating level by means of a thermostat which allows you to set your preferred temperature (i.e. 20 C). As soon as the room that the thermostat is located in reaches that temperature, the thermostat will turn off the hot water supply to the radiators. When the temperature drops below that level, it will turn it back on again. Other ways of controlling your heating levels and your energy bills include programmers to set when your heating and hot water come on and turn off (so you only have them on when needed) and cylinder thermostats on your hot water tank (if you have one) to control the temperature of hot water leaving the tank (so the water is not heated any more than is necessary). A plumber will be able to fit any of these controls for you. Advice and Support Our staff can offer you free and impartial advice on ways to save energy and lower your energy bills. Please call us on to speak to us about this. This service is available from 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 1pm Saturday. There are also independent third parties who can provide you with energy efficiency advice free of charge, please find contact details for some of these below: 4

5 Useful Contacts Energy Saving Trust Telephone: Website: England: 21 Dartmouth Street London SW1H 9BP Telephone: Scotland: 2nd Floor Ocean Point 1 94 Ocean Drive Edinburgh EH6 6JH Telephone: National Energy Action Website: National Energy Action West 1 Forth Banks Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 3PA Telephone: NEA Cymru / Wales PO Box 545 Swansea SA1 9EB Telephone: Wales: 1 Caspian Point Caspian Way Cardiff Bay Cardiff CF10 4DQ Telephone: First Utility Energy Saving Advice 5