Winter is on us already, and many households are looking for ways to keep their home warm and whilst also reducing their fuel bills and carbon emissions. On average, 25,000 people die of the common cold each year - and having a cold home can be a large cause of this. According to Energy Bill Revolution, cold homes cost the NHS up to £1.3bn every year!
In a typical household, over half of the fuel bills are spent on heating and hot water. An efficient heating system that you can control easily can help reduce your fuel bills and reduce your carbon emissions.
If you want to reduce heat loss in your home, reduce your carbon emissions and keep your energy bills low, installing insulation or draught-proofing will reduce heat loss. There are many simple yet effective ways to insulate your home, which can significantly reduce heat loss while lowering your heating bills. Even little fixes around the home can mount up to significant savings in your energy bills. For example, fitting your hot water cylinder with an insulating jacket will save you £18 a year in heating costs and 110kg of carbon dioxide emissions.
Draught-proofing is one of the inexpensive and most effective ways to save energy – and money – in any type of building. To draught-proof your home, you should block up unwanted gaps that let cold air in and warm air out. Saving warm air means you’ll use less energy to heat your home, so you’ll save money as well as make your home snug and warm. You can also draught-proof your doors and windows.
Fixing radiator reflector foil: This is fixing a radiator reflector foil behind your radiator, which helps to reflect heat from your radiator into the room - instead of letting the heat out through an external wall.
Insulating your water tank and pipes: This is a quick and easy way to save money on your bills. Lagging water tanks and pipes reduces the amount of heat lost, so you spend less money heating water up, and hot water stays hotter for longer.
Support that is available to help you:
- Your Energy supplier: Low-income households, especially pensioners, can get a £140 rebate off their energy bill under the Warm Home Discount from their energy supplier. Many energy companies offer schemes or grants to help with home heating and energy costs - for some, you don’t even have to be their customer! Click on the link for a list of energy suppliers that could help: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/get-help-paying-your-bills/grants-and-benefits-to-help-you-pay-your-energy-bills/#Grants_To_Help_Pay_Energy_Debts
- Citizen Advice: If you are struggling to pay your energy bill, or you are in energy/water debt, call Citizen's Advice on 0808 223 1133.
- Croydon Healthy Homes: Croydon Healthy Homes is Croydon Council’s free energy advice service aimed at Croydon residents on low incomes, and those more vulnerable to the effects of living in a cold home (especially families with young children, older residents, and residents with pre-existing medical conditions). You can email [email protected] to apply for support or call Freephone number 0800 292 2529 (Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm).
- Croydon BME Forum: Email [email protected] or call 07541 309243 for one-to-one support.
- National Energy Action (Action for Warm Home): NEA’s WASH Advice Service is a free support service providing advice to householders in England and Wales on their energy bills, water bills, switching suppliers, energy efficiency, trust fund applications, and support with gas.
