The cuts announced this week in the Spending Review impact all the key areas of government support for home energy efficiency.
The government has announced a 42 per cent cut, to take effect from 2017, to the main programme that funds household insulation and new boilers. With this scale of cut, the remainder will now have to be directed at fuel poor households who can’t afford to pay.
Where does this leave the rest of households, those not in fuel poverty, the so-called ‘able-to-pay’? In the past, schemes such as the Green Deal Home Improvement Fund or the Boiler Scrappage Scheme gave direct government funding to householders – rich or poor – to make energy efficiency upgrades. With the
Department of Energy and Climate Change cuts it is unlikely we will see any new grant programmes in the near future.
Now that every household has cranked up the thermostat on the heating, the cost of staying cosy is paramount. Nobody wants to pay a fortune so making some small changes now could help keep costs down, as it gets chillier. How to save money on your gas and electricity bills this winter.
Upgrade your boiler: A newer boiler might save you money as they burn fuel much more efficiently and recover more heat. According to
Energy Saving Trust, some of you may even qualify for a free upgrade so it’s well worth looking into.
Deal with the draughts: Use masking tape to seal window frames or draught excluders under doors to stop the warm air escaping and the cold creeping in.
Fix your floors: Fill those gaps between floorboards and keep your rooms insulated- it should help keep your rooms nice and toasty.
Be savvy and switch off: Are your plug sockets turned off when they’re not being used? Are you turning things off or leaving them on standby? Are you boiling a full kettle for one small cuppa? All of these small measures could help put the pounds back in your pocket.
Indulge in a duvet day: Duvets and hot water bottles can offer plenty of comfort and warmth on those colder evenings and weekends and could allow you to be savvier with your heating.
Wash at 30°: Wash on a low temperature; it helps you to save on your gas and electric whilst also helping the environment.
Use LED bulbs: LED uses very little energy and often lasts a lot longer than conventional light bulbs so make the switch throughout your home.
Switch and save:
Comparing energy prices allow you to check you are on the best, and cheapest, tariff for you. The new Snapt app (
review) for example, allows you to compare gas and electric prices. Simply use the QR code on your latest energy statement.
Upgrade your boiler: A newer boiler might save you money as they burn fuel much more efficiently and recover more heat. According to Energy Saving Trust, some of you may even qualify for a free upgrade so it’s well worth looking into.
Deal with the draughts: Use masking tape to seal window frames or draught excluders under doors to stop the warm air escaping and the cold creeping in.
Fix your floors: Fill those gaps between floorboards and keep your rooms insulated- it should help keep your rooms nice and toasty.
Be savvy and switch off: Are your plug sockets turned off when they’re not being used? Are you turning things off or leaving them on standby? Are you boiling a full kettle for one small cuppa? All of these small measures could help put the pounds back in your pocket.
Indulge in a duvet day: Duvets and hot water bottles can offer plenty of comfort and warmth on those colder evenings and weekends and could allow you to be savvier with your heating.
Wash at 30°: Wash on a low temperature; it helps you to save on your gas and electric whilst also helping the environment.
Use LED bulbs: LED uses very little energy and often lasts a lot longer than conventional light bulbs so make the switch throughout your home.
Switch and save: Comparing energy prices allow you to check you are on the best, and cheapest, tariff for you. The new Snapt app (review) for example, allows you to compare gas and electric prices. Simply use the QR code on your latest energy statement.
