Tuesday, 28 July 2009

Top tips to save energy and money

posted by debts.org at 00:54

• Insulate your walls

You could save up to £175.00 a year in an average household by insulating your walls. You may even be able to get a grant to help towards the cost of installation of home energy efficiency measures, such as cavity wall insulation or loft insulation. Grants are available to any household, and not just available to people on low-income or benefits.

• Comparison websites for energy suppliersCheck out the comparison websites which compare the cost of different energy suppliers in your area. Suppliers now offer a range of deals to new customers reduce the cost of installing energy saving and renewable materials. Visit www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/gid.

• Get a new boiler and controls to save moneyIf your boiler is more than 15 years old, you should replace it with a new energy-efficient one. A high-efficiency condensing boiler will save you hundreds of pounds a year.

• Look after your fridge

Never leave fridge or freezer doors open longer than necessary, and avoid putting hot food in the fridge. Defrost the freezer regularly and check all door seals are working properly. Simple measures could save you up to £100.00 a year on bills. If you buy a new fridge make sure it has the energy saving logo. Most people who have debt problems in the UK, could avoid more problems in the future by saving energy and saving money at home.

• Cover your hot water tank

Fit an insulating jacket on your tank to save energy – it will only cost you a few pounds.
• Use energy efficient light bulbsYou could save up to £60 a year by switching to energy-saving light bulbs.

• Defeat draughts and double glazingIf you fill gaps under skirting boards with beading or mastic sealant, you can save money off your annual heating bill. Double glazing will save you a lot more. Double glazing cuts heat loss through windows by at least 50%. If you only want to replace some of your windows, choose the ones which cost you most to heat such as the living room.

• Insulate your loft

If you insulate your loft to a minimum of 270mm you could save up to £205 a year on heating bills.

• Save water at home

If you are unfortunate enough to be stuck with a local water supplier, and are not free to swap suppliers, then have a water meter fitted, otherwise you could find yourself paying the same as the family next door, even though you may live alone. If you find the change does not save you money you can change back to the old system within 12 months.

If you are struggling to pay your energy bills, and would like some free advice and help about how to reduce your bills, or to see a comparison site, check out debts.org. If you have debt problems which seem to be spiralling out of control, contact us free of charge and one of our friendly team will discuss a debt management plan with you and give you free debts advice and guidance.

Labels: ,

1 Comments