Why Money Could Be Owed

The USwitch Survey Results

How to Claim Your Money Back

Should You Claim Your Energy Refund?

What to Do If You’re in Energy Debt

Why You Could Be Owed

The last few years have seen energy prices go through the roof – but they are finally starting to come down. However, when they were on the rise, most energy suppliers increased direct debits for customers to make sure the higher costs of winter months would be covered.

Now, millions of people are owed an energy refund from their supplier because they have built up hundreds of pounds in credit they don’t need. The reason for this is two-fold: first, many direct debits were raised and over-estimated, meaning you could have been paying way more than you needed to, to cover the winter heating and electric bills. This can happen every year, especially if you rely on mostly estimated readings from your supplier.

However, the second reason is more surprising: as the cost of living crisis hit everyone, we all became a lot more aware about ways to save energy in the home – and as we had a particularly mild winter, many of us used our central heating a lot less than usual, too. So, while we were paying more than we needed to for our direct debits, we were also using less energy than usual which reduced bills further.

The Annual Bill Cycle

Typically, May is around the time households should have around a zero credit build-up in their energy account. This is because of the cycle of energy usage and direct debits. Your direct debit is the same amount each month, even though you don’t use that much every month. In the spring and summer, your energy costs are lower. This means you’ll build credit in your account through these months. That credit then gets used up as your winter bills increase with central heating and extra use of appliances like tumble dryers, so by early spring the credit should be levelled out.

However, this year, millions of households have saved more energy AND built up extra credit with their energy supplier because of higher direct debits throughout the last year or so – which means they’re entering the ‘zero’ months of early spring with a significant chunk of cash already built up against their energy bills for the summer.

The USwitch Survey Results

Comparison website USwitch conducted a survey of 16 MILLION energy customers and their accounts, and the results are eye opening. The average household has a credit built up with their energy supplier of £210.08. This varies a lot between regions and households, though – Newcastle has the highest average of £315.58 built up, while five per cent (that’s 800,000 households) have over £500 sitting in their energy account.

In fact, the total amount held of customers’ money held by energy suppliers is around THREE BILLION pounds. Yes, billion. However, what is interesting is that industry regulator Ofgem say this is also around the same amount of debt owed by customers – which could put the industry on shaky ground. However, customer payments should be ‘ringfenced’, which means your money must be returnable to you.

How to Claim Your Money Back

Energy suppliers should return your spare credit to you – but it can take a bit of arguing. The first step is to make a simple request to your supplier – many have a contact email address on their website. It is always best to communicate with your energy supplier in writing, in case you need to take a complaint to the Ombudsman (Ofgem) at a later date.

You might reach an agreement with your supplier to leave a small amount of credit in your account – for example, if you have built £300 credit, you could arrange a £250 refund, leaving £50 in your account. This gives you peace of mind, too. However, you can request it all back if you want it.

If your supplier doesn’t reply to your request or refuses, escalate it as a complaint. They have 8 weeks from the date of your complaint to resolve the matter – and if you still don’t have your refund, you can take it to the Energy Ombudsman who have the power to force the supplier to return your money.

When you raise a complaint with the Ombudsman, you’ll be asked for evidence of your attempt to resolve it with the supplier first – which is why getting everything in writing is ideal. Then, you’ll need to write details of your complaint. It doesn’t need to be reams and reams for something like an energy refund – in fact, you could use this exact wording and fill in the bits in brackets with your own details if you like:

“On (date you requested the refund), I requested the refund of (amount of credit), with my account currently in credit by (total amount of credit on your account). They have (not replied/refused). I wish to access (amount of credit) and request the Ombudsman intervene to return my funds.”

That’s it!

Should You Claim an Energy Refund?

There are reasons both to claim your energy refund and also to leave the account in credit.

You should claim if:

• You don’t plan to move house soon
• There is a significant excess (such as over £200) and you want a partial refund
• You’re in temporary significant financial difficulty

You shouldn’t claim if:

• You want to have lower bills for the rest of the year (you can amend your direct debit and use up your credit)
• You’re in financial difficulty that could last several months (energy bills must be paid so keeping your account in credit could avoid energy debt)
• You’re planning to switch energy supplier soon (wait until you have switched)
• You’re planning to move house soon (different houses use varied amounts of energy so your bills could change – and you might need to switch supplier)

If you decide to keep your credit in your account, make sure you lower your direct debit bill to as little as possible (and remember to put it up again before you run out of credit). This will stop you from adding to the credit and losing money you don’t need to pay out.

What To Do If You Are In Energy Debt

While there are millions of households in credit, unfortunately there are further millions struggling to pay their energy bills. The same survey mentioned above also revealed around four million households owe an average of £194 in energy debt.

If you’re struggling to pay your energy bills, don’t fret – there are things you can do. We’ve created a guide to help you tackle energy debt and make sure it doesn’t have a long-term impact on your finances or your mental health.

The post Are You Owed Hundreds of Pounds in an Energy Refund? appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

If you’re looking to save on your energy bills this winter, the Warm Home Discount Scheme offers a helpful £150 off your electricity bill.

Here’s how it works: if you’re eligible, your energy supplier will automatically apply the discount, so there’s no extra cash in your pocket, but a reduction on your bill. For most, there’s no need to apply, as it happens automatically. However, if you’re on a low income and living in Scotland, you’ll need to contact your energy provider directly to apply.

If your energy supplier provides both gas and electricity, you might even be able to get the discount on your gas bill instead. It’s worth giving them a call to see what’s possible.

What about a Pre-Pay?

If you’re on a pre-pay or pay-as-you-go electricity meter, don’t worry—you can still qualify for the Warm Home Discount.

Your energy supplier will let you know how you’ll receive the discount if you’re eligible. This could be in the form of a voucher that you can use to top up your meter, so it’s definitely worth checking with them to see what’s available.

What if I think I am eligible and don’t recieve it?

Contact your local Job Centre direct. If you have an open UC claim online you can easily message your agent to ask.

The post Are you Getting This Extra £150 This January! Don’t Miss Out appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

With this in mind, I took to the internet to see what hacks people are suggesting to stay warm and decided to try them all on the coldest day and night of the year so far.

These were my findings.

Warm Yourself From the Inside

This is one of the best bits of advice out there. As soon as food hits your tummy your temperature rises and you become far more comfortable. Enjoy hearty, warming comfort foods like stews, soups, and carb-rich meals, as these can help you feel full and cozy, which may improve sleep and keep you warmer. To test this I decided to make some soup. I have a Daewoo Soup Maker which makes making soup SO easy.

If you have ever used a soup maker then you will know what a game changer it really is. For the Daewoo one, I put the raw ingredients in and it cooks them and then blends them to your chosen consistency. So, before you head out with the dog, or whilst you work, the soup maker makes a delicious lunch for you. It is the easiest and most delicious and warming lunch and such minimal effort; I use mine every few days. Then, the warm soup filled belly takes the edge of the coldness and lasts for at least an hour.

Eating regularly can also help and we take a look at warming foods here.

Warm Bath Before Bed

An oldie but a goodie. If you take a warm bath before bed, it is suggested that your temperature will rise enough to then stay warm. I tested this one with no heating on (to really give it a try) and found that whilst it did warm me up better than a cup of tea, it didn’t last that long.

Move Your Body

If you have ever seen rugby players play in the snow then you will have asked how this isn’t absolute agony on their skin. And I am told that whilst it stings,  once they start running about they warm up suitably. For this to work you have to keep moving. One tip I saw again and again on Reddit was to keep moving. One person said every time they felt they were getting chilly they get up and do star jumps, another said they use an exercise bike. So whilst this is a very effective method – after a long day at work and modern life sapping all of your energy, getting up and doing star jumps every ten minutes felt a bit relentless to me and not at all sustainable whilst I tried to sleep.

Hot Water Bottle

Sometimes all we need is something warm to cuddle.

Energyguide.org.uk has calculated that it costs around £4.50 to run an average sized gas boiler.

According to the Citizens Advice website, it costs an average of 7p to boil a full kettle. That will fill a normal sized hottie and one of those long thin ones you may have seen. (Remember you should always let the water cool down a little bit before filling a hot water bottle and never fill it completely full.)

You can buy a cosy long hot water bottle from Dunelm for just £14.

Wilko sell a basic hot water bottle with cover for £4.99.

Hot water bottles stayed warm for hours and were lovely to warm a cold bed to climb into. The long one was particularly good as I could hug it and the full length kept me warm from shoulder to hip!

Wear Warmth

There are so many options on the market for this tip. I have an Oodie which I absolutely swear by – if anything you can be TOO hot in that, it’s so effective! I was also kindly gifted a Daewoo Heated Hoodie and let me tell you – this is hands down my winner. Recently my dog has taken to wanting the toilet in the middle of the night (don’t ask but it has a lot to do with Hedgehogs), in winter, getting out of your cosy bed and standing under the moonlit sky at 2am is brutal and this is the only item that has made it bearable. It can be charged really quickly (like 5 minutes) with a USB and has three settings. I can say, hand on heart, it is so snug. I struggle with aches when I get cold so it is a godsend and this out of all the methods I have tried – made me feel the most comfortable the quickest.

We have our electric blanket guide here.

The post I tried THESE 5 viral hacks to stay warm: One was a clear winner appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

Our energy bills seem to be going up every day! But I know a heating engineer who has some easy tweaks you can make to your heating system – and to your home – that will cut your bill by hundreds, or even thousands, over the year.

Harland Guscott runs Guscott Heating in Kent and he’s got several clever ways that we can cut our heating bills down. See this video where I ask him about his tips (it was filmed by my nephew Tommy so apologies for any wobbles!).

Maximising your boiler to bring down energy bills

Harland says that even if your boiler is 10-15 years old it can still work really well if it’s regularly serviced and fine-tuned to the needs of your home. You don’t need to buy a new one. In fact they can last well to 20 years.

Heating

The first thing he asked was if I knew what the ‘flow rate’ of my boiler was. No I didn’t. But I do now!

The flow rate is the temperature at which the water leaves a boiler to go round the heating system.

My flow rate was at the top heat of 75 degrees when it doesn’t need to be more than 55 degrees. ‘

To make this adjustment you need to find the radiator symbol on your boiler and turn it down.

‘The best way to find that is through your operating manual or you can ring the manufacturer or a heating professional and they will talk you through it.’

This adjustment alone will save me about 16 per cent on my gas bills.

‘For every 10 degrees you reduce the flow rate you save 6-8 per cent on you bills,

Hot Water

Look for the hot water symbol (usually a tap) on the boiler and check the temperature. Most people add cold water when they use the hot tap which is a big waste. If you’re doing this, lower the hot water temperature to a point where you don’t need to add cold.

If it isn’t warm enough when you use it next, you can always raise the temperature again.

For every 10 degrees you lower the water temperature by you will save 3-5 per cent on your bills.

Boiler Gizmos

Weather compensators and smart controls can help to adjust the flow rates of the boiler for you, depending on the temperature outside.

It would probably cost you between £100-200 to install but would increase your home’s heat efficiency by 3-5 per cent.

Check the Output

Much of the inefficiencies happen because of poor installation, says Harland. That’s what really creates the big energy bills.

Make sure your boiler isn’t over-working for the size of your property.. In many houses, you could reduce the output significantly and this would reduce the bills again.

Most boilers are installed running at 24KW and yet most houses only need them to run at 6-10KW. You need the controls set at the most efficient levels.’

‘When you get someone to install a boiler they should take into account how many rooms you have and they should set the controls at the most efficient levels.

Ask them how they will fine-tune your boiler and set it up correctly with the right flow rates.

also, get them to show you how to change the flow rates yourself and the boiler’s output and then you can control things yourself.

Get the Radiators Sorted

Harland pointed out that radiators are important for the efficiency of the boiler.

• Check the radiators once a year to check that there’s no sludge. If there is then bring in a plumber to bleed the system and give it a good clean out.
• You can tell if the radiators are efficient by putting them on and feeling the top and bottom. If the top is hot but the bottom isn’t then you have a load of sludge there.
• Keeping the radiators clean and working property will mean the boiler has to do less work and it will cost you less.

Other Energy Bill-Reducing Heating Hacks

People like me are always telling others to drop the thermostat down by one degree to cut the cost of your energy bills.

Harland goes a step further saying that we should find one temperature that we’re happy with – say 19 degrees – and stick with that. “Don’t keep turning it up and down, just keep it at that one level” he says.

He also says that we should check all the windows and doors for heat escaping. Get the draughts fixed, ideally when it’s still warm, so that you don’t have to keep the heating on longer and use more energy.

The post Boiler Expert Shares Exact Heat to Keep Energy Prices Down appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

Winter energy bills always start creeping up from around October until April, as the heating goes on more, tumble dryers replace air drying on a line, and we spend more time indoors on dark nights. Keeping the costs down is something we’re all looking to do, so we’ve created this handy guide with Uswitch for energy saving tips to reduce your winter energy bills this year.

Improve Your Home’s Heat Retention

Switch and Fix Your Tariff

Make the Most of Night Rates

Double Your Power with Battery Devices

Use Auto-On LED Lights

Reduce Tumble Drying Time

Turn the Heat Down

Apply for Bill Discounts

Improve Your Home’s Heat Retention

A few small changes can make a difference to how much heat is lost from your home. Removing draughts and improving insulation is really straightforward and cheap to do, but will save on your bills every winter as the heat stays in your home instead of wafting away from it!

1. Hang thermal curtains

You don’t need to get rid of your existing curtains, but instead buy thermal curtains and either hang them behind your existing ones or sew them to the lining for a neater look. This will keep the heat in during winter – and help keep the heat out during summer, too.

2. Use draught excluders

Stuff an old pillowcase with the endless plastic carrier bags we know you’ve got stuffed under the sink! You can also use draught tape around doors and windows to help prevent the wind getting in.

3. Consider thermal window film

If you don’t have double glazing, thermal window film can help improve the insulation of your windows. It can be expensive though, so if you don’t mind how the window looks you can also use bubble wrap! Cut to size of the window pane and spray some water on the window. Apply with the bubbles facing the window, as this traps the air and creates a thermal barrier.

4. Look for energy grants

Some homeowners and tenants might be eligible for home improvement grants to improve the heat efficiency of their property. Local authorities may have grants to improve your home’s insulation, change an old boiler, or install air pumps. The Government also sometimes run schemes like the Boiler Upgrade program, so check Gov.uk for help.

Switch and Fix Your Tariff

When was the last time you shopped around for your energy supplier? Most people will keep the same supplier from when they move in, not realising they might be able to save hundreds of pounds a year. This is especially true for households with previously fixed tariffs that have ended, and may have been migrated to a higher rolling tariff – or those who have just moved house and have the legacy of the previous owner’s supplier to deal with.

Use a comparison service like Uswitch to check out available tariffs from each supplier. You’ll be able to compare them to find out if you can save money.

The price cap goes up again in October 2024 from £1,568 to £1,717, and there’s no guarantee it won’t rise again in the future either – prices will likely stay high throughout winter. Fixing a tariff for at least twelve months will give you some peace of mind over the fluctuating cap and energy prices.

Finding the Best Energy Prices

When you compare energy prices and suppliers with a service like Uswitch, make sure you have the most detailed information you can. For example, find out your annual usage by finding a bill from a year ago and your most recent bill. Take the meter reading from the old one away from the new one, and that’s how many kWh you’ve used in the last year.

Having an accurate picture like this will make sure the options you’re presented with are as accurate as possible.

Also, think about whether you want to stay in your property for the next year or if there’s a chance you might move. This is because some tariffs have exit rates if you leave within a certain period of time, and people don’t always move their supplier to their new house. So, if you’re moving, weigh up the exit fee against the annual savings to see if you should fix your tariff and be prepared to pay the fee if you move, or if opting for a slightly higher tariff will end up cheaper overall if you don’t need to pay an exit fee.

Check the Standing Charge Rate

When you’re comparing prices to find the best energy tariff for your needs, remember to take into account the standing charge cost. This might seem a lot higher than others, but the unit rate is lower – or the other way around. Which one suits you better all depends on the energy you use, so do your sums.

If you’re switching energy supplier for a second home or an empty property you’re trying to sell, a lower standing charge is usually the better option. This is because the unit rate will be high but you won’t use much energy if the house is empty all or most of the time.

If you’re switching for your main home, a higher standing charge with lower unit rate could be beneficial for those who use a lot of energy, such as families or people who work from home.

Check for Electric Car Tariffs

Our final tip for finding the best energy tariff to switch to is to look for specific electric car rates, if you have an electric vehicle. This is because some suppliers offer unique tariffs that allow you to charge at a cheaper rate during the night, specifically for your EV charger. This could save you hundreds of pounds across the year.

Make the Most of Night Rates

Some people will have Economy 10 meters, which use a day rate and a night rate. The night rate is much cheaper than the day – but the hours are limiting, usually between midnight and 6am.

If you have one of these meters and a two-rate tariff, make the most of the night rate. If it won’t disturb people (such as if you’re in a detached house with a utility room) put your laundry on a timer to run at night. Set the dishwasher to run in the early hours. And for those with a hot water tank, time your heating for the cheap rate to save on hot water.

Double Your Power with Battery and Rechargeable Devices

While we’re on savvy energy usage, if you have a cheaper night rate make sure that’s the time you charge devices like laptops and mobile phones. Many people also charge power banks on their cheaper rate, so they can minimise the use of chargers for electronic devices during the daytime. (And, if you’re out and about during the day, charge your phone at the office or while you commute on the train!).

But anybody can also make the most of charging their devices and then using the battery time. It’s so easy to constantly keep your laptop or tablet plugged in even when it’s fully charged, so you’re wasting energy. When the battery is full, disconnect the charger and use the device until the battery is in the red. It’s healthier for the battery AND your bank balance.

Use plug-in timers, too. Many of us will leave something to charge for several hours when it only needs a couple. Reduce your energy usage by setting a timer for your chargers.

Use Auto-On LED Lights

Do you have a porch light that you always forget to turn off? Perhaps you need a lamp for your pantry or wardrobe. Battery-powered LED lights are cheap and efficient, and can be put anywhere. They can be set to automatically turn on when they detect movement, which saves the battery and also stops you from accidentally leaving lights on everywhere.

A common use is to have one in the bathroom, so that if you have to get up in the night you don’t switch on a noisy fan with the main light. They’re also useful for porches, cupboards, and under kitchen cabinets for some extra lighting.

Reduce Tumble Drying Time

Tumble dryers are incredibly useful in winter months as the weather gets too wet and cold to air dry clothes outside. However, they absolutely eat energy!

Make sure you don’t overload your tumble when you do use it, as this extends the time you need to get everything dry.

You should also run your laundry on an extra spin cycle in the washing machine (most have a ten-minute quick spin option). This significantly reduces the amount of moisture in clothes, which reduces the time required to dry them.

You could also switch entirely to a heated airer instead. A tumble dryer costs around 40p to run per hour compared to a heated airer around 17p, and it’s also much more gentle on your clothes.

Turn the Heat Down

Yes, you’ve heard it before – but it really can make a difference! Turning down the thermostat by just a couple of degrees can make a significant dent in your energy bills. Pop on some socks and slippers, wear layers, and use that hot water bottle you have forgotten about in the back of the wardrobe.

You can also set timers for your heating to make sure it is on at the most efficient times. For example, in deep winter we all like waking to a warm house – but if you then all leave to go to work, there’s no need for it to be on. If you wake at 6am to leave by 8am, set the heating to come on at 5.45am and off at 7.45am. The same goes for the evenings – you can set the house to warm at chosen hours, but reduce the temperature or turn it off while you’re sleeping.

Apply for Discounts

If you’re a low income household you could claim the Warm Home Discount. Check with your supplier to find out if you’re eligible. If so, £140 credit is added to your account by March of each year (applications open in October) to help with the cost of winter energy bills.

For those over State Pension age, despite all the furore in the news recently, there are many who can still claim the Winter Fuel Payment, which is either £200 or £300 towards fuel bills.

The post How to Cut Your Winter Energy Bills appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

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With gas and electricity prices set to soar thanks to the current crisis and another cold winter not far away, all of us want to cut our energy costs as much as we can.

By making sure your home is properly insulated you can make your energy usage much more efficient and save yourself serious money!

• Wall insulation
• DIY insulation
• Government grants
• Top tips

Switch your supplier and save on your energy bills

All the insulation solutions in this article will save you a lot of money in the long run. Also, there are plenty of grants and discounts available to help you with the initial set-up costs – and the good news is that you don’t have to be on benefits to qualify.

N.B. All the savings per year referred to in this article are estimations made by the Energy Saving Trust.

Wall insulation

Cavity wall insulation saving: up to £500 a year

Up to a third of the heat lost in your home escapes through the walls. Cavity insulation cuts this heat loss down dramatically, and could save you anywhere from £145 in fuel bills (if you live in a mid-floor flat) to £500 a year (if you live in a detached home).

If your house was built after the 1920s, you probably have cavity walls. This means you’ll have a small air gap between the two layers of your property’s external walls.

You could save a small fortune annually by getting it filled – adding up to hefty savings over the years (and far less CO² emissions).

What does cavity wall insulation involve?

Professionals can be hired to install the insulation, following a full assessment of your home to make sure it’s suitable. The process involves drilling small holes in the external wall and then piping the insulation through. The holes are filled to match the wall afterwards. Depending on the size of your house, the work should take between two and four hours to complete and won’t cause any damage to your property at all.

This insulation should stop all the hot air escaping and make your home feel a lot cosier. Visit the National Insulation Association’s website to search through registered installers in your area.

How much does it cost?

Again, the size of your home will determine the cost. It can cost as much as £1,000 for a mid-floor flat and £4,600 for a detached house. The good news is, all households – regardless of income – are entitled to grants for home insulation, which could cover the entire cost. To find out how much you could claim, contact your energy supplier.

Solid wall insulation saving: up to £710 a year

If your home was built before 1920 you’re likely to have solid walls, which unfortunately lose even more heat than cavity walls (around 45% of your heat will be lost through them!)

Although the initial costs are steep, resolving the problem will save you lots of money in the long run.

It’s important before installing wall insulation that all walls are damp free and that there’s a reliable source of ventilation. This is so that the building does not suffer from increased levels of moisture in the air which leads to mould and damp problems.

What does solid wall insulation involve?

There are two types of solid wall insulation:

1. Internal wall insulation can be done in two ways. The first is by using ‘flexible thermal lining’ – a roll of insulation usually made of 10mm thick latex which is used to line the walls. The walls can then be decorated with emulsion, wallpaper or even tiles over the top of the lining.

The second way is effectively ‘double glazing’ your walls with 90mm thick ‘rigid thermal boards’. These usually consist of plasterboard backed with an insulating material, and are fixed to the wall leaving a small gap in between to trap warm air. This will then reduce the amount of heat that can pass through the wall to the outside.

2. External wall insulation involves adding an insulating, 50-100mm weather-proof layer over the outside of your walls, usually with decorative cladding over the top (to suit the style of your house, whether it’s Victorian, Edwardian, Georgian or whatever).

External insulation is often installed where there are severe heating problems or some other form of external wall repair work needs to be carried out, allowing the insulation to be done at the same time.

As this method changes the appearance of the house, it’s possible that you may need to get planning permission before any work is started. Contact your local council for more information.

How much does it cost?

Internal wall insulation is the cheaper option, costing up to £7,500 for a three-bed semi, but it will temporarily affect the internal decoration of your home, and will make rooms ever so slightly smaller.

Installing external wall insulation is a lot more expensive, depending on the type of render and the condition of the walls. On average, external insulation for a typical three-bedroom semi is likely to cost up to £11,000, according to the Energy Saving Trust.

The savings on your energy bill are comparatively small given the high outlay required. For a detached home, you’re looking at around £710 a year, while insulating that hypothetical three-bed semi will probably only save you about £410 on fuel bills.

Double glazing saving: up to £235 a year

What does double glazing involve?

Installing double-glazed windows means that air is trapped between two panes of glass, effectively creating an insulating barrier that reduces heat loss, noise and condensation.

The Energy Saving Trust estimated that installing A++ double glazing could see you better off by up to £235 a year, as well as save in the region of 405kg in CO² emissions.

How much does it cost?

Double glazing can be a bit pricey to install – you’re looking at around £7,500 for a typical semi.

With so many companies out there, it’s important to choose a reliable one. Although adverts in your local newspaper and flyers through your door may offer attractive prices, we suggest you search here for a FENSA (Fenestration Self-Assessment Scheme) registered window fitters in your local area.

After you’ve found local companies, get quotes from three or four of them. This will involve contractors coming to your house to assess what you need (they shouldn’t charge you for this). Once you have your quotes and have seen what each company can offer, you can make a decision on which to use.

If you can’t afford to have all your windows replaced, you could fit double glazing in the rooms that cost you the most to heat, while you save up to get the rest done. This will at least cut your energy bills down a bit.

Alternatively, you could look at getting secondary glazing installed. Secondary glazing consists of a sheet of plastic or glass fitted over the inside of the window that creates a mass of air that acts as insulation between the actual window and the extra glazing.

It is a less effective solution, but it is dramatically cheaper and can be used as a temporary solution. It may also be the only solution for listed buildings!

DIY options are available but you’ll likely save more money in energy bills if the fitting is done professionally.

DIY insulation

Loft insulation saving: up to £470 a year

If your loft is all bare joists and the odd forgotten Christmas decoration, you need to give it some TLC with a little DIY! Loft insulation is easy to do yourself, and with a quarter of heat being lost through an uninsulated roof, it’ll save you some serious money too.

What does loft insulation involve?

Loft insulation comes in rolls and should be laid across your entire attic floor, including around the loft hatch, to prevent heat escaping; in the summer it’ll help to keep the house cool, too.

In the UK, it’s recommended that you use at least 270mm (8in) of insulation to cover your loft, yet this differs with the product you choose to use – lay 270mm if you’re using glass wool, 250mm for rock wool and 220mm for cellulose. The easiest way to do this is to put insulation between your ceiling joists and then another layer over the top. Sticking to these guidelines will mean that you will save up to £470 a year on your energy bills if you live in a detached house, and up to £260 if you live in a mid-terrace.

SAFETY: Always remember that you should wear a mask, gloves and a long-sleeved jumper when you’re laying the insulation rolls, as loft insulation is pretty horrible stuff!

How much does it cost?

Most insulation rolls are already marked so you can cut them to the perfect size and fit them between the joists.

Once you’ve filled between the joists, you can put a second layer over the whole area.

While you’re up there, you could consider insulating your pipes at the same time. All you’ll need to do is get some pipe lagging which is flexible and easy to install.

As with cavity wall insulation, everybody – regardless of income – is entitled to a government grant, meaning you might not have to pay a penny. Contact your energy supplier to see what help is available to you.

Hot water tank insulation saving: up to £250 a year

Aren’t you glad of your cosy coat now it’s coming up to winter? Make sure your hot water tank has something similar.

What does hot water tank insulation involve?

By fitting a British standard ‘jacket’ of at least 80mm thickness, as well as pipe insulation, you’ll cut heat loss from your tank and save up to £250 a year, according to the Energy Saving Trust. Fitting one of these jackets is a straight forward DIY job and, as well as being kind on your pocket, you could also save around 175kg in CO² emissions a year.

How much does it cost?

Most jackets cost about £18, while primary pipe insulation will cost an extra £18. You can easily fit both these yourself. So you spend £36 on insulation for your hot water tank and pipes and gain back seven times that amount in savings over the course of the year!

You can apply for a grant of up to £40,000 to help boost your home’s energy efficiency here.

Floor insulation saving: up to £150 a year

If you have some nice timber floors in your home but hate the draught they create then its well worth insulating under the floorboards. Not only will this increase your comfort, but it can save you some money too. Approximately 15% of heat is lost through our floors and even insulating between your floorboards and the carpet will help save up to £150 a year on your heating bills.

It’s possible to insulate the floor yourself, as it’s a pretty straightforward job and there’s plenty of help online. If there’s a multitude of pipes and wires under your floors, however, you may feel better having a professional do it.

The good news is that you don’t need to insulate all the floors in your house – just the ground floor will do. You need to make sure when doing the job that there’s sufficient ventilation under the floor. If there isn’t, then condensation will form and the floorboards will rot. So don’t block up the underfloor airbricks in your outside walls.

This job obviously involves taking up the floor, so it isn’t a quick solution. Floorboards need to be lifted so that pieces of insulation cut to size can be fitted in the bays between the floor joists. This insulation can be held up with nails tapped into the joists or with netting attached to the joists underneath it.

The most common materials used for this type of insulation are fibreglass, mineral wool and cellulose, although synthetic plastics and polystyrene foams are also used.

Another way to prevent against draughts through the floor is to fill in between the gaps in the floorboards and around the bottom of skirting boards with a silicone sealant.

Carpeted floors do provide a lot more insulation than bare wood – the thicker the carpet, the warmer the floor will be. In order to insulate further, though, a good-quality, thick cushion pad under the carpet will help.

How much does it cost?

Insulating under your floorboards can cost up to £4,300 and will only save between £60 a year in energy bills if you live in a terrace and £155 if you live in a bungalow. However, you will have the additional comfort of having warm floors under your feet! Doing the work will cause some temporary disruption to your home but it’ll definitely be worth it to have warmer rooms.

Draught-proofing saving: up to £50 a year

These are incredibly easy to fix and will improve your comfort around your home, as well helping you out with your bills! Draughts around the home can cause illnesses in the elderly and children, so the small amount of work it takes to fix them will really pay off.

What does it involve?

Tiny gaps around the sides and bottom of your doors, windows, letter boxes and cat flaps let cold draughts in and warm air out. The gaps can be filled in with plastic or foam sealants and brush strips that you can easily install yourself.

How much does it cost?

Draught excluders can be found at any DIY or hardware store – even Argos stock simple solutions.

Government grants

If all of this is sounding good but beyond your budget, don’t worry – financial assistance is available. The government, energy suppliers and local authorities can all provide grants to help you out.

Some government schemes are only available to households on certain benefits, such as income support, or to those over 65. There are, however, discounts and subsidies around even if you don’t fall into those categories. One important thing to know is that this scheme will only exist as long as the funds are there, so you may have to act quickly.

To find out how much you’re entitled to, read all about grants and how to get them in our article, Green savings and grants galore or visit the Government Grants website.

The government has also set up the ‘Green Deal’, an initiative designed to encourage home owners and businesses to use more green technologies. The great thing about this is that you won’t be expected to pay any upfront costs. Click here for more information about the Green Deal and how it could benefit you.

Top tips

• Get thermal curtains – they make it virtually impossible for heat to escape. You can make them yourself by lining your curtains with an insulating material. A really cheap way of doing this is to sew a cheap PVC shower curtain (they only cost about a fiver) to your existing curtains, and then sew some lining over the top. For added insulation you can replace the shower curtain with foil insulation from Wickes.
• Don’t draw the curtains over the radiator. This will channel the heat up the curtains and out through the glass. Tuck the curtains behind the radiator or have the excess length taken off.
• Draw your curtains at dusk to provide extra insulation to the room.
• With all of these methods, if you don’t have a huge budget, go for products roughly in the middle of the price range. That way you won’t have to spend an absolute fortune but you’ll still be able to save a substantial amount of money.
• To find builders or companies who can install wall insulation or double glazing, search online at Yell.com using the keywords and your postcode – easy!

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All we read and hear about in the news at the moment is how to spend less money, how to deal with rising bills, and how to try to cut those bills. It can be very depressing and daunting but this guide will help you to save money on a daily basis.

From July 1, the energy price cap on the unit cost of electricity is now 30p per kilowatt hour (kWh) and £0.08 per kWh for gas, with standing charges remaining at 53p for electricity and 29p for gas. (The standing charge is the price you pay for just having gas and electricity before you’ve used any of it.)

Energy prices are still around twice as high as they were in 2021. This means that although the average direct debit energy bill will fall by around 17% from July 1, we all still need to be aware of how much energy we’re using in order to keep our bills as affordable as we possibly can.

As it’s summer, most of us are able turn off the heating, which can knock precious pounds off bills. And if you don’t already, it’s good to get into the habit of switching off lights in rooms you’re not in: that can waste serious money over a period of time.

However, it tends to be the kitchen that has the most energy guzzling appliances – so what can you do to save money? Below we’ve highlighted some cost-efficient ways to help you keep those bills down: 

• Boiling the kettle
• Ovens
• Toasting or grilling bread
• Air-fryers
• Microwaves
• Slow cookers
• More kitchen hacks

(Disclaimer: All figures are based on average energy consumption and average wattage of an appliance. Our figures are from Uswitch and AO.com)

Boiling the kettle 

Let’s begin with the cost of making that cup of tea. Simple, eh? Well…

Before July 1, it cost around 8.3p to boil your kettle for five minutes, now it costs around 7.5p for five minutes. It may not sound like a lot, but those pennies add up!

According to the Energy Saving Trust, 95% of us boil the kettle every day, 40% boil it five times or more a day, and 75% of households are actually boiling more water than they require, which adds up to a collective waste of millions of pounds. So the key is to always just fill the kettle with as much water as you’re actually using each time: you can do this by filling your mugs from the tap, then tip it from the mugs to the kettle. This alone could save you over £15 a year. 

You might also think about investing in an ‘eco kettle’, which reportedly uses 60% less energy than a regular kettle.  

Or finally, consider boiling water on the hob. Electric hobs use around the same energy as kettles, but gas hobs cost around 4p for five minutes of use. It would, therefore, be technically cheaper to boil water on a gas hob, provided you only boil the water you actually need to use and you use a lid to prevent the heat and steam from escaping. 

Nonetheless, kettles are usually faster and more efficient at trapping energy inside the kettle. For most users, it’s simpler to continue using the kettle to boil water, unless you need large amounts for cooking. Just keep an eye on those amounts you use and be strict with yourself.

Ovens

Photo by Luisa Brimble on Unsplash.

Before July 1, your oven was costing anywhere from 21p to 51p an hour to use, depending on the type and age. After July 1, the cost has come down to between 19p and 45p per hour.  

A good tip to save money while using your electric oven is to switch it off 10 minutes before your food is ready: the oven temperature stays the same and continues to cook your food. That saving really adds up over course of a year.

Toasting or grilling bread 

We all love a quick bit of toast throughout the day, and grilling food is generally healthier and a more-efficient use of your electricity than other kitchen appliances. But did you know that using a toaster is considerably more energy efficient than a traditional grill?

As of July, it costs around £0.05 to use your toaster for three minutes, but it costs 1.5p to use your grill for the same amount of time. So if you have a toaster, stick with that! 

Cooking alternatives – and what they cost

A quick and simple meal, soup or stew is filling and nutritious (even more so when you’ve made it yourself) and there are various ways you can make it and heat it up:

Air-fryers

An air-fryer is known to be a very cost-efficient way of cooking and will typically add 72p a week to people’s energy bills, or £37.26 a year. 

Microwaves 

Cooking with your microwave can work out cheaper than using an oven if you get twice the ingredients, cook and then reheat the food, costing only 48p a week to use, or £25 a year. 

Batch cooking like this could save you a lot of money over a year according to recent research. 

Slow cookers

There’s also the slow cooker option. These are brilliant for time-pressed folks who just want to throw a bunch of ingredients in one pan and leave for the whole day: when you come into the house at the end of the working day, the house is not only full of delicious smells but you’ve made yourself a meal to enjoy later – for which you can thank yourself! 

Slow cookers use a small lightbulb to gradually heat the food, which uses way less energy and power than a regular cooker. They’re also fun, and there are lots of slow cooker recipes out there to try. Slow cookers cost 17p a week  – £9.02 annually – to run. Significantly cheaper than your oven. 

More kitchen hacks to energy crisis proof your kitchen…

Using pan lids 

While we’re on the subject of cooking habits, don’t forget those simple hacks your grandma used to do. When you’re steaming, boiling or frying food, put a lid on your pan. It reduces the cooking time and lowers your bill. Plus, using the right-sized pan for the job – with a lid that fits properly – could save you tens of pounds over a year.

Shorter meal prep times and lower bills: it really is a no-brainer! 

Defrost the fridge and freezer 

Don’t let ice build up inside your freezer. The appliance has to work much harder to operate when it’s clogged up and this alone will drive up your bills. It’s also messy and stressful to have ice caked all over your freezer, and it reduces the space that you need for your food. Defrost regularly and you’ll be amazed how much better your freezer functions, and how much more room you have for all those tasty leftovers. Same goes for the fridge: use the space wisely, don’t understock or overstock (just use the shelves sparingly) and you’ll get the most from it. 

Using your washing machine at lower temperatures

Putting a wash on at 30 degrees uses up to 40% less energy. That’s something we’ve been told about for years now. But don’t offset that easy saving by half-filling your washing machine, as so many people do. It uses/wastes the same water as a full load, and will end up doubling your washing bills over the course of a year, too.

Drying your clothes

Try to avoid tumble driers unless absolutely necessary: they are energy guzzlers! If you do use one, keep the filter clean and use smaller loads for these machines, otherwise they’ll struggle (and therefore use more energy) to function. 

Heated drying racks are becoming increasingly popular. You need to first invest in one in order to make savings – prices range from around £50 to £200, depending on size and brand. However, they are much cheaper to run than a tumble dryer. According to Uswitch, a heated drying rack currently costs around 9p per hour to run, compared with a tumble dryer which costs 90p per cycle.

Of course the free way to dry your clothes in summer is to hang them up outside – providing you have the space to do this.

Washing-up

Washing up by hand can save you money on your energy bills rather than using a dishwasher; which now cost around 24p per cycle to run. What’s more, using a washing-up bowl rather than running the water continuously also saves you more money on water and heating costs, as you only use one bowl of hot water for your dishes. 

Baking

This may sound obvious but you can save money hand-rolling, mixing and making your own dough for cakes and bread, waffles and other treats, rather than leaning on those gadgets like mixers, blenders and so forth. If you don’t use those, you can knock all of the above off your energy bill. 

Energy-efficient gadgets

Obviously investing in kitchen appliances requires an initial outlay of money but it’s usually best to get a higher-rated, well-reviewed model rather than something cheap and cheerful which may end up costing you more in the long run. When trying to shop ‘smart’, you often have to think long-term as you’ll hopefully get years of time-saving, energy-saving and money-saving use out of kitchen appliances. 

Changing energy suppliers 

You could easily save a few hundred quid by changing your supplier with someone like uSwitch, which will show you which providers cost less for your area. Well worth doing some research. 

The post Kitchen Hacks on How to Energy Crisis Proof Your Kitchen appeared first on MoneyMagpie.

The National Grid has said it is working with energy suppliers across the county to roll out the new scheme. But what exactly does it entail? 

Those who wish to take part must cut their electricity use during peak hours. The peak hours are likely to be from 4pm to 7pm, with each household being given a one-hour time slot in which they should try to reduce their electricity use. 

There will be 12 test days in which those in the scheme can take part, starting last week on November 3rd and running until March 31st 2023. 

Could there be blackouts?

It is impossible to say whether blackouts are a certain occurrence this winter. However, it is important to note that the National Grid’s Winter Outlook does suggest this as a possible scenario. 

With the ongoing global gas shortage causing huge spikes in the price of energy, it must be considered as a possible worst-case scenario.  

You can read our article about preparing for blackouts here. 

Which companies are taking part?

Octopus Energy was the first to trial the scheme in February and March 2022. So far, Octopus has reported almost 350,000 of its 1.4 million customers with a smart meter have signed up to the scheme. 

However, since this time, many other energy suppliers, such as Drax and Equiwatt have signed up to the programme. You can read a full list of the energy companies taking part here. 

How can you take part?

You must have a working smart meter to join the scheme. Of course, you will need to be with an energy supplier who is also involved in the programme. Most suppliers who are taking part will be in touch with their customers. However, it is worth checking their website in case you missed any communications from them. 

If you don’t have a smart meter, you can get one installed by contacting your supplier. Please be aware there is currently high demand, so it may take longer than expected. 

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