It’s January, it’s generally grey, cold and there’s not much going on. A lot of people find comfort in staying at home, getting cosy and hibernating until Spring appears. The trouble is, switching on your heating is getting more expensive every year, so here are a few tips to help keep you warm but also reduce the impact on your bank balance.
Big Energy Saving Week 15-21 January
- Shop around for energy suppliers or check if there is a cheaper tariff with your existing supplier. Households can typically save around £200 per year by switching.
- Most homes have some type of draught, whether it’s from the windows, doors, chimney or floor. Draft-proofing is a simple and cost-effective way to keep warm and potentially reduce your bills by. Invest in window or door draught strips, get a chimney balloon or add a rug to a cold floor.
- Check your energy consumption by reviewing your bills or getting a Smart Meter. Identifying high times of use may help you make better use of the energy you are using and turning your thermostat down by just 1°C can reduce your heating bill by around 10%.
- Get a free energy advice or home energy assessment from an organisation like Citizens Advice or the National Energy Foundations ‘Better Housing, Better Health’. Not only can they support with accessing grants you may be eligible for to help better insulate your home, they can also assist with checking you are receiving all benefits you may be entitled to.
More tips to support you
The Energy Saving Trust have teamed up with Citizens Advice to bring you lots of tips that will help you save energy and money in the process.
Follow this link to learn more
Our Safe and Warm Communities project
Over the last two years Action Hampshire have been supporting communities by offering free Energy Awareness training sessions to VCSE’s as well as grants as part of their ‘Safe and Warm Communities’ project. Through this work the VCSE’s have engaged with over 3,000 households to provide advice and guidance on how to reduce energy costs, make the most of the energy they are using and how to ensure they are being safe in their homes.
