Every nest is different, but small changes can add up when it comes to saving money and energy
We understand that the rising cost of living can be especially worrying if you have difficulty paying your energy bills.
There is help and advice to help you save money, and it only takes a few small changes around the home to make a big difference…
Energy Saving Tips
Keeping your home warm
If you want to reduce your energy bills and keep your carbon emissions 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. For example, fitting an 80mm insulating jacket to your hot water cylinder will save you £70 a year in heating costs and 155kg of carbon dioxide emissions.
Energy Saving Trust has a range of advice on insulation and draft proofing here.
Avoiding damp
A build-up of moisture in the home can cause a range of problems and can potentially damage the fabric of the building if allowed to continue. And if mould starts to grow, this can even affect your health. Some quick tips to avoid damp:
- Use lids on pots and pans when cooking
- Avoid un-vented bottled gas heaters
- Insulation: this will help prevent cold spots where damp can form
- Leave a gap between furniture and wall to allow air to circulate
- Open a window or use an extractor fan when cooking, showering or bathing
Find out more about the benefits of fixing damp and condensation here.
Buying energy efficient products
Moving to energy efficient appliances can be an excellent way to save money on your bills, as well as reducing your carbon footprint. When you’re buying a new appliance for your home, look out for its energy label. The energy label is rated from A-G, with A being the most efficient, and G the least. Choosing an A-rated washing machine over a D-rated one could save you around £130 (100kg carbon dioxide emissions) over its 11-year lifetime. Try to wash only when you have enough laundry for a full load, and at low temperatures, to maximise your savings.
Find out more about saving on home appliances and lighting.
Creating a greener home
Wales is a nation of home improvers. We love having a warm home, improving comfort and reducing our energy bills. Making your home a greener place to live is easier than you might think.
It’s possible to generate your own electricity or heat from renewable, or replenishable, sources of energy, such as the sun or wind. More homes in Wales are already generating electricity from either solar or wind, renewables are quickly becoming a common sight across the country.
You can find out more about renewable and low carbon heating options for your home here.
Energy Saving Trust, the independent energy saving experts, have put together a range of tips that can help you save energy, and lower your energy bills. Their tips to save energy include things you can do right now to reduce your energy usage and your energy bills. Click here to find out how you could save up to £564* a year on your bills.
For example, draughtproofing your home to keep the heat in could save you £125 a year on your bills.
Also, you can save around £65 a year just by remembering to turn your appliances off standby mode.
Help with bills
You can get help if you are struggling to pay for your energy bill or topping up your pre-payment meter by speaking to your energy supplier.
Warm Home Discount Scheme
The UK Government will give a £150 rebate to households eligible for support from the Warm Home Discount Scheme (on GOV.UK).
Winter Fuel Payment
The Winter Fuel Payment is an annual one-off payment to help you pay for heating during the winter. You can usually get a Winter Fuel Payment if you were born on or before 25 September 1956.
Check how much Winter Fuel payment you can get and how to claim it on GOV.UK.
Cold weather payment
Cold Weather Payments are one-off payments to help you pay for extra heating costs when it’s very cold.
You’ll get a payment each time the temperature drops below a specific temperature for a set period of time.
If you’re eligible, you’ll get paid automatically. Find out more about Cold Weather Payment on GOV.UK.
Claim what’s yours
There are wider benefits offered by the Welsh and UK governments that could help with the cost of living. Find out if you’re eligible by visiting claim what’s yours or calling Advicelink Cymru on freephone 0808 250 5700 Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.
Additional support services
Care and Repair
Care and Repair provides information, advice and practical services that help older people in Wales stay safe, warm and well at home. They fit disability aids and adaptations, supply home maintenance services, help maximise income and access grants, and make homes safe to return to from hospital.
Even if you think that you do not ordinarily qualify for financial support you could now be eligible for some help with day to day living costs. Find out more about Care and Repair here.
Fire and Rescue services
Wales has three Fire and Rescue services who provide public safety information, prevention and protection programmes and emergency response cover across the country.
They undertake a free safe and well visit where they deliver home fire safety information and fit smoke alarms, as well as providing advice about home security, falls prevention, scamming awareness and tackling loneliness and isolation.
Your local Fire and Rescue service will depend on where you live. Click below to find out more:
- Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service
- South Wales Fire and Rescue Service
- North Wales Fire and Rescue Service
Listen to Little Bill’s message:
Get in touch with our team
If you want to find out more about how we can help you this winter, you can speak to one of our helpful advisors on Freephone 0808 808 2244 and select option 2. Lines open Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm.
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