RESIDENTS’ ENERGY GUIDE
HOW TO LIVE LIGHTER
IN YOUR HOME
SAVE ENERGY
SAVE MONEY
Our aim is to help you manage your
energy bills, keep more money in
your pocket, and help to protect the
environment.
The advice in this guide has been put together to help you take control
of your energy bills by making simple changes to the way you manage
your heating, hot water and electricity use.
Follow Reggie’s tips and be smart about:
•
•
•
Energy use around the home
Heating and hot water
Electricity use
•
•
•
Getting the best energy deal
Buying new appliances
Saving water
Then you can share these tips with your friends, family
and neighbours, so everyone can enjoy the savings!
I’VE SHARED
THESE SMART
ENERGY TIPS
WITH MY MUM
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GET SMART ON ENERGY
AND ENJOY THE SAVINGS!
After reading this guide, have a think about how everyone in the
house can help save energy and cut bills. Then put a plan into action.
Fill an empty jar with the amount you are shaving off your energy
bills. Don’t let it get frittered away, this is your smart energy reward
that everyone contributes to.
GET SET FOR
THE GREEN DEAL
In October 2012 the Government launches
the ’Green Deal’, a new scheme to make
our homes warmer, and cheaper to heat.
The Green Deal will enable householders and businesses to use
accredited companies to install energy saving measures at no
upfront cost. The cost of home energy improvements will be met
through savings on energy bills. Keep a look out for details.
A+
BOIL ONLY THE WATER YOU NEED
IN THE KETTLE
A
B
LOOK FOR A OR B ENERGY
RATED GOODS WHEN YOU’RE
REPLACING APPLIANCES
PART 1
BEING SMART
IN THE
KITCHEN
MAKE SURE YOUR
DISHWASHER IS
FULLY LOADED
BEFORE
SWITCHING
IT ON
USE YOUR PAN LIDS WHEN
YOU COOK - IT’S QUICKER
(AND MORE EFFICIENT)
AVOID PUTTING WARM FOODS
FOODS IN YOUR
FRIDGE UNTIL THEY HAVE COOLED DOWN.
THIS SAVES ENERGY AND
AND KEEPS THE FOOD
IN YOUR FRIDGE FRESH
USE A MICROWAVE
INSTEAD OF A
CONVENTIONAL OVEN
DEFROST YOUR FREEZER
REGULARLY TO KEEP IT
RUNNING EFFICIENTLY
USE A TOASTER
INSTEAD OF A GRILL
PART 2
BEING SMART
WITH THE
LAUNDRY
FULLY LOAD
YOUR
WASHING
MACHINE
LEAVING
JUST A
3 INCH GAP
AT THE TOP
WASHING AT 30
DEGREES RATHER
THAN 40 DEGREES
COULD SAVE UP TO
40% OF ELECTRICITY
USED
IF YOU’VE
ONLY WORN
IT ONCE, USE
THE ECONOMY
PROGRAMME
USE ‘RUBBER DRYER BALLS’
IN YOUR TUMBLE DRYER TO
REDUCE YOUR DRYING
TIME BY 25%
HANG CLOTHES ON THE WASHING LINE, AND USE
USE A CLOTHES RAIL INSIDE
RATHER THAN A RADIATOR
PART 3 BEING SMART
WITH ENTERTAINMENT & GADGETS
USE POWER
DOWN PLUGS
ON TVS, HIFIS,
COMPUTERS
ETC.
DON’T LEAVE APPLIANCES ON
STANDBY WHEN NOT IN USE,
ESPECIALLY THE TELEVISION
TURN COMPUTER ROUTERS
OFF WHEN NOT IN USE
ALWAYS UNPLUG CHARGERS
AND POWER SUPPLIES
TUMBLE DRYERS
COST AROUND 50P PER HOUR.
PLACING WET CLOTHES ON A RADIATOR
REDUCES YOUR HEATING SYSTEM’S EFFICIENCY
PART 4
BEING SMART
WITH WATER & HEATING
TURN DOWN YOUR ROOM
THERMOSTAT BY 1OC AND TAKE THE
TIME TO PROGRAMME YOUR
HEATING CORRECTLY
INSTALL REFLECTIVE RADIATOR
PANELS (OR TIN FOIL) BEHIND
YOUR RADIATORS
...AND DON’T COVER RADIATORS
WITH FURNITURE OR
CURTAINS
SET YOUR RADIATORS
TO LOWER
TEMPERATURES IN
BEDROOMS
HAVE A (QUICK) SHOWER
INSTEAD OF A BATH
SET YOUR CYLINDER
THERMOSTAT
TO 6OOC
SEAL GAPS IN DRAUGHTY
FLOORS, WINDOWS & DOORS
DRAW YOUR CURTAINS AT DUSK
TO AVOID LOSING THE SOLAR HEAT
GAINED DURING THE DAY
TURN THE HEATING OFF
FIRST BEFORE OPENING THE
WINDOWS
PART 5
BEING SMART
AROUND THE HOME
USE LOW ENERGY LAMPS IN
CHILDRENS’ BEDROOMS AT NIGHT
OR FIT A DIMMER SWITCH AND USE
THE DIMMEST SETTING
USE ENERGYENERGY-EFFICIENT LIGHT
BULBS AND SWITCH OFF THE
LIGHTS WHEN THEY’RE NOT NEEDED
BEING SMART ABOUT YOUR
YOUR
HEATING AND HOT WATER
WATE R SYSTEM
Heating can make up about 60% of our energy costs.
To avoid needlessly wasting energy and money
you may need to adjust the controls.
Here’s some useful tips!
Boiler Controls and Timer
• Dig out the instruction booklet and learn how to adjust the central
heating and hot water controls
• Remind yourself how to programme the timer
• A good tip is to set the timer to turn on ½ hour before you get up
and to turn off ½ hour before you go out
• Remind yourself how to switch off the heating when you go out,
and on again when you get back
Thermostatic Radiator Valves
• Use the thermostatic radiator
valve to control the
temperature in each room
• Most people like to set their
living rooms to the highest
setting, usually 5. Bedrooms
should be set at 3 and any
unoccupied rooms can be set
at the lowest ‘frost control’
setting
o
o
• 18 C - 21 C is the
recommended temperate for
the rooms we use most
USE YOUR CONTROLS
AND PROGRAMMER
TO GET THE BEST
OUT OF ME
BEING SMART
ABOUT ELECTRICITY
Using six low-energy
light bulbs for four hours
a day costs you £110 less
a year than conventional
bulbs
Using a tumble dryer five
times a week costs
around £100 a year to run
Our electrical appliances require
different amounts of power
(watts or kilowatts) to work.
Our electricity suppliers charge us for
the total number of kilowatts we use
per hour (in kilowatt hours).
The smarter we are with using
electricity, the more money we save!
Using a washing line
costs nothing
Using a 9kW electric
shower for 5 mins a day
instead of 10 mins, will
save you around £36 a
year.
In the UK we waste
£1 billion every year by
leaving things on standby.
Use the power switch to
turn things off completely
BEING SMART ABOUT
YOUR ENERGY
SUPPLIER
The range of tariffs offered by
energy companies can be confusing
and getting the best deal isn’t easy.
These tips should make it easier to
keep more money in your pocket.
Never accept an estimated bill
An estimated bill is the energy company guessing how much energy
they think you are using. This can lead to you paying too much, or
worse, paying too little and getting hit with a massive bill years down
the line. Every time you receive a bill you should call the energy
supplier and give them an up to date meter reading.
Always make a note
Whenever you talk to an energy company you should always ask for
the name and identification number of the person you are talking to.
Before you end the conversation you should agree what notes will be
placed on your account. Keep your notes in a safe place along with
the time and date of the conversation. This information will be vital
when if you need to check all the agreed changes have been made.
Keep your letters
Every year your energy company should send you an annual
statement. The annual statement tells you what tariff you are on and
how much energy you have used in the last 12 months. This
information is essential when comparing energy prices and we
recommend that you keep all correspondence from your energy
supplier for a minimum of 2 years.
Don’t ignore debt
If you are struggling to pay your bills it is best to speak to your
supplier as soon as possible. Regulations make it fairly difficult for
them to cut you off but that becomes much easier for them if you
don’t talk to them and explain your position.
Compare the market
The price you are charged for the same amount of energy differs
wildly depending on what tariff you are on. Most energy suppliers
have a range of different tariffs and you could save hundreds of
pounds by getting on the cheapest tariff!
Usually the energy companies will automatically put you on the more
expensive ‘standard’ tariff. By comparing the market you can find the
cheapest deal based on your home’s consumption. You could save
hundreds simply by changing the name of your tariff without even
switching companies!
The National Housing Federation has teamed up with uSwitch to
offer My Home Energy Switch – a free
service designed to help you get the
best price for your gas and electricity.
Call 0800 051 5346 for free,
impartial advice or visit the website
www.myhomeenergyswitch.org.uk
to compare prices from all UK energy
suppliers today!
You will need the name of your
supplier and the tariff you are on.
You will also need to give them an
idea of how much energy you
have used (in either £ or kWh)
over the last 12 months.
00 ON MY
I SAVED £110
ANNUAL ENERGY
BI LLS, SIMPLY BY
SWITCHING SUPP LIE R
BEING SMART
WHEN YOU BUY
NEW APPLIANCES
Look out for these labels when you buy new
appliances. The more efficient appliances will
save you energy and money.
An ‘A+’ rated appliance may cost a bit more to
buy but will save you money in the long run,
especially as energy costs are increasing.
BEING SMART
ABOUT WATER USE
Turning off the tap while you brush
your teeth will save you 6 litres of
water a minute
Putting the plug in the basin when
you wash your hands and face will
save around 10 litres of water.
Don't let water go to waste when
waiting for water to run hot; save it
in a bowl to water the garden or
rinse out empty cans for recycling.
For a free water saving pack visit:
www.savewatersavemoney.co.uk
THE WARM HOME DISCOUNT
DISCOUNT
Who can get the £130 Warm Home Discount?
In 2011 the government launched a new
scheme to help those people struggling
most with their energy bills. Customers
who received the ‘guaranteed element
of pension credit’ should receive the
£130 rebate off their electricity bill. If
your electricity supplier has not sent you
a letter confirming this then you may
want to contact them to find out why.
If you are eligible for the discount but
your name is not on the electricity bill
you should inform the energy company
that you live in the home and would like
to have the discount applied to the
household bill.
Eligible customers should receive the
discount directly off their electricity bill. If
you have recently changed electricity
supplier you should apply to whoever
was your supplier. They are responsible
for giving you the rebate.
Can other people get a Warm Home Discount?
Energy suppliers may also give a £130 rebate to some other
customers in vulnerable groups. Each electricity supplier has different
eligibility criteria to decide who gets the rebate. Eligible customers may
include those on a low income with a disability or long-term illness, or
those with a low income and children under the age of 5 – but the
actual criteria used will vary, as it depends on the electricity supplier
you are with. If you think that you may qualify please contact your
electricity supplier.
FURTHER SUPPORT
For free, independent and local energy
saving advice call the Greater Manchester
Energy Advice Centre on:
Tel:
0800 009 3363
Or visit: www.energysavingtrust.org.uk
Action for Sustainable Living,
the UK’s first Relish Approved Adopter
www.afsl.org.uk
www.relish.org
Produced for New Charter Housing Trust Group
January 2013