5 minute read
SAVE YOUR ENERGY
When you’re worried being able to heat your home, giving a helping hand to the planet might drop down your priority list. But opting for sustainable alternatives can reduce bills, stress, and your carbon footprint, writes Emma Wilson.
WHERE CAN YOU SAVE?
• See the light – LED bulbs can reduce your electricity consumption by up to 90%, saving you £38 a year
• Switch off – TVs and other devices on standby still use electricity. Switching off could save you £65 a year
• Take it slow – a slow cooker costs 12p per hour compared to 59p for air fryers, 62p for microwaves and a whopping £1.04 for electric ovens
• Dry up – drying clothes on a maiden instead of a tumble dryer can save £70 a year
• Seal the deal – draw curtains or blinds and seal gaps around windows or doors to save up to £125 a year. Double glazing halves heat loss from windows
• One cup – boil only the water you need for a hot drink
• Shut that door – heat only rooms that are used to between 18 and 20 degrees. Turn your heating down one degree and save around £80.
DID YOU KNOW?
heating amounts to 63% of your total energy bill. The rest is made up of cooking (3%), water (18%) and lighting (16%).
HEAT THE HUMAN
Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis has produced a guide based on keeping yourself warm if you’re struggling to heat your home.
‘Heat the Human not the Home’ is something Lewis says he ‘wishes we didn’t have to publish’ – it was his team’s response to an ‘overflowing mailbag full of desperation from people who can’t afford their energy bills’.
Tips include sitting in a sleeping bag with a hot water bottle at the bottom, USB gloves (£5 to buy and 1p per hour to run) and heated insoles (£8 to buy and 1p per hour to run).
There are links to financial and emotional support.
Visit: moneysavingexpert.com
Energy Savings Trust has an online calculator to help you make your home more energy efficient: energysavingtrust.org.uk
THE HEAT IS ON
Energy expert Jimmy Pugh
Energy expert Jimmy Pugh has been supporting families to reduce fuel costs for more than 15 years. This winter crisis is, he says, like no other – he’s had to change his advice to keep people safe.
Jimmy, Project Development Coordinator with the charity National Energy Action, runs energy awareness courses for people struggling to pay their fuel bills.
He’s worried. “We know what’s coming. We’re still sourcing funds for people going through a difficult period and the money from energy companies is welcome. But energy costs are so high that more people will be struggling, and the financial support won’t stretch.”
Jimmy runs sessions at The Life Rooms and at children’s centres across Merseyside. He has changed the focus of his awareness sessions to include ways people can try to control costs and keep warm and healthy.
“We still help people complete forms, access grants or provide top up meter vouchers for emergency and contact suppliers on their behalf if they’re having
issues or paying more than they should be. But we now also explain that what they get won’t cover rising costs. We show them practical things they can do for themselves to keep themselves and their homes warm and healthy.”
Jimmy explains ways to keep hold of the heat you have. “For example, in a house with solid walls, the radiator under your window can lose up to 70 per cent of its heat to outside. For £30 you can buy reflective foil to put behind the radiator. It’s like tin foil –it reflects the heat back into the room.”
He recommends energy efficient appliances like slow cookers and air fryers. “They not only save money, they’re a healthier way to cook.”
Tried and tested methods will provoke a giggle from younger people. “When I suggest putting big curtains on front and back doors to stop draughts, they laugh and say, ‘my nan’s told me to do that’. It’s ‘old school’ but it works!”
Jimmy’s approachable nature and informal style with simple information sheets – sets people at ease.
“I offer ideas but, the best moments are when someone in the group shares their own experiences, when they say “I already do that.” It makes people feel like we’re all in the same situation with the same aims.”
• The Life Rooms Walton, Belle Vale (Lee Valley), Southport and Bootle, are now warm hubs for the community, where you can visit a friendly location during the colder months. Join them for a hot drink as well as access free short courses and one to one advice and support. Visit: liferooms.org
• National Energy Action: nea.org.uk/advice/make-a-referral 0800 304 7159
