Affordable Warmth guide 2017

Affordable warmth Energy-saving advice for tenants

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Save energy Save money

How is the heat lost?

Your housing association and housing manager or landlord want you to stay warm throughout the year, affordably.

What do they mean?

Government health guidance recommends a minimum indoor temperature of 18°C. For older people and those with certain medical conditions, this may need to be warmer. The Government-funded Affordable Warmth Scheme makes this achievable for everyone. The scheme offers free grants to help low-income households pay for a new boiler, and loft and cavity-wall insulation.

Becoming more energy efficient is not only for those of us who want to save the environment. It can also really help your wallet. Regardless of your reasons, cutting back on the amount of energy you use at home has many benefits.

Some energy-efficient changes are one-off investments. Others are small things you can do every day. Whether it is something as big as installing solar panels or insulating your loft, or something as small as turning off the lights, when you’re more energy conscious, you save money.

The aim is to help you:

The average house uses nearly three times as much of its energy (37%) in the winter, compared with in the summer (13%). For example, if you spend £1,400 a year on energy, you will spend approximately £43 a week in the winter compared with £15 a week in the summer.

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make your home warmer;

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reduce your energy bills; and

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reduce your carbon footprint, for example use public transport or combine errands to make fewer trips.

The Low Income High Cost (LIHC) indicator was developed in 2013 to measure the extent of fuel poverty, which is when people have fuel costs that are above average, taking them below the poverty line. The LIHC also measures the depth of the problem (how far above reasonable costs people’s energy needs are).

This is known as the fuel poverty gap.

You may face the following challenges: •

Low household income

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Poor energy efficiency in your home

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High fuel prices and energy bills

Be smart with your heating

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Not enough money to pay energy bills, or to pay them on time

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Upgrade your heating system

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Not enough money to heat your whole home

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Indoor temperatures constantly too low

Apply for improvement grants and loans

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Mould and damp condensation

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Insulate your loft and cavity walls to reduce heat loss

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Not sure how to save energy and cut down costs

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Shop around to find the cheapest energy supplier

How to use less energy

Find out if you’re eligible for a grant: www.affordablewarmthgrants.co.uk/affordable-warmth 1

Affordable warmth | Fuel poverty

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Use appliances efficiently Phone: 020 8835 3535

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Wash full loads of clothes and dishes each time

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Replace old appliances with low-energy alternatives if you can

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Buy low-energy light bulbs

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Energy-saving tips 1

Heating

Smarter heating

Upgrade your boiler

Energy-saving tips 2

Boiler efficiency

Heating and cooling is the number-one cause of energy use and costs in the home.

Modern central-heating boilers provide hot water more efficiently than older ones. They save energy and money by using less coal, oil or gas to power them.

Save money on your heating bills with our top 10 heat-saving tips.

1. Set your heating and hot-water timer If you’re out at work for most of the day, set the timer to come on for a few hours in the morning and evening, while you’re at home.

2. Set the boiler thermostat to 60°C (140°F).

If your radiators are cold at the top, but hot at the bottom, try bleeding them to release the trapped air.

See if you qualify for a grant: www.affordablewarmthgrants.co.uk/info-grant-boilers

Homeowners and private tenants in the UK can apply for a grant to replace their old, inefficient gas boiler with a brand new boiler (rated A for energy efficiency), under the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme.

3. Move furniture away from radiators.

Valuable heat is absorbed by furniture in front of radiators, making rooms feeling colder.

Do you qualify for a boiler grant?

4. Close the doors inside your home to keep the heat in the rooms you are using.

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have a low household income;

5. Use your curtains.

Draw your curtains when it starts to go dark and hang a curtain across your front and back doors to keep the draughts out. Lined or thick curtains are best.

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are receiving benefits; or

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are a pensioner and are receiving benefits.

You may be eligible for a grant to replace your boiler if you:

6. Use thermostatic radiator valves.

Your existing boiler must be more than five years old or have an existing fault which is uneconomical to repair.

7. Turn the central-heating thermostat down to control room temperatures.

Why not try a water heater that only heats the water you need?

8. Turn the temperature down in rooms you rarely use to reduce the total amount of energy you use.

Have you considered switching to a high-efficiency on-demand water heater?

They only fire up when you use the hot tap. The water heats up quickly and then the heater stops burning fuel when demand for hot water stops.

An added bonus is that they are really easy to maintain.

9. Tint your windows to help keep heat in or out when needed.

Window films are designed to allow in visible light, while blocking infrared light. This helps keep the heat from the sun out in summer and helps trap in warm air during winter. You can always tint your back windows if you think it is not attractive on the front of your home.

10. If you have a prepayment meter, it is a good idea to top it up with a little extra money in the summer to build up credit for the colder winter months.

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Energy-saving tips 3

Appliances

Switch off the telly

Fully loaded laundry

Energy-saving tips 4

Appliances

Use less energy with your appliances Turn appliances off when you’re not using them. Appliances left on standby still use energy. Or, use a standby saver mode, if your appliance has this. Avoid charging electrical goods such as your mobile phone unnecessarily.

When making hot drinks, only boil the amount of water you need, rather than filling the whole kettle. If you are only having one or two cups, use the stove to heat the water. Or, invest in a hot-water dispenser or an ‘ECO’ kettle. They can boil and dispense a single mugful of water at a time. ECO kettles also have three temperature settings and a dual chamber for storing cool water at the same time as boiling water.

The Energy Saving Trust (EST) has given ECO kettles an ‘EST recommended’ sticker because they reduce energy use by at least 20% compared with an average kettle.

Read more: www.which.co.uk/reviews/kettles/article/hot-water-dispensers-how-tobuy-the-best - Which?

Since your fridge is the one appliance in your home that’s always on, make sure it is working as efficiently as possible by turning the temperature to the energy-efficient setting or to 3°C (fridge) and -18°C (freezer).

Be energy-smart when doing laundry or washing the dishes.

The average household leaves 10-15 items on standby.

Each item on standby costs about £10 per year.

Fully load your washing machine and dishwasher before using them.

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Always fill up your washing machine, tumble dryer and dishwasher.

One full load uses less energy than two half loads.

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Washing at 60°C? Turn the dial down to 30°C. Washing clothes at 30°C reduces energy use by up to 40%.

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Dry clothes outside whenever possible.

Tumble dryers cost around 45p an hour to run. If you have to dry washing indoors (due to the Great British weather!), use a well-ventilated room. Try not to rely on a radiator to dry clothes as this can cause damp and mould in your home. If you do have to dry washing indoors, make sure a window is slightly open to release the damp air.

Choose low-energy appliances When it’s time to replace your kitchen appliances (washer, dryer, water heater or boiler), research the various models and features so you’ll know which ones are the most energy efficient.

When shopping, look for models that are labelled as Energy Star Certified to make sure you’re getting an energy-saving (and money-saving) appliance. This will go a long way towards saving energy and reducing your electricity bills.

Always consider the efficiency rating (the AG colour scale), when you buy new electrical items. The ratings are designed to help you identify appliances that will cost you the least to use.

A is the most efficient (least expensive) to use.

G is the least efficient (most expensive) to use.

Get low-flow fixtures and appliances as they can save a lot of water and energy. For example, low-flow toilets, shower heads and washing machines.

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Energy-saving tips 5

Insulate to help prevent heat loss

Insulate your loft

Low-energy lighting

Insulate your home, especially your loft and wall cavities A quarter of a typical home’s heat is lost through the roof and around a third is lost through the walls. Insulating the loft and wall cavities (if you have them) is one of the best things you can do to keep the heat in and reduce your bills.

Let the sunshine in, it’s free!

Draughtproof your windows and doors using sealant or weather stripping.

Make sure windows and doors are properly sealed to prevent cold drafts, and help to keep warm air inside during the winter. When the weather heats up, these same improvements will also help keep your home cooler in summer.

LEDs use 90% less energy than a traditional light bulb.

Even if you have some insulation in your loft, you may need to top it up. The recommended depth for mineral wool insulation, the most common material, is 270mm (about 1 foot).

Check whether you are eligible for a non-repayable loft-insulation and cavity-wall insulation grant (see pages 19-20 for links).

Turn the lights off in rooms you aren’t using.

Energy-saving tips 6

Lighting •

Lighting accounts for 7% of a typical household’s energy bill.

Cutting down on your use of electric lighting is one of the easiest ways to save money on your energy bills. Start by turning all the lights off when you leave a room, even if it is only for a short time.

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Open the blinds, turn the lights off and let some sunshine in.

Lighting your home with sunlight is completely free.

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Save by switching to LED light bulbs or fitted spotlights.

You can make savings of £55 a year or even more by doing this. LEDs use 90% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs, they last a long time and they give out light instantly.

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Fluorescent light bulbs last 8 to 12 times longer than incandescent bulbs. Although compact fluorescent bulbs cost more initially, they lead to considerable savings.

Get the temperature right The recommended temperature for all rooms is 18°C during the day and at night. However, for people aged 65 years and over, or with certain medical conditions, temperatures slightly higher than this may be beneficial for health.

If you cannot afford to heat your whole home, keep at least your living room warm and heat your bedroom before you go to bed. If it is very cold, do not leave the bedroom window open at night.

For more information go to: www.energysavingtrust.org.uk

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Energy-saving tips 7

Shop around •

Shop around for the best energy deal and switch your energy supplier if necessary.

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Compare energy tariffs and suppliers.

Consider switching companies to get the best possible deal. If you choose a fixed tariff, it can also help protect against future price rises.

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Use Ofgem’s Go Energy Shopping guide and website to compare energy deals.

They provide a simpler and clearer way to compare and switch, with four main tariffs for both electricity and gas.

Switch and save

“Consumers who have never switched could save £300 per year on their energy bills.” (Ofgem, August 2016)

Grant eligibility Check online

Further information Websites and numbers

The Affordable Warmth website has all the grant information you need.

Copy the links below and paste them to the end of the Affordable Warmth website address and search in your browser, for example www.affordablewarmthgrants.co.uk/government-grants

Benefits Calculator www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators

Government grants /government-grants Warm Front Scheme /grants/warm-front-scheme.htm Renewable heat /renewable-heat-incentive Heating grants /info-heating-grants Central heating grants /heating-grants/info-central-heating-grants Home improvement /info-home-improvement-grants Insulation grants /info-insulation-grants Boiler grants /info-grant-boilers Solar panel grants /info-solar-grants Double glazing grants /info-double-glazing-grants

For more information go to: www.goenergyshopping.co.uk

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020 8835 3535

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HM Revenue & Customs Tax credit helpline 0345 300 3900 Pensions Credit www.gov.uk/pension-credit www.gov.uk/pension-credit-calculator Citizens Advice 0845 404 0506 www.citizensadvice.org.uk Energy Saving Advice Service England and Wales 0300 123 1234 (national rate call) Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm

Warm Home Discount www.gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme/eligibility

Home Energy Scotland 0808 808 2282 Mon-Fri, 8am to 8pm Saturday, 9am to 5pm

Disabled facilities grant www.gov.uk/disabled-facilities-grants/overview

Energy Savings Trust UK www.energysavingtrust.org.uk

Winter fuel payment www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment

Home Helpline www.homeheathelpline.org.uk

Cold weather payment www.gov.uk/cold-weather-payment

Energy Shopping and Switching www.goenergyshopping.co.uk

Pension credit www.gov.uk/pension-credit

Find a Green Deal company www.gdorb.decc.gov.uk/consumersearch

The British Gas Energy Trust www.britishgasenergytrust.org.uk

Green Deal Oversight & Registration Body www.greendealorb.co.uk/ green-deal-participant-register

EDF Energy Trust www.edfenergytrust.org.uk

Home Energy Team 0800 082 2234 (free to call from a a landline) home.energy@cse.org.uk www.cse.org.uk/loveyourhom

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