5 Ways To Get Saving Energy For Big Energy Saving Week

Most things in life seem to be getting more expensive, and household energy costs certainly fit into that category. As of April 2019, the average dual fuel variable tariff was £1,254 a year.

This figure dwarfs the cost of the annual average energy bill back in the noughties, and who knows how much higher energy bills will become in the twenties? It’s a cause for concern for many UK families.

Because of this plight, a few years ago back, Citizens Advice and the Energy Saving Trust created Big Energy Saving Week, which takes place from next Monday (2oth January).

It’s a national initiative designed to give householders energy-saving advice and support.

In advance of this year’s event, Visual thought it would be useful for customers if we supplied some energy-saving tips of our own. We’ve narrowed it down to five of the best…

1. Switch energy supplier

Lots of people are recognising that switching energy supplier is a good way to save money, but the message isn’t getting through loud and clear enough it seems.

The Money Saving Expert, Martin Lewis, has claimed that 11m households are currently paying too much for their energy and need to switch.

May be there is a perception that switching is difficult – it really isn’t!

Visit a comparison site and have your most recent bill to hand, using the readings to find the cheapest tariff. Once you’ve signed up to a new tariff, your new supplier will sort the switchover, which will take up to 21 days. What’s difficult about that? A potential yearly saving of £300+ should be enough to persuade anyone to change supplier.

2. Buy a new boiler

If your existing boiler is at least 15 years old, it’s about time you replaced it as it won’t offer anywhere near the standard of insulation of a modern, energy efficient boiler.

The average price of a new boiler is approximately £2,300, but it will be worth the money in the long-term as it will drastically cut your energy costs and is less likely to breakdown. Just make sure that it receives an annual service from a registered gas engineer.

3. Plug your chimney with a chimney balloon

One of the quirkiest ways to save energy is to pop a chimney balloon into your chimney for draught exclusion. It will stop warm escaping and cold air from coming in.

Around 5% of household heat escapes up the chimney.

When you want the put the fire on, you can easily deflate the balloon and remove it.

4. Leave the oven door open after cooking

Home lifestyles have evolved and it’s now the kitchen where families most frequently congregate, rather than the traditional living room.

To keep everyone nice and warm, after removing any cooked food from the oven, leave the door open and let the hot air circulate around the space.

It will enable you to turn your radiators off for a period.

5. Install energy efficient windows and doors

The biggest cause of heat loss in the home is poor insulating windows and doors. When traditional single glazed windows and doors age, cracks and gaps appear in them, causing heat to leak out.

You need windows and doors that are properly sealed and come with energy efficient glass, which all our replacement windows and doors are. Plus, our windows are A+ rated as standard.

Request a copy of our Windows & Doors brochure to find out how else they’ll save you money.