HOMEOWNERS could get free or cheap energy-saving up-grades to their homes and slash up to £3,334 a year off their bills.
Energy bills are set to rise again on Tuesday when regulator Ofgem’s new price cap takes effect.
The average household paying by direct debit for dual fuel will see a £149 annual increase, or about £12 a month.
But making your home more energy-efficient can pay off.
The average power bill for a three-bedroom house with an energy performance certificate (EPC) rating of G is £5,674 a year — but the same house with a D rating averages £2,340, says property site Rightmove.
Homes with good insulation and LED lighting typically have higher EPC ratings, with A the best and G the worst. But around 55 per cent of UK housing is rated D or below.
READ MORE ON ENERGY BILLS
Charles Roe, mortgages director at trade body UK Finance, says: “The UK has some of the oldest, least energy-efficient housing in Europe.
Upgrading our homes is a huge challenge, with key barriers being lack of confidence among homeowners and costs.”
Harriet Meyer looks at five simple home improvements that could cut your bills and sources of funding for your upgrades . . .
6
Loft insulation
SAVE UP TO £340 A YEAR
THIS could save £340 a year for a detached home and £180 in a mid-terrace house, says the Energy Saving Trust.
You can do it yourself with mineral wool rolls if your loft is accessible.
According to Which?, loft insulation is around £20 for a 100mm-thick roll, covering about 8.3 square metres. Hiring a pro for an average semi could cost around £950.
The EST’s Joanna O’Loan says: “An uninsulated home loses about a quarter of its heat through the roof. If your insulation is less than 150mm, top it up to 270mm.”
Some energy firms offer free loft insulation through the energy company obligation scheme.
6
Double glazing
SAVE £120 A YEAR
UPGRADING your windows with A-rated double glazing could save around £120 a year on energy bills for the average semi-detached property, reckons the EST.
But be prepared to fork out around £15,000 to get this done.
If money is tight, a more affordable alternative is to buy ready-made secondary-glazing film online for about £10.
Use a hairdryer to shrink it to fit your frame.
You could also fit a layer of glass or plastic inside your frame and do this work yourself.
Get a few quotes if getting an expert to do the work.
Upgrade heating system
SAVE UP TO £280 A YEAR
IF your boiler is more than ten years old, it may be less efficient and it could pay off to get it replaced.
Efficient A-rated condensing boilers could save up to £280 a year if you live in a mid-terrace house and are replacing a G-rated boiler, according to the EST.
If you do not qualify for the government assistance, getting a new boiler installed is likely to set you back around £4,000.
6
Plug air gaps
SAVE £100s A YEAR
PUTTING draught-proofing around your windows and doors could save you £35 a year, says the EST.
You can buy a cheap brush draught excluder online to fit under your front and back doors.
For internal doors, try rolled-up towels, old tights filled with clothes, or get a second-hand draught excluder on eBay.
If you have an unused chimney, block it with a cheap inflatable chimney balloon or DIY with old pillows. This can save you another £50 a year.
Don’t forget to plug other draughty spots such as floorboards, loft hatches and wall cracks too.
6
Swap to LED bulbs
SAVE UP TO £75 A YEAR
REMOVING your old halogen light bulbs and replacing them with energy-efficient LED bulbs is one of the simplest ways to reduce your bills.
Light-emitting diode bulbs use significantly less energy — up to 90 per cent less than standard bulbs.
According to the EST, replacing all the bulbs in your home with LEDs could save you up to £75 a year on your energy bills.
You can buy basic ones for as little as £1 to £3 each.
‘We’re making cost of new boiler back with lower bills’
6
SIDNEY and Elaine Regan are saving £200 a month after making energy-efficient changes.
Their energy bill doubled to over £500 a month because their boiler was getting old – so they invested in a new one, costing £5,000.
Retired care home receptionist Elaine said: “The bills were cheaper in winter after the up-grade. We’re gradually making the cost back.”
In addition to their Worcester Bosch combi boiler, the couple had a smart meter fitted in their three-bedroom terrace in Borehamwood, Herts – at no extra cost through their energy supplier, Octopus.
Elaine, 67, added: “We can now watch our usage and see what makes a difference.”
Taxi driver Sidney, 77, and Elaine have also made smaller changes, such as running the dishwasher less often, using draft excluders, and fitting LED light bulbs.
Free or cheap upgrades
- Energy Company Obligation (ECO): Energy firms offer grants for insulation or a new boiler. Must usually be on benefits.
- Great British Insulation Scheme (England and Wales): Helps homes with EPC of D-G with insulation.
- Boiler Upgrade Scheme (England and Wales): Grants up to £7,500 to replace old boilers with more efficient models. Grant can be used for a heat pump – but the average cost is over £13,000, so you’ll have to make up the shortfall yourself.
- Home Upgrade Grant (England): Low-income homes without gas boiler and with EPC of D-G can get energy-efficient grants. See gov.uk.
- Affordable Warmth Scheme (Northern Ireland): If your household income is under £23k, help to improve your insulation or heating system.
- Warmer Homes Scotland: If on benefits (or age 75 with no heating) you could get up to £10,000.
- Nest Scheme (Wales): Low-income renters and homeowners with health conditions may get insulation and solar panels.
- Green Mortgages: Some lenders offer cashback or better rates for energy-efficient homes.
- An Energy Performance Certificate is valid for ten years. You can find your home’s EPC at Gov.uk and request a new one for £60-£120.