Going Green Means Saving Cash
Go Green and Save Green
With daily news of gas, energy, food, tax costs all soaring it is tempting to panic, but don’t! There are things you can do to keep costs lower especially when it comes to your energy bills.
You aren’t interested in saving the planet, fine. That isn’t the most practical reason to make your home energy efficient. About one third of your homes energy is being completely wasted. In fact, the heat lost because of poor insulation is enough to heat around three million homes for a year. Insulating your home properly is the best way to prevent lost energy and cutting back on energy costs.
Most people disregard going green because of the associated up-front costs, however if you work out the savings you’ll make in the long run, they are worth the investment.
Many of us are struggling at the moment with the bills we have now and can’t afford any extra costs. No problem, there are ways to keep costs down without spending much.
There are various options depending on your circumstances and age. For pensioners there are loads of government grants aimed at assisting you in making your home more efficient and thus saving you money. So while energy prices soar you can take control of your monthly bills by being more efficient with your energy usage.
You can hit up three different places for some free grant money:
- The Government
- Energy suppliers
- Local authorities
Are you eligible for a grant?
Government agencies are giving away money in a bid to help you create a more efficient home. The truth is for both economic and environmental reasons it’s impractical for us to all continue spending the way we do at the moment.
There are loads of grants out there and it’s never been easier to find them. You never need to leave the comfort of your own home as most of them have online applications. The best way to getting started is to visit the Energy Saving Trust website for a guide to grant applications. This is the most informative site out there and the place to begin when looking for help.
This is an incredible website that allows you to not only calculate how much money you could save by making changes such as insulation. It also provides information on how much insulation would cost you, and the best part… tells you what grants you are eligible for immediately online. It literally takes a few seconds to fill out information regarding your specific circumstances and a list of grants and subsidies appears. It really is that simple!
Using the Energy Saving Trust amazing calculating checklist gets you a detailed listing of your current carbon emission imprint, but it also lists the measures and associated costs with making any efficiency switches.
Let’s say you live in a two-bedroom flat with three external walls, you could save this much:
| Energy Savings Measures | Yearly Savings | CO2 Yearly Savings (Kg/ CO2) |
| Install solid wall insulation (internal) | £ 200 | 1,376 kg |
| Install loft insulation to 270mm | £ 210 | 1,419 kg |
| Fit a hot water tank jacket | £ 30 | 195 kg |
| Insulate your primary pipe work | £ 10 | 64 kg |
| Install heating controls | £ 90 | 619 kg |
| Fit energy saving light bulbs | £ 40 | 172 kg |
| Turn down your thermostat by 1°C | £ 30 | 187 kg |
| Turn appliances off and avoid standby | £ 30 | 133 kg |
| Wash your laundry | £ 10 | 45 kg |
| Only boil as much water as you need | £ 10 | 29 kg |
| Always turn off your lights when you leave a room | £ 10 | 23 kg |
| Total Savings | £670 | 4261 kg |
It would cost around £500 to install the solid internal wall insulation, however in four years you would have recouped your investment and would then enjoy incredible savings of £200/yearly. For a complete list of all the changes you could make to your house to insulate better you visit Energy Saving Trust.
Types of grant
The UK government is providing up to £2,700 to each household for energy efficiency schemes that aim at improving heating and energy efficiency. The schemes are available throughout the UK.
- In England the scheme is known as Warm Front
- In Northern Ireland it is Warm Homes
- In Scotland it is Warm Deal and the Central Heating Programme
- In Wales it is the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme
If you aren’t over 65 and do not claim any benefits you may not find many grants available for you, however there are still loads of subsidised prices aimed at helping with the upfront costs of making your home more efficient.
Energy Suppliers Grants
The replacement of the Government’s Energy Efficiency Commitment (EEC) with the Carbon Emission Reduction Target (CERT) sees energy suppliers in Great Britain helping customers improve home energy efficiency. The new initiative means they have to offer ways of cutting up-front costs to clients who are looking to employ energy efficient measures.
The best part is you can take advantage of any great offers from any of the energy companies, regardless if they’re your energy supplier. Our extensive list of offers should help you find the right one for you.
Remember, by entering in your information on the Energy Savings Trust site you will have a list printed for you that is tailored to your specific requirements. By just entering your post code and answering a few questions you will be given access to a long list of suppliers who are giving away money to help you install new efficient measures in your home.
This service is completely free, fast and simple… no excuses not go on their site now and get your hands on money that is yours to claim. By implementing some of these changes you can save yourself hundreds. You’ll also stop lining the pockets of British Gas executives who have already made a fortune overcharging you for energy that you aren’t even using… most of it is leaking out through your roof and walls!
Local Authority Grants
For a list of local councils offering grants visit the Direct Government website. Most councils offer grants and subsidies for residents looking to make energy efficiency improvements.
You can also find information about your local council when you fill out your information on The Energy Savings Trust site or visit your local council’s website for further information. They all have schemes set up to help their local residents with the costs of changing to more efficient use of energy.
Small changes that still mean big savings
If now isn’t the right time for you to start making large changes, there really are simple tricks you can start doing today that will help save you hundreds. It’s impractical and wasteful not to become more efficient. You’re losing money that you don’t have to be and making a few small changes will help.
Switch those bulbs
Changing all the lights in your house to the energy-saving kind will save you about £9 on your annual electricity bill and up to £100 over the bulb’s lifetime. Energy saving bulbs last up to 10 to 15 times and use about a quarter to a fifth of the electricity that ordinary light bulbs use. In less than a year the costs of the light bulbs will have been saved in your energy bill! Which? conducted a rigorous lifetime test of the newer-style eco-light bulbs, finding that General Electric, Osram and Ikea come out on top. At around £3 Wilkinsons is a great place to buy them. Tescos has recently expanded their range and reduced prices significantly with some costing as little as 68p!
Start shopping around for new energy supplier
In the UK energy prices have steadily risen since 2003, with electricity prices increasing by 30% and gas prices increasing by 40%! There is a bright side, with such rising costs customers have started really shopping around for good deals. Creating a market where energy suppliers are desperate to maintain customers means bargains are out there to be had. Switching to a new gas and electricity supplier can save you as much as £100 per year, with additional savings of £50-60 annually if you set up a direct debit payment scheme. There are lots of energy price comparison sites you can use to compare deals. Head over to our independent switching comparison or try other sites such as Energyhelpline, USwitch, MoneySupermarket and The Energy Shop.
1˚C can save you £30
If you were to turn down your thermostat by 1°C you’d save yourself £30 annually! By drawing your curtains at dusk you will keep more heat in the room. Make sure not to block your radiators with any curtains or furniture. Follow these tips and you should barely notice the difference. By also turning down both your hot water boiler to 60°C or 140°F you’ll save an extra £10 annually.
Replace that old boiler now before winter
If your boiler is over 15 years old it is no longer efficient and draining loads of energy and cash. It can be expensive to purchase a new boiler, but the savings made with lower heating bills will see the cost recovered within 3-5 years. There are also government grants that will offer you money or will cover the cost of purchase and installation. After installing your high efficiency condensing boiler with heating controls you can expect to save between £190-240 annually on your heating bills. Make sure to have the correct heating controls, and shave another 40% off your bills!
Contact your local Energy Efficiency Advice Centre on 0800 512012 for more details on energy efficient boilers and for grant information. If you would like to compare the efficiency of different boilers visit www.boilers.org.uk. Consumer group Which? goes one step further and recommends you visit a home the company has previously worked on to avoid getting falsified references.
Use your timer
Even if you are not planning on replacing your boiler, always use a timer and turn your heater off 30 minutes before leaving home and programming it so that it switches back on 30 minutes before you return.
Buy your boiler a new jacket
By adding an insulation jacket to your hot water cylinder you will be preventing heat loss and therefore saving yourself £15-20 annually. They are easy to fit yourself and should cost you about a tenner at B&Q. Make sure to purchase a jacket that is at least 75mm thick. Visit Home Heating Guide for step-by-step instructions.
Switch off
Always remember to switch off all your appliances when you are no longer using them. Microwaves, TVs, videos, stereos, and computers eat up loads of energy when they are left on standby. In fact 85% of the energy consumed by your DVD player is done when it is not actually in use.
Unplug too
The same principle applies with unplugging pieces of equipment once they have fully charged. Don’t leave your mobile charger, shavers or electric toothbrushes plugged in because they are still draining electricity unnecessarily. Overcharging electrical equipment also causes the battery trauma and it won’t last as long.
Energy efficient appliances save money
If you are purchasing any new appliances buying the energy-efficient one will save you loads. By replacing a 10 year-old fridge-freezer with a modern, energy efficient A-rated appliance you can save £45 a year. The government has put aside millions of pounds to help home owners switch to A-rated energy efficient appliances. Some grants offer as much as £2,700 of free money to help you make the switch! With just a bit of research you can scoop up loads of free money to buy new appliances that will help save you money! Read through some of the offers.
Stop washing your dishes by hand
Think you are saving water and energy by washing your dishes by hand? Think again, modern dishwashers use less energy and water than washing up by hand. Remember to only wash full loads of dishes, turn down that hot water temperature and skip the drying cycle. Leave the door ajar instead and let your dishes air dry.
Don’t forget about the loft
By insulating your loft you could save up to £200 off your annual heating bill. You can purchase the insulating foam at B&Q and install it yourself, however remember to use protective goggles and gloves. Buy the foam that is at least 270mm thick. But make sure you are confident as this could be time consuming, a bit expensive and you may need some know how.
With ongoing loft insulation deals DIY stores like B&Q are making insulating yourself easier and cheaper to plan, buy and install. They also have an online calculator to help you figure out how much insulation you will need and how much that will cost you. With convenient home delivery and online advice there has never been a better time to insulate by yourself.
Skip the dry cycle
Giving your tumbler a miss and drying your clothes indoors is a great way to save money. Use clothes rails rather than lying clothes over radiators as this prevents heat from circulating the room.
Shower more and bath less
Taking a shower consumes two-fifths of the water used for a bath, however those power shower heads are a no-no as they can use as much water – or sometimes more – than a bath would!
This isn’t about going green it is about saving money and no longer being charged for careless uses of energy.
Contacts for internal wall insulation grants and subsidies
| Grant provider: | British Gas |
| Grant name: | Home Insulation |
| End date: | 31-Mar-2011 |
| Offer: | Cavity wall insulation installed at low subsidised prices. Call now on 0845 971 7731 today, quoting ‘GID’. |
| Contact telephone no: | 0845 971 7731 |
| Website: | www.britishgas.co.uk/insulation |
| Grant provider: | EDF Energy |
| Grant name: | Home insulation grants |
| End date: | 31-Dec-2008 |
| Offer: | EDF Energy is offering free cavity wall and loft insulation for homes to customers on qualifying benefits and for people over 70 years old. A discounted rate of £199 for loft insulation and £199 for cavity wall insulation is available for others. |
| Contact telephone no: | 0800 096 9966 |
| Grant provider: | Independent |
| Grant provider: | Affordable Energy |
| End date: | 31-Dec-2010 |
| Offer: | Cavity Wall Insulation is offered from £189. Pricing is subject to a no obligation survey and quote and is free to recipients of qualifying benefits. Installation is carried out by accredited professionals and guaranteed for 25 years by CIGA. |
| Contact telephone no: | 0800 0966356 |
| Website: | www.affordableenergy.co.uk |
| Grant provider: | Independent |
| Grant name: | All Insulation Grants |
| End date: | 01-Feb-2009 |
| Offer: | Cavity Wall Insulation from £149, Loft from £169, with FREE Insulation for over 70’s or on qualifying benefits. Also Solid Wall Insulation grants. All subject to survey, all work guaranteed by CIGA |
| Contact telephone no: | 020 8330 4711 |
Contacts for loft insulation and draft proofing grants and subsidies
| Grant provider: | British Gas |
| Grant name: | Home Insulation |
| End date: | 31-Mar-2011 |
| Offer: | Cavity wall insulation installed at low subsidised prices. Call 0845 971 7731 today, quoting ‘GID’. |
| Contact telephone no: | 0845 971 7731 |
| Website: | www.britishgas.co.uk/insulation |
| Grant provider: | British Gas |
| Grant name: | Mayor of London’s DIY insulation offer |
| End date: | 31-Dec-2008 |
| Offer: | DIY loft insulation (100mm depth) for £99. £50 cash back once delivered and payment has been received. Open to London residents only, call 0800 107 0030 and quote ‘GID DIY’ |
| Contact telephone no: | 0800 107 0030 |
| Website: | www.london.gov.uk/londoner/07may/p12b.js… |
| Grant provider: | EDF Energy |
| Grant name: | Home insulation grants |
| End date: | 31-Dec-2008 |
| Offer: | EDF Energy is offering free cavity wall and loft insulation for homes to customers on qualifying benefits and for people over 70 years old. A discounted rate of £199 for loft insulation and £199 for cavity wall insulation is available for others. |
| Contact telephone no: | 0800 096 9966 |
| Grant provider: | Independent |
| Grant name: | Affordable Energy |
| End date: | 31-Dec-2008 |
| Offer: | Loft insulation (including 2 water tanks and 15m of pipework) is offered from £189. Pricing is subject to a no obligation survey and quote and may be free to recipients of qualifying benefits. |
| Contact telephone no: | 0800 0966356 |
| Website: | www.affordableenergy.co.uk |
| Grant provider: | Independent |
| Grant name: | All Insulation Grants |
| End date: | 01-Feb-2009 |
| Offer: | Cavity Wall Insulation from £149, Loft from £169, with FREE Insulation for over 70’s or on qualifying benefits. Also Solid Wall Insulation grants. All subject to survey, all work guaranteed by CIGA |
| Contact telephone no: | 020 8330 4711 |
For a list of suppliers that is tailored to your specific needs go to The Energy Saving Trust
Useful links
- Find a directory of grants at The Direct Gov site
- Together gives great tips for energy efficiency
- Apply directly online for government grants at EAGA
- Cold Weather Payment is money available for pensioners during cold months
Now go to!..
- 50 Ways To Save Money and the Planet
- Eating and Drinking
- Fruit and Veg – Grow your own
- How Families can save £100s
Raechelle Dias
Moneymagpie Moneypedia
11.08.2008
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