Energy saving in the home

hand turning the dial on a thermostat

An energy efficient home:

  • could save you as much as £500 a year on your energy bills
  • is easier and cheaper to keep warm and free from draughts
  • reduces the risk of respiratory illness, including asthma
  • makes it easier to control the temperature and prevent overheating
  • is easier to keep free of condensation, damp and mould

Energy saving tips

  • Cutting energy costs isn't just about cheaper tariffs. The main way to save during the current energy crisis is to use less. See if you can adopt any of the easy methods to save energy at moneysavingexpert.com.
  • There are some grey areas with saving energy, and a lot of disputed claims. This energy mythbusters guide looks at these in more detail.
  • This useful video shows you how to adjust the flow temperature on your combi boiler to save energy and money all year round.
  • A team of trained energy advisers can give free energy efficiency advice that will help you stay warmer and healthier in your home. Contact the Warm and Well advice line on 0800 500 3076 - a freephone line that runs 9am to 5pm each weekday. Here you can speak at length to a home energy advisor to describe your circumstances, your living arrangements, your energy consumption and get tailored advice (and possibly grant options) to reduce that consumption. The Warm and Well website is also full of guides and resources to help improve energy efficiency in the home.
  • Take a look at the top ten tips for saving energy in the home and 'Energy 101 - Tips for an energy efficient lifestyle' from the Severn Wye Energy Agency (SWEA) Warm and Well team.

Help and support

Financial support to make your home more energy efficient

Cheltenham Borough Council, along with the six other councils in Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire, is working in partnership with Seven Wye Energy Agency to run the Warm and Well project, offering free energy advice to residents in the county.

Warm and Well administer energy efficiency grants on behalf of the council, which can be used to make a range of home energy improvements. Subject to eligibility, grants are available for:

  • heating
  • insulation
  • replacement windows/doors
  • renewable energy options such as solar and air source heat pumps

If your household income is under £30,000 and you privately own or rent an inefficient property, you could qualify for support.

Call Warm and Well free on 0800 500 3076 to speak to one of their friendly and professional advisors. They can support you with the grant application process and offer advice on using energy in the home. You can also make an enquiry on the Warm and Well website. If you want to find out more about the grant schemes available via the Warm and Well project, you can visit the grants and funding section of their website.

Are you struggling with your energy bills?

As well as their energy adviceline, Warm and Well also has a dedicated Energy Advocate who works across the county to make sure that no one has to struggle with their energy bills alone. They hold regular drop ins, work with local community groups and carry out home visits, to tailor their support to residents’ needs. An Energy Advocate can help you take control if dealing with your home energy is becoming overwhelming.

They can support you with a range of issues:

  • Managing fuel debt and large energy bills
  • Accessing emergency credit and grant funding for energy efficiency improvements
  • Home visits to understand how you use energy at home, and how to reduce it
  • Access to further local support services where necessary

If you’re struggling with your bills, you don’t have to suffer alone. Call Warm and Well on 0800 500 3076 (Monday-Friday, 9-5) or contact their Energy Advocate on the Warm and Well website.

Need to find an installer? Try Link to Energy

Link to Energy is an online database designed to help you find sustainable energy installers and tradespeople in your area. It’s really simple to use, just enter your postcode or the name of your town or village and the database will do the rest. You can narrow down the results according to the type of work you’re looking to have done, including boiler installation, insulation and all forms of renewable energy.