Keep warm this winter... without breaking the bank

As energy prices go sky high, the thought of huddling under blankets or wearing several thick sweaters on a cold evening doesn't sound like fun. Lynda Clark looks at the options of how to keep warm this winter

The big energy companies have recently raised their prices by an inflation-busting hike of almost 20% for gas and around 10% for electricity. Bland Judd, Chief Executive of the Heating and Ventilation Contractors' Association (HVCA), which runs the Heating Helpline consumer advice service, says: "There are steps that homeowners can take to help offset the current massive price increases. The government has said to consumers they shouldn't take these increases lying down, but what can homeowners who are faced with nearly an extra £200 to pay on 'dual fuel' household bills do to offset the extra costs?

"Installing more efficient equipment is a good start. For homes with an older boiler, for example, a replacement upgrade should be high on the list of priorities. Today's boilers are about 25% more efficient than they were in the 1980s, and a modern condensing boiler converts up to 100% of the fuel it uses into useful heat. This could mean savings of around £250 a year. The HVCA is completely independent, and its heating engineers can offer expert, impartial advice on energy saving in the home."

New builds tend to be much better insulated and energy efficient. However, a new home will automatically be powered by the default supplier for that region, and they tend to charge high rates in their home regions to maximise profits. Around half of all UK homes have never switched supplier so they are possibly paying much more than they need to. Equally, if you move into an existing house or apartment, you will almost certainly be put on the standard tariff of the previous occupant's supplier. So if the previous occupant was on a supplier's low cost online tariff, you will probably be put on its higher cost standard tariff unless you request otherwise. Standard tariffs can be as much as £300 a year more expensive than the supplier's cheapest online tariff.

Navetas is a technology company that empowers individuals, utilities and organizations to make better energy choices and find innovative new ways to reduce and manage energy consumption and minimise their environmental impact. Chris Saunders, its CEO, comments: "Effective energy management is becoming imperative for many households. Currently, most bills only provide a total energy usage figure, and that makes it very difficult for households to understand how they are using energy around the home. Consumers need detailed information about how and when they use household appliances and those that are most energy-hungry. With these insights, consumers can take control of their energy use and focus their efforts on lasting behavioural changes that will make a significant impact on their energy consumption - and their bank accounts."

LOOK FOR A HOME WITH A GOOD ENERGY RATING
Every home that has been on the market should have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), which rates the home for energy efficiency. The ratings run from A (very efficient) to G (very inefficient). The average rating in the UK at the moment is D. Generally, though, the newer the home the higher the rating will be. So if you decide to buy a home with a low energy rating you should be prepared to invest in immediate improvements.

RENEWABLE HEAT PREMIUM
This is a UK government scheme designed to help everyone afford renewable energy-efficient technology for their home by providing funding for items such as:

• Solar thermal panels
• Heat pumps (air source, ground source or water source)
• Biomass boilers

The scheme will run from 1 August 2011 to 31 March 2012, and if you live in England, Scotland or Wales everyone is eligible to apply for the Premium Payment.
It doesn't matter how you currently heat you home and how much fuel you already use, anyone can apply for solar thermal panel funding. However, if you currently rely on oil, liquid gas, solid fuel or electricity, then you can also apply for air, ground or water source heat pumps and biomass boilers. So only those who do not currently use gas as their main heating fuel can apply for these technologies.

WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO DO BEFORE APPLYING?
The property must be owned by you and must have loft insulation to 250mm and cavity wall insulation. You should have all the necessary planning and environmental permission in place. Getting your home insulated is easy and relatively cheap, and you can visit the energy savings trust website to check out its grants and cheap insulation offers.

HOW TO APPLY AND WHAT NEXT?
If you feel you are eligible, you can apply via the Energy Savings website. If you meet the criteria, you will receive a voucher and you need to sign and return the voucher with a copy of the invoice from the installer together with a certificate from the Microgeneration

Certification Scheme
(or equivalent). For more information or help, you can call the Energy Savings advice line on 0800 512 012.

THE GREEN DEAL
The Green Deal is a new government initiative to help meet the upfront cost of making your home more energy efficient. Due to be launched in late 2012, the Green Deal will allow you to install energy efficient measures, paying for the improvements with the savings on your fuel bill. Although you will repay the cost over time, this is not a conventional personal loan as the charge is attached to the meter and paid back through your fuel bill. If you move, the idea is that the new owner will pick up the charge while also benefiting from a more energy efficient property.

Simple ways to stop wasting energy and save money
» Turn your thermostat down. Reducing your room temperature by 1°C could cut your heating bills by up to 10% and typically saves around £50 per year. If you have a programmer, set your heating and hot water to come on only when required rather than all the time.
» Is your water too hot? The cylinder thermostat should be set at 60°C/140°F.
» Check for draughts around doors and windows, and close the curtains at night to stop heat escaping through the windows.
» Always turn off the lights when you leave a room.
» Don't leave appliances on standby and remember not to leave laptops and mobile phones on charge.
» Fill the washing machine, tumble dryer or dishwasher as one full load uses less energy than two half loads.
» Only boil as much water as you need.
» A dripping tap wastes energy so fix leaking taps and make sure they are fully turned off.
» Use energy saving lightbulbs.
» Do a home energy check. Go to energysavingtrust.org.uk and answer some simple questions about your home and they will give you a free, impartial report telling you how you can save up to £250 a year on your household energy bills.