feature: Feeling the heat?
14 October 2008
With fuel bills going through the roof, we take a look at how you can save money - and help the environment - over the autumn and winter months.
When it comes to energy bills, people across the country are feeling the heat like never before.
But there are some practical ways you can cut down on your water, electricity and fuel bills this autumn and winter.
And the good news is that this won’t just save you money, it will also help to protect the environment by reducing emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) - the main greenhouse gas which contributes to climate change.
Government figures show that almost half of CO2 emissions in Haringey come from people’s homes, and tackling this will be a major part of Haringey Council’s new Greenest Borough Strategy.
Cabinet member for housing Cllr John Bevan said:
“The rise in energy bills means there are going to be difficult times ahead for many Haringey residents. But I’d encourage people to consider some simple steps that will help them save money on fuel bills and help the drive to tackle climate change.”
If you’re an older person or in receipt of benefits, you could be eligible for grants of up to several thousand pounds to improve your heating and insulation. To find out more call 0800 316 2805 or visit our grant assistance page.
If you are not in receipt of benefits you could still get loft and cavity wall insulation fitted at a discount, and receive up to £100 cash back. To find out more contact the London Mayor’s Insulation Scheme on 0845 070 5059, quoting reference WEB GLA.
Haringey Council has produced a special Greening Your Home guide, setting how you can help the environment, save energy and water, and save money at home. The guide is available on the Greening Your Home page.
|back to topSix top tips
1. Around 33 per cent of the heat lost in your home is through the walls. Insulating them through cavity wall insulation can save you up to £150 per year on your heating bills.
2. Laying your loft with 10 inches of insulation can save you around 25 per cent of your home’s energy use. An adequate amount of insulation (270mm) can also save you around a quarter of heating costs and up to £200 every year.
3. Replace your light bulbs with energy saving ones. Just one can reduce your lighting costs by up to £78 over the lifetime of the bulb - and they last up to 12 times longer than ordinary light bulbs. A house full of energy saving bulbs could save you up to £600.
4. Replace boilers over 15 years old with a new energy efficient one. High efficiency condensing boilers are the most energy efficient and can save up to a third of your annual heating bills.
5. Turning your thermostat down by 1ºC could cut your heating bills by up to 10 per cent and save you around £100 per year.
6. Don’t leave appliances on standby and remember not to leave appliances on charge unnecessarily.
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