The cost of living crisis has left a lot of homeowners feeling worried about living costs getting out of control. When it comes to delivering home improvements to help manage the cost of living, the first concern on everyone’s minds (and rightly so) is the upfront cost required. How much of an upfront cost can we justify spending, to yield the long-term financial benefits?
This is why many houses are still not choosing to take extra energy efficiency measures at home to help reduce energy expenditure and save money on their heating bills, even those with a lower energy performance certificate rating. In fact, only 14% of UK households have invested in insulation improvements in the last 5 years (Which?)
We understand why it may not feel like a good time to take the plunge on new heating system technology or energy-efficient retrofit work, which of course does cost money.
We feel it is more important than ever to support vulnerable households in managing the cost of living with energy efficiency. The fact is, it can and should be affordable. We offer to help into different ways:
Educate homeowners on which energy efficiency measures are most effective and which are beneficial to you, specifically.
Engage with homeowners to help secure government funding towards these energy efficiency improvements minimising or eliminating the upfront cost, through schemes like the Great British Insulation Scheme.
So to answer the question at the top of this blog; yes, energy is expensive, but we can all do something about it.
Why is my energy expensive?
While energy costs have started to fall slightly on last year, they are still far higher than the energy costs we became used to before the energy crisis began. The UK is feeling this pressure at home in particular, because generally our homes are not as energy-efficient as they should be. According to the English housing survey, 57% of homes in England are below the government’s targets for energy efficiency.
So what does that mean for your energy bills?
Right now, homes up and down the UK are debating whether or not to put the heating on. For any vulnerable homeowners choosing not to put the heating on comes with a number of health risks as the temperature outside falls.
A well-insulated home not only protects residents from the outside elements but it reduces dependency on energy-intensive appliances such as boilers. Simply put you don’t need to worry about heating controls as much if your home is well-insulated.
So why are 57% of homes still not efficient enough? Here are some of the reasons why householders haven’t taken necessary steps to make their home more energy efficient, achieve comfortable living conditions and reduce their energy expenses with insulation:
Lack of awareness of different insulation types and their effects
High upfront costs of installation
Difficulty securing funding towards the cost of insulation
Believing their home is already warm enough
Bridging the energy-efficiency gap
We can’t lower the price of energy. However, we strongly believe we can help vulnerable and low-income households in the UK to help manage the effects of the cost of energy. We also believe that the UK can reach its energy efficiency goals by improving the sharing of information about the different types of home improvements available and their effect on our home’s energy efficiency.
Knowledge and support are the two key factors in supporting families to improve their living conditions and reduce their energy bills. Here’s how residential energy services are bringing energy efficiency knowledge and support to the least energy-efficient homes in the UK every day:
Energy advice and guidance
The Warmer Homes Project is underway, visiting community centres throughout Staffordshire and Shropshire. Our energy experts are offering impartial energy advice and guidance to anyone who is struggling to pay their bills and are looking to explore energy-saving measures.
Home Energy Assessment
Qualified retrofit assessors will visit your home, review household energy use and evaluate energy efficiency improvements needed to reduce energy bills, improve living conditions and help save money on the cost of living. This detailed overview is instrumental in securing government funding.
Trusted Installer Network
We connect vulnerable households that are eligible for energy-efficient retrofit with a network of reliable dependable installers that are qualified to deliver eco-measures to homes around the UK, from loft insulation to cavity wall insulation to boiler upgrades.
Your Questions Answered
We provide up-to-date downloadable resources free of charge on our website, so anyone can learn how to reduce their energy consumption, lower their fuel bills and contribute to a healthier environment and standard of living. This is a great way to get started on your journey towards energy efficiency.
Check your eligibility today
