Energy bills are a tough challenge for many families at the moment. In fact, according to OFGEM’s new price cap, from January 2024 household bills in the average UK household will go up by £94. Staffordshire is no exception.
That’s why our friendly team of energy experts travel throughout Staffordshire and Shropshire to offer impartial energy advice and guidance to people who want to better understand how to save energy and save money as a result.
From quick household tips to securing life-changing home improvements through government funding such as the Great British Insulation Scheme, we want you to improve the energy efficiency of your home in the quickest and easiest ways possible.
Explore which energy-saving measures are suitable for your home by visiting one of our pop-up events. The Warmer Homes Project is visiting community centres and local events near you regularly. Visit the Warmer Homes project page to see where we will be next.
Until then, let’s take a look at some of the most common questions Staffordshire residents have been asking about some of the most common energy efficiency challenges.
An Energy Performance Certificate (or EPC) recognises the energy efficiency of your building and identifies areas of improvement and potential cost savings through energy-saving measures.
A typical EPC will display the efficiency of your building using the grading system from A to G.
“What is a TRV and what do they do?”
A TRV (or Thermostatic Radiator Valve) is installed directly to each radiator in your home and can help you control the temperature in each individual room.
For example, you may want your living room or bedroom to be warmer than your bathroom, so you can reduce the heating in the less-used rooms using the valve and save up to £160 per year on heating bills as a result.
“Does it cost more to leave my boiler on low than it would if I just switched it on and off when it’s cold?”
The best way to address the balance between comfort and efficiency in your home is by experimenting with the flow temperature on your boiler.
The flow temperature is the temperature your boiler heats water to before sending it to your radiators. By lowering the flow temperature you can save 6- 8% on your fuel bills. Try and find a balance that works for you.
“What immediate action can I take to save money on fuel costs?”
Our Energy Saving Guide is loaded with quick and easy energy-saving tips as well as major home improvements you can make to improve the efficiency of your home. Many of the tips listed in this guide you can try right away!
Download our Energy Saving Guide for quick and easy best practices for energy saving at home.
“I want to improve the energy efficiency of my home, but don’t know where to start.”
You don’t have to! All you need is a Home Energy Assessment.
A Home Energy Assessment is conducted by a qualified retrofit assessor who visits your home, reviews its energy performance and evaluates recommended measures to improve the efficiency of your home, saving your energy and money as a result.
Assessment takes approximately two hours to complete and it’s super easy to book. Just visit our assessment page and complete the short booking form.
“My boiler is old and inefficient – are there any boiler grants available?”
Grant funding is currently available to replace old, inefficient boilers with modern, A rated ones. The great thing about today’s boilers is that they are capable of producing cleaner, more consistent and comfortable results around the home by exerting less energy than the outdated boiler you’re using today.
Households who are eligible for ECO4 grants are entitled to a wide variety of major home upgrades including A rated boilers. Check your eligibility with us now.
“My house is cold and draughty; what can I do?”
Drafts are a common symptom of insufficient insulation in the loft and walls. Loft insulation, for example, does more than just trap heat in the house and stop it from rising through the roof. It also helps to seal those gaps, which cause drafts in those uncomfortable parts of the house.
Fortunately, the GBIS is currently accepting applications for households to receive free loft insulation and they are looking to support as many homes as possible across the UK, including Staffordshire.
Check your eligibility with us and you might be able to get a free loft insulation upgrade.
“I’m worried about leaving the heating on.”
You are not the only one. According to the English Housing Survey, 57% of homes in England alone are below the government’s targets for energy efficiency. That means over half of houses in the UK are relying too heavily on their heating system, which is of course expensive for everyone involved.
The solution is in energy efficiency. Make sure your home doesn’t need to rely on those energy-intensive heating systems as much in the first place. The best way to combat this is by booking a Home Energy Assessment so that we can determine which areas of your home could do with an energy efficiency upgrade.
Once these upgrades have taken place, you will not need to set your thermostat so high, relying less on your traditional heating system and driving down costs as a result, without sacrificing comfort.
“I get lots of calls from companies trying to sell solar panels or boilers without even visiting – what can I do?”
Before deciding with any company, it’s important to find out as much as you can about the company you’re speaking to. Call screening is an effective way of doing this.
In either case, before deciding on any home energy efficiency upgrade, it’s important to understand the way your home uses energy and loses energy. This is only possible through a home energy assessment.
If you’re worried about companies selling you home efficiency upgrades you may not need, arrange an assessment first to ensure you’re not wasting any money. We provide home energy assessments at home or online; talk to us if you’d like to arrange one.
