The Government’s energy price cap is set to rise by some 10 per cent from 1st April this year (Ofgem) 1, leaving many consumers facing additional costs to heat their homes. Money-saving advisers such as Martin Lewis have been urging homeowners to shop around for the best energy deals and not assume the recently-introduced price caps will automatically mean their tariff is the best one for their household usage. Furthermore, customers may be unaware that the energy price caps do not apply to those on a fixed-term tariff.2
Duette® energy saving blinds are a great option for homeowners updating window dressings as they are proven to retain up to 46 per cent more heat in a room, thanks to their unique honeycomb design. By reducing the amount of heat escaping from windows, the place where homes lose most heat, they can also reduce heating bills by up to 25 per cent.
“Alongside switching supplier or tariff, there are some clever and simple ways to keep homes warmer without increasing energy bills,” says Apollo’s Matt Thomas.“New energy caps limit the price a supplier can charge per kilowatt-hour (kWH) of electricity and gas, but they don’t cap the customer’s total bill which will vary depending on how much energy they use. With this in mind and with the cap due to rise, it’s doubly important for homeowners to consider other ways to reduce their energy consumption and save money.”
Follow these easy ways to keep the warmth in homes and reduce energy bills:
Move the furniture around. If furniture is pushed up against the radiator then that can block off the heat. Move sofas and other items around to allow warmth to circulate around the room.
Savvy Swaps. Upgrade window blinds – with Duette® energy saving blinds; rather than using a household radiator to heat up the bedroom, a heated blanket could be the answer to winter bills issues; The Energy Saving Trust also suggests that swapping a halogen bulb for an LED could cut costs by £80! Save around £25 a year by washing up in a bowl rather than using a running tap.
Don’t heat unused space. If there is a room in your house that isn’t used regularly then turn down the radiator in that particular room. Don’t turn it off completely as that can lead to problems with damp.
Unplug any unused electrical appliances, such as games consoles, speakers, DVD players etc. This will save £20-£30 a year. Households with more appliances could reach annual savings between £50 and £80. A wall timer that automatically turns appliances off can save the need for constantly unplugging and plugging in appliances.
Get used to a cooler house! Instead of turning the heating down, try not turning it up as much, acclimatising the body to a slight lower indoor temperature. According to the Energy Saving Trust, reducing heating by just one degree, could cut 10% off the annual heating bill – about £75 a year! Be careful not to go too low which could be unhealthy, the World Health Organisation states that 18 degrees is a suitable temperature for healthy people who are appropriately dressed.
Be smarter about using appliances. Running one full load in the dishwasher, washing machine or tumble dryer, uses less energy than two half loads. When making a cup of tea, only boil the amount of water needed in the kettle. It costs on average 2.5p to boil a full 1.5 pint kettle. Washing clothes at 30 degrees rather than 40 degrees can be a third cheaper, meaning savings of up to £52 a year.
Available in a kaleidoscope of colours and fabric options Duette® Blinds will fit seamlessly into existing decor. They can be fitted to any window (including sash windows or bay windows) providing a non-permanent, energy-saving solution. Opting for no visible cords and motorised blinds make the investment in this energy saving solution even more appealing.
