As part of Big Energy Saving week we asked John Heron who has worked at SSE for over 10 years as energy efficiency advisor to provide customers with energy efficiency advice as well as highlight the financial help they may be able to receive through the Warm Home Discount and SSE’s Priority Assistance Fund.
One of the very first things worth reviewing is how well your home is insulated. A quarter of your home’s heat is lost through the roof therefore if your home has cavity walls make sure they have been insulated and that the loft insulation is topped up to 280 mm (or 11 inches).
Also, ensure any water pipes exposed within the loft space are effectively lagged to prevent them freezing in winter. Ensure doors and windows are draught-proofed using rubberised seals and strips together with brush strips, where appropriate, on the bottom of entrance doors.
For single glazed windows, secondary glazing can be added reasonably cheaply to great effect. Unused open fires can be draught-proofed with the use of a chimney balloon.
Has your gas boiler been serviced in the last year? Don’t wait until your boiler breaks down to find out you have a problem. Also, it’s a good idea to run your gas central heating before you need it to ensure everything is working properly for the approaching winter period. Make sure the programme timer is used to maximise economy and comfort. Set the timer to come on 30 minutes before you rise, also programme the system to switch off the heating half an hour before bed time.
If you don’t already have one, it’s a good idea to invest in a carbon monoxide detector as even small volumes of carbon monoxide can cause death after two hours exposure.
If you have a room thermostat, remember, a 1 degree reduction from 21 to 20 degrees can lead to a 10% saving on energy bills. Set the thermostatic radiator valves according to seasonality, current weather and how often you use the room. Remember though that even unused rooms will need some level of heating to help prevent dampness.
For electric storage heaters, make sure the input control is set to at 3 - 4 during September/October, then, increasing when temperatures drop, to 5 - 6 by December. The output control is best set between 1 - 2 to release heat evenly before the next input charge is available. The higher the output is set, the warmer your room will be but you might run out of heat before the next charge period if the output is set too high.
For two rate electricity meters with an integral time switch or time clock, ensure the correct time is displayed. Please note, timing devices can often be 1 hour slow during British Summer Time (BST), when minimal heating is used.
Some households in the UK might qualify for free help with their heating and home energy efficiency. To be eligible the householder needs to meet a criteria for assistance. To find out more you can visit our website at www.sse.com or call our Home Services team on 0800 980 7537.
For energy efficiency and money saving measures call 0800 072 7201.
For details on the Warm Home Discount, financial support for vulnerable and low income customers call 0800 300 111.
You can also visit the webpages below at: