January is Big Energy Savings Month and our Home Energy Scotland team are working with Citizens Advice Scotland to help people save energy, cut their bills, and get the financial support they’re entitled to.
Keeping on top of your energy costs can be a challenge. If you’re finding it difficult to pay your bills whilst keeping your home warm, we can help – read on for some top tips, and get in touch with our Home Energy Scotland team if you’d like more advice.
Stop wasting energy at home
You might be surprised by how much money you can save by making simple changes to cut your energy use at home. Switching your appliances off at the wall instead of leaving them on standby could save you £35 a year, and won’t cost a penny. Likewise, turning your thermostat down by just one degree could save you £60 a year and you might not even notice a difference in the temperature. The Energy Saving Trust website has plenty of practical quick wins to help you stop wasting energy and start saving money.
Check you’re getting the best deal
Switching energy supplier or tariff could save you hundreds of pounds a year on your bills. It’s a straightforward process which won’t take longer than 21 days, and your energy supply won’t be interrupted. Check out Citizens Advice Scotland’s price comparison tool to see if you would be better off switching. It’s useful to have a current bill to hand when you do this – you’ll get more accurate prices if you’re able to give some information about your current tariff and the amount of energy you use.
Give your home an energy upgrade
The cost of heating and hot water accounts for more than half of the typical energy bill, so having an efficient heating system can make a big difference. Likewise, if your home is well insulated, less heat is able to escape so your heating system shouldn’t need to work as hard. Upgrading your heating system or topping up insulation can be an investment, but could be worth it in the long run as you’ll save on your bills. Plus, you could get funding from the Scottish Government to help cover the costs, including grants and interest free loans – check out our funding finder to see what you could be eligible for.
Get some advice you can trust
If you’re struggling to keep warm at home and keep up with your energy costs, we can help. As well as tips on how to save energy and advice on making your home more energy efficient, we can check if you’re eligible for special discounts from energy suppliers. We can also help you get a benefits and tax credit check so you’re not missing out on additional income.
Give us a call on 0808 808 2282 or leave your details here and we’ll be in touch.
