by Jason Horner, Energy Adviser at ecobirmingham
Are you worried about energy bills or keeping your house warm? Confused about what grants you could apply for or what insulation measures you should invest in? We are here to help with the answers to the most frequently asked questions we get while out and about in the community delivering energy advice sessions and workshops.
What energy-saving grants could I be eligible for?
Heating
Boiler Upgrade Scheme – This scheme to help people get heat pumps or biomass boilers. It gives £7,500 towards a new heat pump. This only covers some of the cost, as they are usually somewhere around £10,000, but it is still a good portion of the cost. Learn more here: Apply for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme: Overview – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
ECO4 – This can be applied for if you live in private housing and get specific benefits. Your home must have an EPC rating of D, E, F or G. For more information on the scheme click here: Help from your energy supplier: the Energy Company Obligation – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Insulation
Great British Insulation Scheme – This is a scheme that can support with getting insulation installed. If you have an EPC of D, E, F or G and your council tax band is A-D. See if you qualify here: Apply for support from the Great British Insulation Scheme – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
I am renting, what can I do to reduce cost and save on energy?
While larger scale energy saving measures such as adding insulation or replacing your boiler with a heat pump require landlord approval, there are other smaller energy saving measures that anyone can do. Replacing your shower head to a water efficient shower head can save up to £100/year in both water and energy bills, using a hot water heater jacket (£70/year), turning off unused outlets (£45/year), switching to LED bulbs (£40/year), washing your clothes at 30 degrees instead of 40 degrees (£24/year) and having 5-minute shower instead of bath once a week (£20/year) can also save on energy and bills. *Each of these figures are a rough estimate as they could be lower or higher depending on your specific home and energy usage habits.*
How long should I leave my boiler on?
Boilers have settings that allow you to personalise when you want the heating to run. While all homes are different, a general rule is that you should turn on the heating about 30 minutes before you will need it and turn off the heating 30 minutes before you leave for the day. There is no limit to how long the boiler can stay on. Using the boiler is more economical than using electric heaters for an extended time. Bottled gas heaters require the room to be well ventilated, or they will create mould in the room, and they are also more expensive than using your boiler.
What if I only want to heat one room at a time?
Having significant differences in temperature in a building has the potential to result in mould. It is better, healthier and in the long-term cheaper, to keep the whole home heated to a lower background temperature than to have one room heated well and other rooms not heated at all.
What insulation measures should I invest in?
Each home is different. There are several options for insulation: loft insulation, external wall insulation, internal wall insulation, cavity wall insulation, floor insulation and more.
Each of these measures will have their own feasibility and pros and cons based on your individual home. We would recommend having someone assess your home to determine the best path forward.
Who do you recommend to do home retrofitting work?
We recommend that you use a trusted supplier. There are certain webpages such as TrustMark which require the contractor to meet certain standards to be listed on their page.
How do heat pumps work?
Simply put, heat pumps take the heat from outside and transfer it into your home. Even when the temperature outside is below zero, there is still plenty of heat in the air to heat your home more efficiently than a boiler.
If gas is cheaper than electricity, why would I get rid of my boiler for a heat pump?
Heat pumps are 3-5 times more efficient than the best gas boilers. So, while electricity is cheaper than gas, heat pumps use significantly less energy overall. The global investment into renewable electricity will mean that electricity prices will eventually come down and gas prices will continue to go up, making heat pumps a financially sound option. Heat pumps are also much better for the environment, as renewable electricity is much better than digging up and refining gas from our planet’s depleted reserves that need to stay in the ground.
Can I do anything about the mould in my home?
Mould is caused by four things: lack of heating, lack of insulation, lack of ventilation and excessive moisture. If you address all of these problems, the mould should stop growing. There are several products and DIY methods that claim to remove mould. They may or may not work in your home and if the mould is severe, please contact a professional.
What are one or two things I can do that would make a huge difference to my bills and the environment?
If everyone in a family of four swapped one bath a week for a five-minute shower with a water-saving showerhead or aerator, this family would save around £130/year.
Also, switching to LED lightbulbs can save £3-£4 per bulb per year, adding up to a larger savings and they last for many years longer than the old-style lightbulb.
We are here to help. If these FAQs don’t answer your questions, please get in touch at Jason@ecobirmingham.com and we will get back to you to discuss your situation more in-depth to find the best possible solution for you.