Press Release: Energy Savers
19 September 2023
Citizens Advice Rushmoor shares tips for how to save money on your energy bills
As people across Farnborough and Aldershot face another winter of high energy bills, Citizens Advice Rushmoor shares how small changes can make a big difference when it comes to saving energy and lowering costs.
They have teamed up with Energy Saving Trust to share advice on getting help if you are struggling with energy bills and tips on how to cut energy costs around the home. People can make simple changes to save money on their energy bills and don’t need to wait until the colder months to do so. These include:
- Washing clothes at 30°C could save around £15 per year – and reducing the number of wash cycles by one per week could save a further £15
- Reducing shower time to four minutes could save a typical household as much as £75 a year
- Swapping one bath a week for a four-minute shower could save an average of £17 a year.
- Avoiding overfilling the kettle could save around £12 a year on electricity
- Draught-proofing windows and doors will help your home feel warmer and could save around £50 a year on bills.
- Turning appliances off at the wall/plug when you’re not using them could save an average of £60 a year.
- Turning the thermostat down by 1°C could save around £115 a year.
Check you’re getting all the support you’re entitled to
Lifestyle changes won’t be possible for everyone and may not be enough to cover the hole in household budgets caused by higher prices, so Citizens Advice Rushmoor is also urging people to check they’re getting all the support they’re entitled to. This could include:
- Checking what benefits you’re entitled to by using a benefits calculator
- Warm Home Discount — a £150 annual discount if you get certain benefits
- Cold weather payments — payments if you get certain benefits and the weather is extremely cold
- Grants from your energy supplier — to help you pay off debts you may owe
If you owe money to your energy supplier, you should speak to them as soon as possible. They’re responsible for helping you find a way to pay your bills.
Staying safe and warm
Although it’s tempting to turn down the heat to save money on your energy bills, keeping warm is essential for your well-being. Cutting the temperature by too much can have a detrimental effect on your health.
This is particularly the case for those with respiratory conditions, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma, who may suffer serious breathing difficulties in the cold. In addition, the very old and the very young also tend to be more vulnerable to the effects of cold homes, partly because they’re not as good at regulating their body temperature.
If you’re struggling to keep safe and warm because of high bills, contact Citizens Advice Rushmoor’s new energy advice helpline, or visit the Citizens Advice website for more information.
Joel Stewart, Cost of Living Worker at Citizens Advice Rushmoor, said:
“We know lots of people are worried about how they’ll cover their energy bills this winter. So, it’s important people know what support they’re entitled to and how to cut back on energy costs where they can.
“Every day we hear from people who are already doing everything they can, but sky-high costs mean it’s simply not enough. We want to remind anyone struggling they’re not alone, if you need support managing your bills, please contact us.”
*Savings are for a typical three-bedroom, gas-heated home in Great Britain, using a gas price of 8p/kWh and electricity price of 30p/kWh. Correct as of July 2023. Water savings are based on the average 2.3 person household.