It is no exaggeration to say that many within The United Kingdom are experiencing a legitimate crisis in 2023. Fuel bills seem to be ever-increasing, maintenance for existing utilities can often cost a premium, and as a result, many of us are turning to money-saving tips and hacks. Though there is certainly plenty of legitimate advice to sit back and digest, the fact remains that plenty of misinformation exists, and wading through it to find the genuine information is no minor task.
Not got the time to spare? You’ll be pleased to hear that the team at UK Energy Management have done the hard work, so you don’t have to! Read ahead for a comprehensive guide to energy efficiency myths, separate fact from fiction and learn about ECO4 flexible eligibility.
Testing Times
As countries scrambled to recover from the worldwide pandemic, demand for petrol understandably increased, and due to a supply shortage, these hefty demands could not be met. As a result, petrol prices rose to unprecedented levels in 2021, and this has remained largely the same ever since. Adding to this, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine endangered supply further, driving up petrol prices even more than before. Electricity prices are also high due to their direct relationship with the petrol price, and although approximately 40% of our electricity comes from renewable sources, it is primarily combined with gas-generated electricity – transmitted and distributed across our electricity grid.
Though sanctions have been put in place to restrict how much suppliers may charge per unit of energy, the unpredictability of tariffs and other outside conditions mean that bills are still sky high for many. Put into effect from October 2022 to run till April 2024, this replaced the existing energy price ceiling. Energy suppliers have likewise modified higher-rate fixed rates, which means that a typical household will pay an average of £2,500 per year for energy, saving them an estimated £1,100 compared to undiscounted energy prices. Despite all of this, bills will continue to be based on your usage, therefore exploring various tips and tricks can still slash your bills effectively.
Smart Appliances Are More Hassle
There are plenty of smart home gadgets and equipment on the market, ranging from consoles that manage your entire house, to lights, freezers, TVs and heating appliances that can function independently. Smart lighting can help you become more energy efficient at home by allowing you to manage your house lighting remotely via a smartphone app for example – more convenient if anything. So, if you forgot to turn off the lights before leaving the house, you can do so remotely. Smart lighting is frequently programmed to operate on timers too, so you won’t need to move a finger.
The hub for all, a smart metre may help you regulate your individual energy usage and become more informed about your consumption, while the national smart metre deployment is also improving the efficiency of the UK’s energy network. Smart gadgets may include an in-home display that displays your energy usage and spend in pounds and pence, allowing you to easily monitor your consumption in real-time. A deeper awareness of your energy use can allow you to find solutions to save energy at home and save money in the long term by cutting out habits.
New Homes Are Always Energy Efficient
Despite what you may believe, every year, around 240,000 new houses are built in The United Kingdom, yet the vast majority are not designed to achieve the greatest levels of energy efficiency. Though the UK Government is driving this energy efficiency push, and has implemented a number of regulatory measures, the current goal is to have as many homes as possible achieve a C grade by 2035, with a 2028 deadline for buy-to-let properties. Other countries in Europe are actively looking to build housing which achieves the superior A grade of efficiency.
The likelihood is that as house heating and insulation technology advances, energy efficiency rules will grow more strict. Even if they don’t, statistics suggest that customers desire to live in more energy-efficient houses. The number of A grade homes created appears to be a modest fraction of the overall number of residences developed. Because adjusting a home to improve its energy efficiency can be costly, some argue that all new-build homes should receive A ratings to protect buyers from future upgrade costs while also lowering their energy bills, though this isn’t currently the situation.
Solar Panels Are No Good In Winter
Solar panels can be an excellent addition to a home regardless of the season, and will undoubtedly save you money in the long term, also aiding in the reduction of utility costs. We all know that solar power harnesses the sun’s energy, but the sun isn’t out as often during the winter – and it’s not as warm either. Many believe that a hot, sunny day generates more power than a chilly, bright day, though this is not the case. Solar PV relies on sunlight, however greater temperatures diminish the efficacy of the panels. So chilly and sunny circumstances are actually optimal!
Because the sun is lower in the sky during the winter, it produces slightly less energy. Combine this with the fact that winter days are shorter, and though panels will be less effective in the winter, this isn’t to say they cease to function. Don’t rely fully on your solar panels in the winter, but keep in mind that the savings throughout the course of the year should pay for the system in less than ten years, so as a financial decision, it is certainly a smart one.
Most Heat Is Lost Through Windows
In reality, the bulk of the heat that escapes from your property escapes through the walls and any gaps surrounding your windows and doors, while a significant amount will also escape through your roof. Windows only contribute around 10% of household heat loss – and this is why insulation is so critical. If your loft has not been insulated, you are most certainly losing heat via your roof. Loft insulation will last at least 40 years and will pay for itself many times over.
My Older System Is Fine
Standard boilers typically survive between 10 and 15 years in a usable condition with minimal maintenance, and while they can sometimes last up to 20 years, this won’t always be the case. As individuals have become more environmentally and financially concerned, there has been a noticeable drive to make boilers more efficient. A boiler that is 20 years old (or older) is unlikely to contain the most recent efficiency advances, and may have declined in efficiency over time due to disrepair or general wear.
There’s No Funded Help Available
If you meet particular criteria, there’s an abundance of help available for you, courtesy of us and backed by the government. The primary objective of the UK Energy Management ECO4 scheme is to help vulnerable individuals and low-income households in becoming more energy efficient. Targeted at properties that fall within the efficiency bands E, F and G, the grant can be used for installation, upgrades to cavity wall insulation, central heating improvements, loft insulation and more. We’re the ones who can get you started on your ECO4 grant journey and see it through to completion right by your side.
Managing your journey from start to finish, we will remain working to provide the best options of funding available to create a more comfortable, energy-efficient home for you and your family. At first glance, this may sound a little too good to be true, but there really is no catch. Provided your circumstances align with the government’s criteria, the ECO4 grant will be accessible to you!
UK Energy Management: Free Home Energy Improvements
At UK Energy Management, we’re committed to doing all we can to deliver savings across the nation, and with our team, we are fully equipped to manage projects from inception to completion – with a real focus on customer experience. A national organisation working within the eco industry, our priority is delivering funded energy efficiency measures for eligible customers nationwide. As we continue to deliver our targets from funding partners we continue to have a positive impact on the national quality of living. Targeting fuel poverty is a key focus for us as we look to eradicate a national growing issue that affects so many people every day.
As impressive as it may sound, how can you know that the ECO4 scheme outlined above is legitimate? Thankfully, the ECO4 scheme is 100% genuine and government backed. It’s been widely covered by numerous media channels online, and detailed on the UK government website too. Not only making the nation more energy efficient, but also combating climate change, there are plenty of reasons to enquire – simply contact us today! We’re always keen to connect with eligible homeowners and those in need of funded electric heating or replacement boilers.
