PURPLE POST November 2020

This year, we have formed a new sales team and we would love to introduce the whole team to you all!

(Adapted from “20 ways to save”, Citizens Advice Bureau, 2020)

Save in the kitchen

1. Use a bowl to wash-up rather than running a tap, reduce your washing machine use by one cycle a week, and only fill the kettle with the water you need and you could save around £36 a year in the kitchen.
   
2. A dripping tap can waste more than 5,300 litres of water a year, so make sure your taps are properly turned off and change washers promptly when taps start to drip.

Save in the bathroom

1. Spend one minute less in the shower each day and a family of four could save £75 a year on energy and water bills.
   
2. A running tap wastes more than 6 litres of water every minute, so turn off the tap while brushing your teeth, shaving, or washing your face.
   
3. Replacing an inefficient shower head with a water efficient one could save a household of four people around £70 a year off gas bills and around £115 a year off water bills.

Save on lighting

1. Turn your lights off when you’re not using them. If you switch a light off for just a few seconds, you will save more energy than it takes for the light to start up again. This will save you around £14 a year on your annual energy bills.
   
2. Replace your bulbs as and when you can with energy efficient LEDs – on average it could save about £35 a year on bills.

Save on appliances

1. Turning your appliances off standby mode can save you £30 a year and remember not to leave laptops and mobile phones on charge unnecessarily.

Save on heating

1. If you have a timer on your central heating system, set the heating and hot water to come on only when required.
   
2. If you turn down your main thermostat by 1 degree, you can save around 10% on your energy bill. But make sure your home is warm enough during cold weather. Cold homes can damage your health.
   
3. Installing a room thermostat, a programmer and thermostatic radiator valves and using these controls efficiently could save you around £75 a year.
4. Close your curtains at dusk to stop heat escaping through the windows and check for draughts around windows and doors.
   
5. Draught-proofing of windows and doors and blocking cracks in floors and skirting boards can save around £20 a year on energy bills.

 Save by switching

1. Use the Citizens Advice energy price comparison tool to see if you can save money by switching energy tariff or supplier.

Save by getting extra support

1. Do a home energy check to find out about savings of up to £130 a year on household energy bills. Visit the Simple Energy Advice website and get personalised energy savings advice.
   
2. Visit your local Citizens Advice office to get advice in person about how to reduce your energy bills.
   
3. If anyone in your household is receiving benefits, contact your energy supplier and see what support they can provide. They should be able to tell you what help is available through the Energy Company Obligation.
   
4. If you need a little extra help from your energy company - including large print bills or more support during a power cut - you can apply to be added to your electricity network priority services register.
   
5. Check if you are eligible for the Warm Home Discount. Energy suppliers can provide rebates to households on certain benefits. The rebate is £140 for 2019/20 and you should contact your electricity supplier directly to see if you qualify.
   
6. If you live in Wales, contact the Welsh Government’s Nest scheme on 0808 808 2244 to see if you are eligible for a package of free home energy efficiency improvements such as a new boiler, central heating or insulation.