Energy Saving Tips & Support

Families whose children have complex medical needs often have lots of electrical equipment to support them at home. Increasing the amount of energy you use to care for your child at home is unavoidable. However, there may be small changes you can make to your home life that could help reduce your energy bills.

How much could you save?

According to the Energy Trust, depending on where you live, you could save up to:

• £65 off your energy bill simply turning appliances off such as your TV and microwave
• £95 by limiting your shower to only 4 minutes
• £125 by plugging up draughts around windows and doors

Those 3 tips alone, could save up to £285 off your energy bill each year!

Visit the Energy Saving Trust website for details of more savings you could make.

Understanding your Energy Bill

Understanding your energy bill will help you to recognise when and how you are using your electricity and gas, and how much this is costing. Energy bills will look different depending on your supplier but some of the main details to check are:

• Your contact details are correct
• Your tariff
• Your balance

Organisations such as Which, Energy Saving Trust and the Centre for Sustainable Energy have great information to help you understand and check your bills. Visit their website today to check yours.

Smart Meters

Smart Meters are digital monitors that tell you exactly how much energy you are using, as you use it. If you have a smart meter installed, you will no longer receive estimated energy bills. These could also help identify appliances that are using more energy, putting you in control of how and when you use them.

If you have a pre-payment meter and get a smart meter, you can instantly top up your credit using your mobile phone.

Learn more about the benefits of a smart meter here.

Regardless of whether you are a homeowner, renter or have a pre-pay meter, every household in England, Scotland and Wales will be offered a smart meter by 2025.

Your energy supplier will install the smart meter at no extra cost.

Visit the Smart Energy website to request your smart meter today.

If you live in Northern Ireland, ESB Networks are rolling out installations and you will be contacted when they are in your area. If you would like to request a prioritised installation, contact your energy supplier or ESB networks here. You will need your 11-digit MPRN number to hand which can be found on your energy bill and starts with ’10’.

Energy Saving Tips

There are lots of energy-saving tips and guides available for families, here are just a few:

British Gas – 10 Energy Saving Tips

EDF Energy – Ways to Save

Energy Saving Trust – Tips to Save Energy

Smart Energy GB – Choosing the right energy saving lightbulb

Which – 10 ways to reduce energy bills

Scope’s Disability Energy Support (England & Wales only)

The charity Scope offers disabled people and their families free energy and water advice for those living in England and Wales only. Support can be given via email or telephone covering a range of topics such as managing debt, energy efficiency, free fuel vouchers, speaking to your supplier, and understanding your energy bills.

Book your appointment today on Scope’s website.

Leap Energy and Money Saving Service

Leap offer a free service providing energy advice, support with energy switching and ways to make your home more energy efficient, such as installing home insulation. They may refer you for debt advice or benefits if needed. This service is available in England, Wales and Scotland.

Direct applications for this service have closed in England and Wales. To receive support, you must be referred by your local food bank, Citizens Advice Bureau, health clinic, or housing officer. Direct applications are still available in Scotland.

Find out more about Leap here.

Grants to Improve Energy Efficiency at Home

Many families live in draughty homes or have old energy inefficient appliances which can increase your energy bills. Here are some grants and schemes that can help improve your home’s energy efficiency:

Help to Heat is a Government scheme for boiler providers, local authorities and energy companies who are given funding to improve your home in the following ways:

Energy Company Obligation (ECO) – Your energy supplier can fit your home with some energy-saving measures such as cavity walls and loft insulation. Contact your energy supplier directly to ask about this.

Boiler Upgrade Scheme – homeowners can change boilers for low-energy alternatives.

Sustainable Warmth Competition – local authorities can upgrade homes for households with low income. Check with your local authority for further details here.

If you live in Scotland visit the Home Energy Scotland website for details on schemes available here.

If you live in Northern Ireland visit NIdirect for more information here.

Other energy advice services can help identify and apply for grants on your behalf, such as Scope’s Disability Energy Support and Leap.

To search for other grants visit the Turn2us Grants search, or check out our Grants for Families article here.

The information in this article was correct at the time of publishing but may be subject to change

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