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Make saving money on your energy bills a New Year's resolution 24 December 2009

3.6 million households are still missing out on annual savings of £250

As 2009 becomes 2010 and people start thinking about saving money, the Home Heat Helpline is urging them to call the free service on 0800 33 66 99 to find out about grants and other help on offer to make their home more energy efficient and bring down the cost of heating during 2010.

New research from the Home Heat Helpline reveals that 3.6 million households across the country are missing out on savings of up to £250 each year on their energy bills. These savings can be secured simply by taking advantage of free insulation grants offered by energy suppliers, which could see families slashing their energy bills at a time when spare cash is needed most.

The research shows that households could save around £150 a year on their heating bills by insulating their lofts and a further £115 a year with cavity wall insulation. “There are free grants for insulation that could provide a lifeline for many people as the cold weather sets in,” says Christine McGourty, spokesperson for the Home Heat Helpline. “Make sure you’re not one of the people missing out of £250 of savings this New Year and every year.”

BURNING MONEY?

The Home Heat Helpline is urging households to take steps today which could save them money on their energy bills over the New Year period. Top energy efficiency tips, include:

• Slash up to 10 per cent from your energy bill: Turn your thermostat down by just one degree Celsius and you could save up to 10 per cent or £100 a year. You can increase this saving to 40 per cent when combined with insulation.
• Save a penny a minute: If you have an immersion heater, don’t turn it on until 45 minutes before you need hot water. Keeping a full tank hot all day can cost as much as a penny a minute.
• Halve the cost of your washing: Washing clothes at 30 degrees Celsius rather than 60 could halve the energy, and cost, of your load.
• Save £78 a light: Replacing just one old light bulb with an energy saving recommended one can reduce lighting costs by up to £78 over the lifetime of the bulb. Plus they last up to 12 times longer than ordinary light bulbs.
• Cut up to three-quarters of your energy use from appliances by turning them completely off, rather than leaving them on standby.

These tips and more are contained in the Little Book of Energy which is available free to anyone calling the Home Heat Helpline on 0800 33 66 99. The booklet is also downloadable here

KNOW WHAT YOU ARE ENTITLED TO THIS NEW YEAR

Believe it or not, you may be entitled to free assistance when it comes to heating your home. If you are of pensionable age, on a low income or living with a disability or a long-term health condition you may qualify for free help. Not only will the support available save you money and keep you warm over winter, but it will also make your home more energy efficient. When you call the Home Heat Helpline, special advisors will give you access to a range of services provided by all the major energy suppliers, including:

• Advice on reduced or ‘social’ tariffs which could offer you more affordable prices on your gas and electricity
• Grants for free home insulation with no means testing if you are over 70
• The Priority Services Register if you live with a disability or have special needs
• Flexible payment options if you are in fuel debt

ENDS

Notes to editors

About the Missing Millions research

The NPI research pinpoints where the Missing Millions are located up and down the country, enabling the Home Heat Helpline to see precisely which communities are most likely to gain from the assistance on offer. A full copy of the NPI report is available on request.

A map showing where the Missing Millions are located across Great Britain is available either on request or from the following here.

Individual maps for Scotland and Wales are also available. Maps above use data from Ordinance Survey. To reproduce the maps royalty-free, please contact Pauline Hand at Ordinance Survey on 023 8079 2251, or pressoffice@ordnancesurvey.co.uk

The New Policy Institute (NPI) was commissioned by the Home Heat Helpline to estimate the number of vulnerable households who could benefit from free CERT home insulation grants.

About the Carbon Emission Reduction Target (CERT)

• It is estimated that energy suppliers will spend about £3.8 billion on the CERT scheme over three years from 2008-2011, with at least £1.4 billion going to vulnerable customers.
• 40% of the carbon savings must come from energy efficiency measures for vulnerable customers.
• The other 60% of carbon savings will come from installing subsidised energy efficiency measures in homes like yours and mine. Anybody can contact their energy supplier and receive a 50% discount on home insulation through the CERT scheme.
• CERT helped 1.2 million homes in the first year (April 2008 – April 2009) Government estimates that over the 3 year life (2008-2011) of CERT, it will deliver 4.8 million insulated homes. This averages 1.6 million homes per annum