Top 10 tips for saving energy in your home
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Want to Reduce the Price you Pay for Fuel?
Home / Shop Around – we may find a cheaper price for our fuel, whether we’re on or off the main gas grid. Mains Gas and Electric – getting both from one supplier normally has a discount, as does receiving bills online. Use a ‘comparison’ site to check tariffs (even better if you can use actual kWh figures from your previous bills). Fixed Tariffs and Variable Tariffs – fixed options often have a leaving fee, and are based on predictions about the international energy prices. Ofgem release price changes four times a year and energy companies often release new rates shortly after. The next change was announced on February 25th and begins on the April 1st. Smart Tariffs – smart meters have made possible an increasing number of tariffs where electricity cost varies at different points of the day and night, eg EV, heat pump and tariffs for maximizing the benefits of home batteries and solar panels. Oil and LPG – the price of oil and gas varies through the year because of demand – keep an eye on variations. Winter prices are higher, so be sure to top up during the cheaper periods; if you have to replace your tank consider the storage size, which may allow you to buy less in expensive periods. Oil & LPG Clubs – bring the price of your fuel down, by negotiating discounts for bulk orders to a community and reducing delivery costs and, very importantly, they cut Co2 emissions as there are fewer delivery lorries on the road. For example, a village (or area) club with 100 members can save 200+ heavy duty vehicle trips a year through your village, by grouping together rather than ordering individually. Each tanker uses over 50 litres of diesel to travel 75 miles, so this is a big reduction on the wear and tear to our village lanes and roads, and to the pollution to our environment. All the following communities already have oil clubs through https://www.oil-club.co.uk/about/ *Kinloch Rannoch, *Ardeonaig, *Killin, *Killicrankie, *Strath Tummel, *Dull, *Fortingall, *Grandtully, *Aberfeldy. Remember, our advice is completely free and there is no catch. Please get in touch with Anna and Tom: 07759 404980, advice@warmconnections.net Previous PostNext Post
The most effecient energy is the energy we no longer use
Home Small wins – everything counts….. with all the predicted energy price rises, and a nasty sense of doom, it has been refreshing to meet up with folks who have taken steps to keep their energy use down. Most of these steps don’t cost very much, and Warm Connections can provide materials if it will help. Here are a few wins we have heard about and seen in people’s homes: Draughts Draught proofing around the floor and skirting boards – ‘having used acrylic filler wherever needed around the floor upstairs and down, we have been able to sleep upstairs all summer – last year we slept downstairs as it was just too hot upstairs. We can’t wait to see if upstairs will now be warmer in the winter’. (Barn conversion near Aberfeldy) Curtains ‘We are not really curtain people. We have an old door with single glazing – it’s really characterful and we thought we would have to get rid of it, but we put thick lined curtains up in February, and it’s amazing how much warmer the lounge is’. (Aberfeldy) Secondary Double Glazing ‘We put magnetic strips around our glass to secure secondary glazing – less than £100 and so much difference’. (near Killin) Blinds ‘Warm Connections suggested honeycomb thermal blinds – instant benefits – they fit into frame and were easy to fit. Changing the windows was way too expensive but these blinds have helped so much’. (old stone house in Aberfeldy) Heating and Hot Water ‘We turned the hot water temperature down at the boiler – the water is still hot enough and I now know where to adjust it if it needs to go up a bit for the winter. I can’t tell if it has reduced my bills but I need all the help I can get’. (Fearnan) Radiators ‘It was surprisingly easy to fit radiator reflector foil behind radiators in our north facing bedroom, and it’s definitely made there room warmer’. (Aberfeldy) ‘Just putting some thermal valves on our radiators (Thermostatic Radiator Valves) has given us control of which rooms we heat and how much. The last part of winter was much better’. (Fortingall) ‘The programable TRVs which you suggested allows us to zone our house; we even went for a smart system I can control with my phone. Wow, what a difference’. (Aberfeldy) Cooking ‘I have just got an air fryer; it uses much less power than my oven and cooks really well – I love it’. (near Amulree) ‘I am experimenting with new recipes using with my microwave as I know it uses less energy’. (Rannoch) Warm Connections have been funded to provide a completely free advice service in the Rannoch, Tay and Braan areas west of the A9, and as far as Killin. We would love to arrange a home visit, and as you see from the comments above there is lots that we can help with. We can also steer you towards bigger projects and financial support where needed. Previous PostNext Post