Save money on your energy bills

Saving energy is good for the planet and good for your pocket. Reducing energy use at home cuts carbon emissions, the main contributor to climate change, and reduces your fuel bill. See below for a range of schemes and grants to help you achieve your energy saving goals:

Small changes, big savings: Quick tips to save home energy and cut your bills.
Warmer Homes grant funding.
Energy saving advice and support.
Are you eligible for a Warm Homes Discount?
Winter Payments to help reduce your energy bills.
Retrofitting advice including the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
Solar Together: How to purchase high quality solar panels at a competitive price.

Cost of living crisis: For information about support for energy bills please visit gov.uk

1. Small changes, big savings

Making your home as energy efficient as possible is the best way to reduce your costs and keep your home feeling warmer. Below are just a few ideas for some low-cost actions you can take yourself to save energy and cut your bills.

Turn your thermostat down by 1°C. It is estimated that it could save you over £100 per year for every degree you go without.
Think about using lower energy appliances (i.e. microwaves, air fryers, slow cookers). Research found that an electric cooker costs on average 87p to run per day, while a microwave costs a mere eight pence!
Some 40 per cent of household heat is lost through draughts. An easy way to draught-proof your home is with simple strips or homemade excluders (but avoid blocking ventilation bricks).
Insulate your windows with PVC film - it's low cost but effective.
Invest in some high quality thermal curtains or fit thermal linings and close the curtains at night to avoid heat loss
Lighting typically accounts for 15% of electrical demand throughout the home so switch to low energy LED lightbulbs - these can use up to 90% less electricity than incandescent bulbs.
Electric showers use a lot of energy – try setting a timer to shower in 3 minutes.
Try washing clothes at 30°C instead of 40°C.
Air dry your clothes rather than using a tumble drier - but if drying clothes inside, open a window (even if for a short while) to let the moisture out.
Avoid leaving appliances on standby. Your smartphone, kitchen appliances, music and entertainment systems, and other electricals, will all eat up electricity when left on standby. Try to get into the habit of turning them off at the plug to save energy.
Don’t charge your mobile phone all night and turn off chargers when not in use.
Heat water in a kettle, rather than on the stove - you can transfer it into a pan once it’s already boiled. And only boil as much water as you need OR fill the kettle and keep the water in a thermos to save you using the kettle so often.
Always cover your pots and pans – the water will boil faster and use less energy to heat your food.
Turn off the heat a couple of minutes before your food is fully cooked – particularly if you’ve got an electric hob, as they take some time to cool down and will continue to cook your food.
Try to fill your washing machine or dishwashers to avoid wasteful half loads when you can.
Never put hot food directly into the fridge or freezer, allow it to cool on the side first.
Don’t put furniture in front of your radiators as it blocks the heat. You should bleed the radiators too as more energy is used when air is trapped inside.

... And finally, did you know that a quarter of heat is typically lost through roofs? Roof and loft insulation can be installed for around £530 and could save around £350 per year on average. See below to find out if you are eligible to receive Warmer Homes grant funding to insulate your home. NB: If you have a hot water tank this should be insulated too. It costs less than £20 on average for an insulation jacket, and should cut your energy bills by some £50 per year.

Energy consumption around the home

It’s always useful to understand how much energy our appliances use, how much they cost to run, and how they compare against each other. Download the guide below highlighting energy consumption around the home and how much our appliances cost to run so that you can know where you might be able to make savings.

Download the household energy consumption guide

Visit the Energy saving Trust for more top energy saving tips.

2. Grants for energy saving improvements

Are you looking at ways to improve the energy efficiency of your home so you can reduce your energy bills? Those who are on a low income or in low energy rated homes may be eligible for free funding to improve the energy efficiency of their homes - and so also saving on their household bills. The amount of funding available is determined by how your home is heated but it could be up to £25,000.

Fully funded measures available include:
Cavity wall insulation, loft insulation, solid wall insulation, underfloor insulation, air source heat pumps and solar panels.

Who is eligible
The Warmer Homes funding is available to homeowners if your household income level is below £31,000 or are on specific means tested benefits, and your home has a Energy Performance Rating of D, E, F or G. You can check your rating on the national register. Tenants who rent from a private landlord may also be eligible, but your landlord will be expected to contribute to the cost. Please note Warmer Homes funding is available for homes that are not connected to the mains gas network.

Please visit Warmer Homes for further information including how to apply. This scheme is funded by the Government's Home Upgrade Grant (HUG) scheme is part of a consortium of local authority partners, led by Portsmouth City Council and AgilityEco.

If you have gas central heating and are on a low income you may qualify for grant funding through ECO4 (flexible eligibility). Measures available include insulation, solar and some renewable heating systems. For further information about ECO4 and referrals contact the Citizen Advice Energy Advice line on 0800 145 6879 (select West Sussex option 2).

3. Energy saving advice and support

If you're struggling to pay your heating bills, or worried about how you might pay them whilst keeping warm, help is available.

West Sussex Citizens Advice have a dedicated Energy Advice Line, and their advisers can be contacted on 01243 974063. Alternatively check the Citizens Advice website for advice on getting help with your bills.
West Sussex Energy is a great website full of hints and tips on heating your home and saving energy. Visit the West Sussex Energy website
The Local Energy Advice Partnership (LEAP) offers a free energy advice to eligible people. If you're on a low income or have a long term health condition you could qualify. They have also published a brand new energy support page which will include all the latest government advice and support which is available to your residents. It includes over 220 useful links to take you straight to the free help and support you may need. This ranges from benefits, housing assistance to free debt advice. This will be regularly updated as the advice and support changes. Please note LEAP is currently unable to process more applications.
The Environment Centre is an independent charity that aims to reduce carbon emissions, encourage sustainability, improve air quality and provide affordable warmth. It has a freephone service that gives advice on saving energy and the steps that can be taken to increase the efficiency of your home. Calling the advice line on 0800 804 8601 or visit The Environment Centre website.

4. Warm Homes Discount

The Warm Home Discount is £140 credit applied to your electricity bill. If you are receiving pension credit you will receive the Warm Home Discount automatically. You can also apply to your energy company if you are on a low income, or struggle to pay your energy bills and ask if you are eligible. Park Home (mobile home) residents who buy their electricity from a site owner can also apply for the Warm Home Discount by visiting Charis Grants.com

This discount is allocated on a first come, first served basis. Find out about the Warm Homes Discount, including eligibility and how to apply.

5. Winter Payment to help your energy bills

6. Retrofitting Advice

For householders wanting to retrofit Carbon saving Technologies, Visit Simple Energy Advice as great starting point or telephone the helpline on 0800 444 202.

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme offers funding up to £7,500 for householders wishing to upgrade their heating system to a low carbon alternative including air source heat pumps, ground source heat pumps and biomass boilers. Conditions apply.
Check if you could be eligible for money off low carbon heating technologies.

7. Solar Together

Would you like to install solar panels on your home? Horsham District Council has teamed up with councils across Sussex and group-buying experts, iChoosr, as part of 'Solar Together Sussex'. This scheme offers homeowners, small businesses and community groups the opportunity to purchase high quality solar panels at a competitive price. For further information please visit the Solar Together website.