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
Energy saving advice and support
Warmer Homes grant funding
Great British (Free) Insulation Scheme
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. And don't forget to turn off the heating when you are not at home. It's cheaper to reheat your home than leaving the heating on while you are away (unless you own a heat pump).
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 reduce draughts is by adding simple DIY draught proofing strips on your doors and windows, 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. And don't forget to make sure your hot water cyclinder tank, if you have one, has a jacket too, they cost less than £30.
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. 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 0800 145 6879. 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.

3. Grants for energy saving improvements

Warmer Homes

Are you looking at ways to improve the energy efficiency of your home so you can reduce your energy bills? You may be eligible to funding for energy efficiency measures including:

Solid wall insulation
Cavity wall insulation
Loft insulation
Room-in-roof insulation
Air source heat pumps
Solar PV panels
High heat retention storage heaters
Heating controls

This is the Government's Home Upgrade Grant (HUG) scheme that is managed by a consortium of local authority partners (including Horsham District Council) led by Portsmouth City Council and delivered by AgilityEco.

Who is eligible?
Warmer Homes funding is available to private renters*, owner-occupiers and landlords** subject to eligibility criteria:

Your home must have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D, E, F or G. You can check your rating on the national register. (If you do not have an EPC then you can arrange to have one undertaken free through the Warmer Homes scheme).

AND

Your total household income is £36,000 or less

Your total household income is £20,000 or less (after mortgage/rent and council tax expenses)

You are on a means tested benefit

You reside in a 1-3 Lower Super Output Area - use your postcode to check your eligibility

*Private rental tenants will need landlords to contribute one-third of the total cost.

**Landlords (who own four or less properties) can apply on behalf of tenants who themselves meet the eligibility criteria.

When can you apply?

The next stage of funding will be launched in Spring 2025, but you can express your interest now to join the waitlist.

Find out about Warmer Homes funding and express your interest

ECO4

If you have gas central heating and are on a low income you may qualify for grant funding through ECO4. Check your eligibility here). 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).

4. Great British Insulation Scheme

The Great British Insulation Scheme is a new government energy efficiency scheme (formerly known as ECO+) . It is designed to deliver improvements to the least energy-efficient homes in Great Britain to tackle fuel poverty and help reduce energy bills.

Free home insulation grants are available for the installation of various types of insulation including cavity wall insulation, internal wall insulation, loft insulation, and room-in-roof insulation. Reducing the amount of heat lost from your home will lower your emissions and fuel bills. If you qualify for an insulation grant (or already have insulation) then there is a good chance you may be eligible for other grants, including solar funding.

Find out if you are eligible

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.

Heat Pumps

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.

Find out about Heat Pumps and the Boiler Upgrade Scheme

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. August 2024 UPDATE: This scheme is currently closed but you can leave your details on the Solar Together website and they will send you an invitation as soon as registration opens for the next scheme in early 2025.