Simple Measures You Can Take To Drive Down Energy Bills

Several of the major energy companies have withdrawn their most competitive tariffs over the past few days.

nPower has removed its Go-Fix 12 and Bill Saver August 2013 tariffs, ScottishPower has ended its Fixed Saver September 2013 tariff, Sainsbury’s Energy have abolished their Online Variable August 2013 tariff, while the Discount Variable August 2013 and Online Variable August 2013 tariffs of British Gas have also now disappeared. This gives homeowners fewer routes to cheaper energy in time for the coming winter. The only plus point has been the addition of M&S Fix and Save; what is now the cheapest available energy package on the market. However as the name suggests, this deal will only run until 2015. If you want to pay less on your energy bills then you’re really going to have to make a serious effort to waste less fuel in your home. You can do it a number of ways: Check your heating Your existing boiler may not be providing the level of energy efficiency that your home needs as it accounts for around 55 per cent of energy bills. Replacing your heating system for an A-rated equivalent could save you up to 300 pounds each year. It will cost you initially, but the savings to be had long-term more than justify any investment you make into a brand new boiler. Once the boiler has been installed then you could also think about installing wall and/or loft insulation, new windows and doors. Check your appliances Appliances are responsible for a large amount of the energy consumed in your home so purchasing A-rated fridges, freezers, microwaves etc. is a sensible route to take. You should also ensure that other appliances such as your TV, radio, hi-fi etc., are switched off when they’re not in use as even when left on standby they will continue to use a certain amount of power. Also avoid overcharging any mobile devices you have. Check your usage Most energy companies estimate the amount of energy your home consumes and it sometimes isn’t entirely accurate. The last thing you need at the moment is to be charged more than you should be so you should regularly take a meter reading and provide your supplier with the details so that you receive a more accurate bill. You can either do this over the telephone or via the internet if you are a recipient of online billing. Anyone keen to buy energy efficient home improvements should visit our Galashiels showroom.