Due to the coronavirus pandemic, millions of people across the UK have no other option but to work from the comfort of their own homes. But how will this affect the cost of heating your property and what will be the most cost-effective solution when it comes to heating our home efficiently?

First off, we need to consider how much energy is expected to warm our homes and how rapidly our homes lose heat when adjusting to this new working-from-home lifestyle. We understand it can be extremely difficult to manage these increased heating expectations –so how can you save some money off your energy bills?

Today we have gathered some helpful top-tips which have been provided by specialists at the Energy Savings Trust. The goal of today’s article is to determine some of the more common and unexplained myths, whilst giving you further peace of mind when it comes to staying warm and saving money!

Myth Buster Facts Explained:

• Does turning up the heating thermostat warm your home any quicker? False –Sadly, turning your thermostat up to its most noteworthy point will not assist in heating your property any faster than having it at a lower temperature. Your indoor regulator just sets the temperature of your boiler, so it’ll warm up at a similar rate –whatever heat-output you have switched it to.
• Clingfilm is this a new cost-effective solution to stopping cold air from passing through your windows? FALSE –blocking up any holes around your windows will stop drafts in principle, but you will not see much of a difference, if any at all! All things considered, try utilising draft excluders or getting secondary glazing installed around the windows.
• Is using electric storage heaters for a couple of hours a day less expensive than utilising your full central heating system? FALSE –Electrical storage heaters are quite possibly one of the costliest ways you can heat up your home. How much additional cost you’ll pay will heavily rely upon the amount of time you use them and the amount you currently pay for your power – however, it will not give any further assistance to set aside more savings for you and your energy bills.
• Tenants can’t switch suppliers without their landlord’s consent? – FALSE That’s not the case at all –you are allowed to pick whichever supplier you wish to. The special case is when your landlord pays your provider directly for the energy you use as part of the tenancy agreement.

The Energy Saving Trust has quoted that people who say leaving the heating on low all day to save money “is a complete myth”. They do recommend only using your central heating when it’s needed and as you are more likely to keep your heating running throughout the colder months; it’s going to continue costing more and will ultimately result in increased energy consumption. It’s a noteworthy point to install a timer though – this way you will be able to manage your heating output when it conveniently suits you.

Some additional steps can lead to reduced energy bills around your property: for example, you may wish to improve your existing home insulation, as this is a great way to save money.  This includes insulated cavity walls, a well-insulated loft, whilst adding double-glazing and draught proofed doors to the mix! So how are you going to save even more money this year-round? During these cold winter months, it’s a great time to start thinking about ways to improve your home’s energy efficiency and lowering energy costs across the household.

A few additional home energy saving tips include:

• Turn the thermostat somewhere around one degree: Turning your indoor thermostat somewhere near only one degree could hugely affect your energy bill. Recommended by uSwitch, you can set aside as much as £60 every year –and you’ll scarcely see a distinction to the temperature of your home.
• Spending less time in the shower: Showering briefly could get you a good deal on both your energy and water bills. Simply showering less can save you as much as £10 each year.
• Purchase energy-productive contraptions: From energy effective pots to radiator reflecting sheets, there are heaps of incredible instruments to help get a good deal on your energy bills.

We’ve also determined that a few of these methods could save you around £273 per year:

Apply for the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) Grant: is a government scheme that assists individuals with bringing down their home heating expenses through energy efficiency measures. With the ECO scheme, you may be eligible to qualify for one or more of the following: cavity wall insulation, loft insulation, a new gas boiler replacement.

The ECO scheme is an energy efficiency scheme in Great Britain to help reduce carbon emissions and tackle fuel poverty. The scheme was introduced to the UK in April 2013. Over time, it has been amended and the latest policy is ECO3, which commenced on 3rd December 2018 and applies to measures completed from 1st October 2018. ECO3 places legal obligations on the larger energy suppliers to deliver energy efficiency measures to domestic energy users. Under the rules of ECO, energy suppliers are obliged to help improve the energy efficiency of their domestic customers’ buildings. These rules and eligibility requirements have changed frequently since the start of ECO and will continue to change over time.

How can I benefit from ECO?

• You may be eligible if you are a domestic energy user and you and/or your property meets the eligibility requirements under the Home Heating Cost Reduction Obligation (HHCRO).
• HHCRO (also known as the ‘Affordable Warmth Obligation) offers support to eligible applicants to enable them to reduce the cost of heating their property through the installation of energy-efficient measures.

City Energy has a huge installer network and has provided new energy-efficient technologies to thousands of customers across the UK already. You may be thinking after reading this article, that your home is due for a few upgrades. We can help you every step of the way and would be more than happy to help manage your expectations with our fully accredited engineers and not forgetting several available funding opportunities.

Please get in touch today to find out more.