Energy efficiency
Energy efficiency information for council tenants and leaseholders
Whether you are a council tenant or leaseholder, increasing your energy efficiency has benefits for both the environment by lowering green house gas emissions and helping to combat climate change as well as economic benefits by helping to lower your utility bills.
Further information can be found at:
Tips to save money on your heating bill
If you are struggling to meet the costs of rising fuel bills speak to your supplier for further advice or information at your earliest opportunity.
You could get help from Redbridge Council about managing the cost of living.
Turn down the thermostat
- Reduce your heating and put on a jumper. A comfortable living room temperature is 21° C and 16-18 °C for bedrooms. Reduce temperatures in un-used rooms to a minimum. Should save you 10% annually
- Reducing the temperature on your thermostat by 1 degree could save up to 10% on heating bills
Use a timer on your central heating
You will find your central heating and hot water programmer in the kitchen, hall, living room or hot water tank cupboard.
Your programmer allows you to set times for your heating and hot water to switch on and switch off twice a day.
Remember, the programmer is there to let you control your heating system. If your lifestyle changes and you are in the house more often, reset the programmer so that the heating system is on for longer.
If you know you are going to be out a lot, reset the programmer to switch the heating system to shorter periods. This will save you money - there is no point in heating an empty house for a long time.
The heating system takes about half an hour to warm up and half an hour to cool down so think about this when you set the programmer.
For example, if you get up at 7.30 am, set the programmer to switch on the heating and hot water at 7am. Then the house should be warm and the water hot when you get up.
If you are a council tenant and would like a guide to using your programmer, contact Mears on freephone 0800 393 994. It may also be available at no cost on the internet.
Upgrade to an energy efficient boiler
Boilers can account for 60 to 80% of home energy use, and your power bill. Fitting a high efficiency condensing boiler with heating controls can save you around £200 a year.
If every UK household that could fitted an adequate insulation jacket on their hot water tank, we'd save over £89 million of energy every year
Energy efficiency tips for your home
Switch off lights and appliances
- Save money and energy by not leaving TV's, computers, games consoles, mobile phone chargers etc. on standby. Turn them off
- Leave a room, turn off the light
Use less water
- Only wash full loads
- Install a low flush volume toilet, or fit a ‘hippo’ in your toilet cistern
- Install a rain water tank, and hook it up to your toilet and laundry
- Fix dripping taps and save up to 90 litres of water per week
Water efficient showerheads and aerating heads on washbasin taps help to reduce your water use significantly. A water efficient shower head can save 10 litres of water per minute
Insulate your house
- Roof and cavity wall insulation is generally simple and quick to install, and could save you £160 / year on your fuel and power bill
Install energy saving devices
- Low energy light bulbs last for 6-10 years and use 80% less energy
- Use A-rated kitchen appliances. This is a great way to cut your electricity bill and make a difference to the environment
- Use a clothes line instead of a dryer wherever possible
Install meters/energy monitoring devices if your home is suitable for this
- Information provided by these devices can help reduce demand by 10%
Draught-proof your doors and windows
- Fill gaps in floorboards and skirting boards with newspaper or sealants. Fix draughts from doors, windows, letterboxes, keyholes etc
- Close your curtains, or line your curtains to keep in warmth
- Draugh-proofing is easy and cheap to install, and could save you £20 year on your heating bills
Consider sustainable energy
- Solar water heating can provide up to 50% of your year round hot water requirements
Driver information
- Cars can cost £2000 / year – that’s a lot of train and bus rides!
- Reduce the amount of short trips on your car, drive smoothly, remove roof racks when not needed, ensure tyre pressures are correct, remove unwanted loads, stay within speed limits, idling and over revving also wastes fuel and increases air pollution
- Don’t pave over your front gardens for car parking
- Try to use public transport when possible
