Domestic Energy Efficiency

Current estimates suggest that about 24% of all carbon emissions in South Derbyshire come from residential properties – roughly 170,000 tonnes of CO2 a year. The costs associated with excess domestic energy use are in most instances unnecessary but most importantly, highly avoidable. There are several daily practices which can aid in the efficient usage and reduction in the overall cost of utilities. In some instances, efficient energy interventions may require some initial investment, however some measures are very low cost whilst others are entirely free.

This page provides useful advice on measures and mechanisms which can aid in the reduction of energy demands in your house. It also provides links to the various sources of financial support for domestic energy bills which the South Derbyshire District Council can also aid with support applications.  

Heating and keeping warm

  • Keep doors closed: Close off doors of occupied and unoccupied rooms.
  • Add an extra layer of clothing: Adding an extra layer of clothing around the house and placing an extra or thicker blanket/duvet on your bed can help you keep warm and avoid the need to further increase your thermostat temperature.
  • Reduce thermostat by 1°C:  Turn your thermostat down by 1°C as estimates suggest that this simple action can save as much as £80 annually and reduce pollution by 340kgs. Recommended room temperatures are between 18 and 21 degrees.
  • Don’t block your radiators : Avoid placing furniture in front of your radiators. Wooden furniture placed near radiators are particularly known to absorb heat and potentially drive-up energy cost. 
  • Bleed your Radiators : Ensure you bleed your radiators once yearly to ensure optimal functionality. British Gas provides guidance on how to bleed your radiators  here :Read our guide to learn when and how to bleed your radiators - British Gas .In instances where a radiator sits against an a sidewall ,radiator foil can also be places behind this radiator prevent the sidewall from absorbing the heat and reflecting heat inward and prevent thermal bridging.
  • Use Draft Tape: Use draft tape around doors and windows to retain heat and avoid cold air intrusion by improving air tightness.
  • Use Thicker Curtains: Using thicker/Heavier curtains help with heat retention by preventing heat transfer between cool air around windows and warmer air inside rooms.
  • Reduce radiator Flow: Turn down the dial on radiators in rooms which are unoccupied.

Efficient use of Gas and Electricity

  • Switch appliances off : Switch off appliances after use as they use electricity even in standby mode. It is estimated that 10% of your electricity cost is generated by devices in standby or plugged. A television can cost as much as £24.61 annually when left in standby mode.
  • Turn Off unused Lights: Turn lights off when exiting a room.
  • Install a smart meter : Request to have a smart meter installed for your gas and electricity by your supplier. Smart meters automatically send your gas and electricity usage to your supplier on an hourly basis meaning that your bills will no longer be estimated. Hence you pay for exactly what you use.
  • Switch to low wattage LED lights : Use LED lightbulbs as they use 75% to 80% less electricity than incandescent bulbs and can save as much as £232 yearly.
  • Use lights with motion sensors : Use motion sensitive outside lights which are also timed so they come on only when required for a suitable duration.
  • Take shorter Showers : Taking short 4-minute showers can save as much as £94 to £131per head annually based on the standard 34p/KWh rate. This action can also save 350 kilograms of carbon dioxide (pollution) a year. A Four-minute shower will use about 45 Litters or water whereas 10 minutes will use approximately 90 litters.

Energy efficiency in the Kitchen

  • Use a kitchen Timer : Use a timer when cooking. This will avoid overcooking food beyond required time and hence savin electricity/Gas.
  • Only use required Quantities of water : When boiling water only use as much water as requited as it takes extra energy to heat water which may not be used. This action applies to both stove top water heating and electric kettle use. Also ensure that pots and pans are covered when heating water as this allows for quicker water heating and use of less energy.
  • Use ceramic and glass utensils : Ceramic and Glass dishes/utensils make an excellent option for cooking as they have a higher heat retention potential compared to other materials such as aluminium, steel and other metals.
  • Use necessary size pans : Use an appropriate size when cooking. Larger utensils require a grater amount of energy to heat up greater surface areas which is not always necessary. Using appropriately sized cooking utensils can save up to £72 annually.
  • Use electric kettle to heat water : Electric kettles generally use less energy than stove top kettles and cost less for the purpose of heating water. Water can be heated in electric kettle then transferred to a pot for cooking for greater efficiency.
  • Batch Cooking strategy: Batch cooking allows for extra food to be preserved by freezing after being cooled. Based on the current (standard) rates batch cooking can save up to £158 annually 

Laundry

  • Off peak hours : Off peak hours generally fall between the hours of 10:00 pm and 8:00 am when overall domestic energy demand is lower. You can reduce your energy bill over time by doing laundry (and other energy intensive activities) between these hours as you benefit from reduced electricity rates which in some instances may be reduced by half the standard rate.
  • Wash clothes in 20°-30°C water : Estimates suggest that clothes washed in 30 ° water can save 38% in washing cost and that a 20° wash cycle can save as much a  62% of your laundry washing cost.
  • Air dry your clothes: Allow your laundry to air dry rather than tumble-dry. This can be achieved using an indoor close rack or outdoor clothesline. Outdoor drying is particularly practical when it may be dry, sunny and (or) windy outside.
  • Spin dry your clothes:  Washers generally use less energy than driers. Hence it is recommended that you use your washers spin cycle to extract as much water as possible from clothing.
  • Do fewer wash loads : Doing fewer loads can significantly reduce your energy bill. This can be achieved by waiting until you have a full wash load to use your washer which can aid in reducing wash frequency.
  • Use drier balls :Use drier balls which are a more cost-effective/cheaper solution than drier sheets. The use of drier balls has been estimated to reduce drying time by 25%.
  • Iron clothes right after drying : Ironing clothes from the drier save ironing time as fabric seems to achieve a levelled/well ironed look a lot quicker. This saves time and energy cost.
  • Set time aside for ironing : Set dedicated time aside for ironing and avoid getting involved in other activities leaving the iron unattended which will waste energy.

Reducing Energy at low and no Cost (Additional links )

Domestic retrofits and improvements

  • Loft insulation: It Is estimated that a quarter of your home heating is lost through the ceiling/roof. When warm air rises to the ceiling and poorly insulated loft spaces can quickly reduce room air temperature. This is particularly true for older properties/buildings built prior to the 1970’s and 1980,s with insulation below the recommended levels.
  • Insulate internal/external walls: Both cavity and solid walls can be insulated to improve thermal efficiency and facilitate heat retention by improving u values.
  • Consider using renewable energy : Having solar panels installed on your house could save you as much as upwards of a third on your electricity bills.
  • Insulate exposed hot water pipes:  Insulating hot water pipes help prevent heat loss. Insulated pips run approximately 2°F to 4°F warmer than uninsulated pipes.

Understand the Current Energy Rating of Your House

  • About half of the houses in the UK have been assessed for their energy performance and their energy efficiency has been scored in an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).
  • The EPC for each property also contains lots of property specific measures which can be taken and how much energy (and money) those measures will deliver.
  • Find the EPC rating of your house or similar houses nearby by postcode or street name -  Find an energy certificate - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
  • If your house doesn’t have an energy rating, you can get one done at this link - Get a new energy certificate - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
  • All private rented properties must have been given an EPC rating of E or better (there are a few exemptions to this). If you live in a private rented house and it does not met this standard you can report it to us as a Problem with  Private Rented Property  

Investing in Energy Improvements

  • It’s always worth getting advice on how to make the best investment to save money and reduce carbon emissions. There are an increasing number of grants available to subsidise energy efficiency measures which also help reduce household carbon footprint. The Energy Savings Trust (EST)provide a Home Renewables Selector which is an interactive tool that helps you decide what renewable energy technologies are best for your home.
  • EST also provide wind and solar energy calculators to find out whether solar or wind energy is right for you.
  • The  Centre for Sustainable Energy also provide a website with lots of details about the different options available.

Finding Grants and Financial Support

  • Derbyshire County Council hosts a Healthy, warm and well in Derbyshire website to link to support available to Derbyshire residents throughout Autumn and Winter. This includes information on grants and financial support, practical help, food, employment, utilities and much more.
  • Ofgem is Great Britain’s independent energy regulator and publish Schemes, grants and benefits to help with home energy
  • Warm Home Discount Scheme. You could get £140 off your electricity bill for winter under the Warm Home Discount Scheme. If you think you may be eligible you must contact the Warm Home Discount Scheme before the 29th February 2024.
  • If you're receiving certain benefits, you may be entitled to a Cold Weather Payment.
  • Citizens Advice provide advice about Grants and benefits to help you pay your energy bills.
  • Do you own your property? Is it of at a poor at keeping in heat (EPC D or below – click here for more info) and on a low income (less than £31,000 a year per household)? You maybe able to take part in our Local Authority Green Homes scheme to upgrade the energy efficiency of your home – Email environmental.health@southderbyshire.gov.uk for more information.
  • ECO4 Flexibility  also known as ECO4 Flex grant seeks to improve that improve homes under fuel poverty targeting for either owner occupied or privately rented houses. This included off-gas homes . Social housing is not eligible under ECO Flex.
  • Connected for Warmth is a nationwide programme that supports low income and low energy efficient houses through fully funded heating and insulation. The scheme is managed by AgilityEco in partnership with Affordable Warmth Solutions and funded by National Grid.

You can apply for full funding for:

  1. Housing insulation measures if your home is in the Council Tax Bands A, B, C, or D
  2. Air Source Heat Pump Scheme if your house has an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of E, F or G, has never had a central heating system and your house must be insulated. 

Read more about eligibility and apply, please see: Connected for Warmth (pdf, 721kb)

Dealing with Energy Debt