Energy efficiency guide

Good for you, your home and your wallet

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CONTENTS
Introduction 3

Ideas costing nothing 4

Ideas costing a little 6

Ideas costing more 7

Independent advice 9

Other ways we can help 11

Easier and cheaper than you think

Energy efficiency – it sounds complicated, doesn’t it? Actually it shouldn’t be.
In most cases it’s easy to put into practice and, what’s more, improvements
don’t have to cost the earth. Of course, there are changes you could make to
your home that you would need to splash out for, but equally there are many
that won’t cost you a penny. We know that household budgets are being
squeezed right now. So why not take positive action to reduce your bills by
following our simple guide to better energy efficiency.
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IDEAS THAT COST NOTHING
Curtains Water heating Laundry Cooking
• Draw curtains at dusk to keep heat in the room. • Remember not to set the thermostat too high on • Wait until you have a full load before using your washing • Use a toaster rather than the grill to make toast.
• Don’t drape curtains over heaters or radiators as this your water heater. 60˚C/140˚F is usually enough. machine. • Use the right size pan and hob ring for the food you
will funnel heat straight out of the windows. • Use a shower if you have one and you’ll save time, • Alternatively, use the half load or economy setting if your are cooking.
money and water. Bear in mind that power showers machine has one. • Keep saucepan lids on and turn down the heat.
Heating
may use more water than other types of shower. • Where possible, dry clothes on a line or airer instead of • Use a kettle to boil water for cooking.
• Don’t put heaters under windows or cover them with
using a tumble dryer. • Don’t overfill and only boil as much water as you need
curtains. This wastes heat and can be unsafe. Lights
• Plan your ironing so that clothes which need lower – but remember to cover the element if you’re using an
• Avoid opening doors and windows to cool a room • Remember to turn all the lights off when you leave a temperatures are ironed first. electric kettle.
if it’s too hot. Turn the heating down instead. room.
• You can save even more money by heating your Computers
Media appliances
home for an hour less each day. But take care not • Screen savers only protect the life of the monitor. Unless
to turn heating down too much: don’t risk the health • Don’t leave your TV or other appliances on standby the screen saver switches off the monitor, it will not save
of sick, young or elderly people. or on charge. energy. So remember to switch it off when not in use.
Fridges and freezers Dishwashers
• Defrost fridges and freezers regularly to keep them • Use the low temperature or economy setting unless you
running efficiently. have very dirty dishes.
• Try to keep your fridge or freezer away from cookers • If you can, wait until you have a full load before using
or heaters. your dishwasher.

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IDEAS THAT COST A LITTLE IDEAS THAT COST MORE BUT OFFER YOU BIG SAVINGS
These suggestions can help you to make significant Water Some energy-saving tips could even add to the value of run compared with other forms of heating. If possible,
savings on your energy bills. • If you have a dripping tap, make sure it’s repaired your home. They may cost a little more but the potential think about changing to storage heating or gas central
Heating quickly. If you don’t, in just one week you could have energy savings are impressive. heating, which could improve your comfort at a lower
lost enough water to fill a paddling pool. cost – particularly if your home is well insulated.
• Fit reflective foil behind your radiators (with the shiny Heating
• If your boiler has seen better days, replace it with
side facing the radiator). This helps keep the heat Insulation • Thermostatic radiator valves let you control the
a modern one that’s more energy efficient, such as
indoors. • Fit an insulating jacket to your hot water tank and temperature of each room separately.
a condensing boiler.
insulate your hot water pipes to reduce heat loss and • Bar fires and convector and fan heaters are expensive to
Lighting
so save energy.
• Use LED or energy saving light bulbs. They can last
• Use insulation tape around the inside of the windows
up to ten times longer than ordinary bulbs, and using
to stop any drafts that you might have.
one can reduce your energy use if you’re replacing
a high wattage incandescent bulb, or one used for
more than a few hours a day.

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ECO – ENERGY EFFICIENCY MEASURES WHERE ELSE TO LOOK FOR ENERGY-EFFICIENCY HELP
ECO is a government scheme that gives people Replacement Gas boiler- The following organisations promote energy efficiency National Energy Action (NEA)
subsidised energy efficiency improvements for their Some older boilers are less energy-efficient than by offering advice or practical help: NEA looks at the energy needs of low-income
home. Its main aim is to help people keep warm, save modern ones or become less energy efficient over Local authorities households. For more information, call
energy and lower their energy bills. By insulating our time. With ECO you could receive a new A-rated boiler 0191 261 5677.
Local authorities often have an Energy Conservation
customers’ homes and providing more efficient ways of installed by a qualified engineer. This is only available to
Officer and Customer Services teams who can give Simple Energy Advice
heating, we’re helping to cut the amount of energy people who rent privately or own their own home.
advice on energy efficiency. You can find the address Simple Energy Advice promotes efficient energy use
you use. To find out more about ECO and to see if
If you’d like to apply for ECO with EDF Energy you’ll and telephone number in your local directory. across the UK. They’re an independent organisation
you are eligible, visit edfenergy.com/eco or call us on
need to be supplied by us for your electricity and/or gas. and offer impartial advice to householders and small
0333 200 5119. Foundations
If you’re not supplied by us at the moment but would businesses on how to save energy and cut fuel bills.
There are three improvements available: like to switch, give us a call on 0333 200 5119. This organisation co-ordinates all home improvement
Further help and advice is available via Simple Energy
Further help and advice is available via Simple Energy agencies nationwide. To contact them, call
Loft insulation- Advice simpleenergyadvice.org.uk
Advice simpleenergyadvice.org.uk 0300 124 0315.
When heat rises it escapes through the roof. Loft
insulation helps prevent this.
Cavity wall insulation-
Many homes built after 1920 can have cavity wall
insulation installed.

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 MEETING YOUR NEEDS
Our dedicated advisers can offer you advice and Non-English-speaking customers
tips on how to implement energy efficiency If English isn’t your first language and you’d like
measures. Call us on 0333 009 6999. information in another one, please call us on
For more information visit 0333 200 5100 and we’ll transfer you to our
edfenergy.com/energyefficiency. language line. We have operators who, between
them, speak more than 100 different languages.
We want to ensure that all our customers are
You can also download this guide in Welsh at
treated fairly and receive the best possible service.
edfenergy.com/informationbooklets
If you need this booklet in large-print, Braille or as
an audio version on CD, please call our dedicated
Priority Services line on 0800 269 450.

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