A Cumbrian charity, which helps people deal with their money, has released tips to help people save some money on their energy bills.
Christians Against Poverty debt charity, based at Kendal & District Debt Centre , said it wanted to help local people as part of Energy Saving Week.
Samantha Vyner-Brooks, debt centre manager, said: “We have already seen some big price increases in the last few months and there seems to be little prospect of things improving anytime soon.
“A lot of people’s energy bills have increased throughout the pandemic, with more people working or being schooled from home, and then these latest increases have made things more of a struggle.
“Energy Saving Week is a national campaign to make sure that people are getting all of the help and support that they’re eligible for and to save money.
“There are some great tips to save money with energy efficiency ideas so it can really help all of us in Kendal and the surrounding areas”
Energy saving tips from Kendal & District Debt Centre
Lighting
- If you can afford to, replace your light bulbs. Moving from traditional incandescent bulbs to CFLs (compact fluorescent lamps) or LED bulbs saves money because they are 90% more energy efficient.
- Switching off the lights when not using them can save £14* a year, it might not sound like a lot to some people but all these little savings really do add up!
Appliances
- Turning appliances off, rather than leaving on standby mode, could save about £30 a year.
- You can save around £20 a year from your energy bill just by using your washing machine more carefully, for example by washing on a 30-degree cycle instead of higher temperatures and only washing your clothes in your washing machine when you have a full load.
- Avoid using a tumble dryer for your clothes: dry clothes on racks inside where possible or outside in warmer weather to save £40 a year.
Bathroom and kitchen
● Use cold water for handwashing. It’s the soap that kills the bacteria, not the hot water.
● Swap your bath for a shower. You might enjoy a long soak in the bath, but swapping just one bath a week with a 4-minute shower could save you £7 a year on your energy bills.
We all occasionally boil the kettle with more water than we’re going to use. Avoid overfilling the kettle and save yourself £8 a year on your electricity bill.
Heating
- Close your curtains at dusk to stop heat escaping through windows. Check for draughts around windows and doors.
- Turn the thermostat down. Even turning it down by just two degrees, from 20°C to 18°C, can make a big difference. If you can afford to, make sure that you have your boiler serviced to ensure it is operating efficiently. If you still feel cold, wrap up in a jumper or blanket before turning the thermostat up any higher.
Support
- Ensure that your meter readings are accurate and that you are only paying for the energy you use. Speak to your supplier if you are starting to find it difficult to meet your payments.
- Visit the Simple Energy Advice website, simpleenergyadvice.org.uk, to get more help and personalised energy advice.
- If you are struggling with debt and need help, get in contact with CAP today on 0800 328 0006 or visit capuk.org
Mrs Vyner-Brooks added: “We hope these tips can help people in Kendal save a bit of money but we also know there are people who are struggling to stay warm due to energy bills arrears or other debt problems. We would urge them to get in touch with Christians Against Poverty as soon as possible.
“Making that call to CAP means we are able to offer support before the problem gets any worse and help lift the burden of living with debt.”
