Energy efficiency

We want to help you make your home warmer, cosier and healthier for the winter months, reduce fuel bill costs and let you know about grants that may help.

Top tips

  • Turn your thermostat down. Reducing your room temperature by 1°C could cut your heating bills by up to 10 per cent. If you have a programmer, set your heating and hot water to come on only when required rather than all the time.
  • Is your water too hot? Your cylinder thermostat should be set at 60°C/140°F.
  • Close your curtains at dusk to stop heat escaping through the windows and check for draughts around windows and doors
  • Always turn off the lights when you leave a room
  •  Do not leave appliances on standby and remember not to leave laptops and mobile phones on charge unnecessarily
  • If possible, fill up the washing machine, tumble dryer or dishwasher.  One full load uses less energy than two half loads, or use the economy setting
  • Only boil as much water as you need (but remember to cover the elements if you're using an electric kettle)
  • A dripping hot water tap wastes energy and in one week wastes enough hot water to fill half a bath
  • Fix leaking taps and make sure they're fully turned off
  • Use energy saving light bulbs - they last up to 10 times longer than ordinary bulbs
  • Have cavity wall insulation and or loft insulation fitted - it will make your home warmer and cosier and save money on your fuel bills. 
     

The Warm Front scheme

The Warm Front scheme provides heating and insulation improvements to households on certain income-related benefits living in properties that are poorly insulated and/or do not have a working central heating system.

Qualifying households can get improvements worth up to £3,500 (£6,000 where oil central heating and other alternative technologies are recommended).

Grants are available for improvements such as:

  • Loft insulation
  • Hot water tank insulation
  • Draught proofing
  • Gas, electric, liquid petroleum gas or oil heating
  • Cavity wall insulation
  • Glass-fronted fire - the Warm Front scheme can convert your solid-fuel open fire to a glass-fronted fire

You won’t have to pay anything as long as the work doesn’t cost more than the grant available. If the cost of the work is more than the grant available you'll have to make a contribution to enable work to go ahead. Work will not start without making sure you are willing and able to pay the difference.

To apply or for further information call: 0800 316 2805 or visit Directgov.


Winter fuel payments

Each winter the Government makes a payment to people aged 60 or over to help with the costs of keeping warm in winter. This can be between £200 and £300 depending on your situation.

 

Cold weather payments

Cold weather payments can help people who are in receipt of certain benefits with their additional heating costs during winter.  A payment will be made for each seven day period of very cold weather between 1 November and 31 March.

For any advice on the winter fuel or cold weather payments call the helpline on 0845 915 1515 (during office hours) or visit Directgov.


Tariffs and changing suppliers

A social tariff is the cheapest deal available from your fuel company, it is offered to people on certain disability allowances, benefits or tax credits and who are struggling to pay their fuel bill. Contact your own energy supplier and check if there is a social tariff you could be on.

Changing your method of payment can also reduce your payments – direct debit is usually the cheapest.

It may be worth checking to see if you can get your energy cheaper by switching supplier.  To find out if you could save money by changing supplier, call the Energy Saving Trust on 0800 512 012.


Make sure you are claiming all the benefits you are entitled to

It is easy to find out what you are entitled to; contact the Citizens Advice Bureau on 0845 1221 300 or by email on advice@knowsleycab.org.uk .


Further financial information can be found on the financial advice section  or by visiting the Directgov website.

 

Take action if you are having difficulties paying your utility bills

Contact your electricity or gas supplier and tell them of your difficulties. They will then help you set up a payment plan. If you have a debt you may be able to apply for a grant to reduce or clear arrears of gas or electricity.

The British Gas Energy Trust and the EDF Energy Trust Fund both have schemes to help customers who are low income households facing financial difficulty.

Both organisations can be contacted on 01733 421060.

 

Affordable Warmth Strategy

The Knowsley Affordable Warmth Strategy was initially launched in 2004. Since then Knowsley has worked successfully with partners to achieve and deliver the aims of the strategy.  These include identifying households that are unable to adequately heat their home at an affordable cost and direct resources and advice to those households. The strategy was updated in 2010 to reflect achievements and bring it up to date. 

Download the strategy (PDF, 745KB)