Isle of Wight households will be faced with an energy price hike of around £800 this coming winter, in some cases pushing the annual bill up to nearly £4,000, warns the local Footprint Trust charity, which assists people in fuel poverty.
Ray Harrington-Vail of the Trust says,
“Obviously we would suggest that luxury appliances such hot tubs are turned off… and that tumble driers only used if natural drying is not possible.”
“Cutting back on takeaways, haircuts and making clothing last another season are all good tips to save money…”
He goes on to say,
“Now is the right time of year to look at insulating your home, which could save around £500 pa on energy bills. Subsidised schemes are available for many homeowners.
“Replacing old inefficient fridges can also be a good investment, a new one could cut running costs by around £200.”
Top tips for saving energy
- Listen to It’s Raining Men by the Weather Girls when having a shower, it’s about four minutes long and cutting time in there could save a family of four about £140 a year. You will also help stop water wastage and thus help our river wildlife.
- Get in the habit of not leaving electrical items on stand-by as they can be a fire hazard, and could cost the average household over £50 a year.
- Tumble driers will be costing around £1 an hour so use them wisely, and never put them on when you are asleep or out of the house.
- Draught proof gaps around windows, doors and floorboards by fitting foam strips, plastic seals or brushes. Seal gaps between floors and skirting boards with a simple sealant bought from any DIY store. This could save your household about £45 a year.
- Choose paperless energy bills and manage your account online as some companies charge extra for paper bills.
- Pay by direct debit as this is usually cheaper than other methods of paying.
- Only run your dishwasher when it is full. Reducing your dishwasher use by one run per week for a year could save you over £10 a year.
- Only wash your clothes in your washing machine when you have a full load. Reducing your washing machine use by one run per week for a year could also save you a further £10 a year.
- Reduce the temperature at which you wash at, a drop from 60 degrees to 40 degrees, makes a saving too.
For more tips and ideas visit the Website or call the Trust on 01983 822282.
News shared by Ray in his own words. Ed
Image: Mohammad Esmaili under CC BY 2.0
