It’s a startling statistic, but in the last decade gas and electricity bills have increased 160%. And by 2020, your energy bills will have doubled according to experts. In fact, energy prices have been in the headlines a lot over the last few years, with the national suppliers continuously cranking up the costs.
Despite Ed Miliband and Labour’s pledge to fix energy prices if they come into power, this won’t take effect until at least 2015. And even if this bill does pass, energy firms have warned of power blackouts. So what can you do?
Politicians may promise to tackle energy prices in the UK but will their proposals ever be delivered? There are a number of ways you can secure the energy future of your home and cut the amount you spend on annual bills, so take a look at the options below to see what’s suitable for you.
Solar panels
If you want to end your reliance on the National Grid, then solar panels are your answer. Solar panels have become very popular and can significantly cut your electricity bills. On top of this you can earn a guaranteed income with the Government backed feed-in tariff.
Solar panels capture the sun’s energy rays, converting them into electricity. With a life expectancy of more than 25 years you can reduce bills and earn an income for two decades.
Heat pumps
If having solar panels attached to your roof doesn’t rock your boat then don’t worry because there are other options. For instance, you could invest in an air source heat pump. These look similar to a large air conditioning unit and extract heat from the air, even from temperatures as low as -16 degrees.
With a heat pump you can slash heating bills by up to £650 every year and Government schemes reward you financially for the energy you generate onsite too.
A replacement boiler
Boilers are one of the most important appliances in the home and provide both your heat and hot water all year round. But an inefficient boiler can waste over £300 every year. Upgrading to an A-rated model will slash bills and ensure your home is being heated more efficiently.
You’ll also reduce the risk of a breakdown, ensuring you don’t have to pay call out charges and repair costs.
Double glazing
Windows lose a lot of heat so consider upgrading to double glazing. Units are manufactured from two panes of glass separated by an energy efficient gas spacer, usually Argon. Heat can’t pass through the unit and escape your home.
Other benefits include limiting noise pollution, reducing the amount of condensation build-up and eliminating draughts and cold spots in the home.
Insulation
Heat is lost in a variety of other ways too including the walls, floor and loft. Insulating your home is probably the cheapest way to make your home more energy efficient and you can save up to £180 a year by doing it. You could invest in cavity wall or solid wall insulation, whilst loft lagging can be used in the attic.
The loft is always an important area to insulate because heat naturally rises. In fact, with an uninsulated loft space you can lose up to 25% of the heat you produce.
Don’t wait around for the Government to sort out the problem of rising energy prices. Deal with the issue yourself and see instant financial rewards in the amount of money you’ll save every year.