Saving Energy

Welcome to Mercian’s Energy Saving Page! Here you can find some useful tips on saving energy and money. We will keep this page updated with new energy saving tips and information on the different schemes available to help you reduce your energy bills.

How heat is lost in your home:

When thinking of ways to save money in your home, it's best to look at where the most heat is lost. This can help us direct resources and energy into stopping this from happening:

Housearrows

25% through the roof

35% through walls

10% through the windows

15% through the floor

15% through draughts

Turning your thermostat down by 1°C could cut your heating bills by up to 10% (typically saving around £60 per year). However it is important to ensure homes are heated to the correct level in order to make sure you help you stay healthy and comfortable:

21-24°C - The recommended living temperature for a home where older people or children are living

18-21°C - No risk to healthy adults

Below 16°C - Diminished resistance to respiratory infections

Below 12°C - Increased blood pressure and viscosity

Below 9°C - After 2 or more hours, deep body temperature falls

Here are some examples of some of the small steps you can start taking today to start saving energy:

No Cost

• Switch off lights
• Turn off standby
• Use the economy button
• Close curtains at night to keep heat in
• Boil only what is needed in the kettle
• Turn taps off while you’re brushing your teeth.
• Keep internal doors closed and radiators turned
off in rooms which are rarely used.

Low Cost

• Draught proofing
• Lost insulation
• Secondary Glazing
• Low Energy light bulbs
• Regular servicing of central heating
• Reflective foils on the back of radiators

To view some useful videos on saving energy in each room in your house please click here.

For advice on staying warm and well throughout the winter, Age UK has issued it's Winter wrapped up guide which includes tips and hints, energy saving ideas and useful contact numbers. You can view Age UK's website and download the guide here.

Last modified 29/04/13