The First Utility DIY guide to keeping warm this winter
Keeping warm this winter needn’t be a hassle – and it shouldn’t cost you an arm and a leg either. That’s why we’ve put together this handy guide to quick and easy improvements you can make to save energy and money at home without spending a fortune.
Draught-proof your home
Draught-proofing is one of the cheapest, most efficient ways to save energy – and you can do it yourself! Where practical, seal windows, doors, loft hatches, pipework leading outside and block disused chimneys by having them capped, or by inserting a chimney bag at the base.
There’s plenty you can do to conserve heat without forking out for new windows. Hang heavy curtains, shutters or opt for sealed blinds. Secondary glazing is also a great alternative to replacing your windows and you can fit it inside the existing window reveal yourself.
Make use of technology
Invest in a modern, programmable thermostat which allows you to set different times and temperatures for different days of the week. Set it so it turns the heat down when you’re not home – and up before you return. You can even give your old boiler a new lease of life by updating its controls so it heats the water only when you need it.
For practical energy saving advice tailored to your lifestyle, try downloading energy-saving apps. These apps can help you break bad energy habits, give insight into your energy usage and offer advice for living more economically. The First Utility app lets you submit meter readings, view and pay bills and see how much gas and electricity you use over time.
Check your tariff
When 2014 came to an end, so did 13 popular energy tariffs. When your fixed tariff ends, your supplier may automatically put you on a more expensive roll-over tariff, so now is the time to check you’re getting the best deal on your gas and electricity bills.
As a result, “some people could pay as much as £193 more. So now is the perfect time to switch and save money before the cold weather starts to bite,” advises Tom Lyon, energy expert at uSwitch.com.
Surging energy prices have seen customers abandon the ‘big six’ suppliers in favour of smaller, cheaper utility suppliers. First Utility recently reached the milestone of 1m customer accounts, making us the UK’s largest and fastest growing independent gas and electricity supplier. We have seen a ten-fold increase in our customer base over the last three years and are proud to supply more than 550,000 customers with gas and electricity.
Our cheap gas and electricity prices are largely responsible for our growth and our Price Promise guarantees we’re cheaper than the ‘big six’ energy suppliers.* Compare gas and electricity tariffs and see how much you could save.
*** The price promise relates to the following competitor tariffs (or any replacement tariffs as that company’s Standard Tariff): British Gas – Standard, E.ON – Energy Plan, Scottish Power – Standard, npower – Standard, EDF – Standard (Variable), SSE – Standard Energy, in each case as offered directly by the relevant company with a Direct Debit payment method and paperless billing.
About First Utility
First Utility is the UK’s fastest growing and largest independent energy supplier. Offering an alternative to the ‘Big Six’ providers it is committed to helping the UK reduce its energy bills by offering some of the cheapest gas and electricity tariffs, helping customers use less energy through the use of innovative technology and campaigning for industry change.
Disclaimer
The contents of this article are for reference purposes only and do not constitute financial or legal advice. Independent financial or legal advice should be sought in relation to any specific matter. Articles are published by us without any knowledge or notice of the circumstances in which you or anyone else may use or rely on articles or any copy of the information, guidance or documents obtained from articles. We operate and publish articles without undertaking or accepting any duty of care or responsibility for articles or their contents, services or facilities. You undertake to rely on them entirely at your own risk, and without recourse to us. No assurance of the quality of articles is given or undertaken (whether as to accuracy, completeness, fitness for any purpose, conformance to any description or sample, or otherwise), or as to the timeliness of the publication.
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