npower launches insulation scheme to get homes warm this winter

npower has launched a scheme to help homeowners warm up their home and reduce energy wastage. Savvy DIY experts can now buy loft insulation for £1 a roll from npower's partner Build Center, meaning the average three bedroom semi-detached home can be insulated for less than £20.  £19, to be exact.

The scheme, open to everyone regardless of whether they are an npower energy customer or not, also offers free delivery to help ease the process. Furthermore, npower has also developed a video to help novices complete the DIY loft insulation job step by step.

The scheme forms part of npower's Government obligations to help homeowners cut the amount of energy that's wasted in the UK each year. The Energy Saving Trust anticipates that homes could save as much as £175 a year on their heating bills and around 720 kilograms of carbon dioxide a year, just by installing the recommended 270mm depth of loft insulation.  (EDITOR: And all for an outlay of under 20 quid!)

Bob Jackson, energy efficiency and policy manager for the energy supplier, commented on the scheme: "As an energy company, npower takes its commitment to the environment and to consumers extremely seriously. Rising wholesale fuel costs mean that many people find themselves struggling to pay their utility bills. The £1 a roll offer will help more people to make massive reductions, and savings in their bills and benefits from a warmer home during the long, cold winter months.

"We also know that not everyone is able to install their own loft insulation. That's why we also offer professional loft insulation meaning teveryone can benefit from the heat savings."

For more information and to buy insulation at £1 a roll while stocks last, householders can visit www.npower.com/diyinsulation call 0845 270 8250 or pop in to their local Build Centre.

www.npower.com

Energy price increases: 10 tips to save £200 a year now and £900 over time

Electricity prices are up by an inflation busting 16% in some cases. All the major utility companies are announcing rises. But, what can be done to help minimise these rises? The energy saving website ConserveEnergy.co.uk has researched 10 effective ways to easily cut the cost of household electric bills.

Divided up into: action to take now, action over the medium term and over the long term, if all advice is followed could result in an annual saving of £900. Just a change in habits to follow the immediate advice could result in a saving of over £200.

Some do require some up-front installation and purchasing costs.

Things that can be done immediately:

1. Turn off electrical appliances when not using them.

Leaving your appliances on stand-by costs the average home £33 a year.

2. Switch off the lights when you leave the room.

If the rating is 60 watts, and the bulb is on for one hour, it will consume 0.06 kWh. If electricity prices are 12p per kWh. The value of the energy savings would then be 12p for every hour turned off.

3. Only boil as much water in the kettle as you need.

This could save around £6 a year on energy bills. If everyone in the UK did this every time they used the kettle, it could save enough electricity in a year to power the UK’s street lights for 2 months.

4. Switch energy supplier to a cheaper tariff, and switch to Direct Debit payment and an online account.

Claims of savings of £200 a year from utility switching websites, although some claim £450 saving.

Total savings of £249 if you do the above. You can save around £249 just by changing your habits today.

Things that can be done medium term:

5. Turn your thermostat down.

By turning it down by just one degree it saves around £55 a year.

6. Replace all your old lightbulbs with energy efficient ones.

Energy-efficient bulbs last up to 10 times longer than a normal bulb and can save £3-6 a year each in energy bills (for a 100W bulb) – saving up to £60 over the lifetime of the bulb in reduced energy bills and replacement costs.

7. Buy more energy efficient appliances.

Replacing an old Fridge freezer with a new A+ or A++ EU energy rated appliances can save around £38 per year.

Total savings of £153.

Things that can be done longer term:

8. Properly insulate your home.

Cavity wall insulation can save £110, internal wall insulation £365, external wall insulation £385. 270mm loft insulation can save £140 a year, floor insulation can save £50.

9. Upgrade your boiler to a A rated condensing boiler.

Upgrading from an old G rated to a new efficient A rated model can save £225 a year.

10. Install double glazing.

Double glazing cuts heat loss through windows by 50% and could cut your heating bill by around £140 a year.

Total savings of £475, and if you do all of the above you could save £249 + £153 + £475 = £877.

(EDITOR: All figures and calculations were taken from the EnergySavingTrust.org.uk website and their lists of assumptions based on average usage and an average home size)

The above savings and figures do not include the cost of installing or purchasing the new energy saving methods. But armed with these figures you can use them to calculate how much saving you would make if you purchased and installed everything.

ConserveEnergy.co.uk is a website dedicated to helping people save energy and money on their household utility and energy bills.