Moving into a new home is already stressful without the added worry of managing energy-related issues. Unfortunately, these challenges are often unavoidable. Recent fluctuations in energy prices have been a prominent topic in the news, further increasing concerns about home energy management. Worry no more with this practical guide from Direct Savings, covering everything from evaluating your energy supplier to identifying potential property damage that could be unnecessarily inflating your bills.
Evaluating Energy Efficiency
Conducting your own home energy audit is an excellent way to make informed decisions about where improvements are needed, sometimes uncovering hidden issues you might not have noticed. While a professional energy assessment offers the most comprehensive understanding of your home’s energy use, a thorough self-assessment can effectively highlight problem areas. Generally, new homes achieve at least a B rating for energy efficiency, which is usually adequate, but older homes may face more challenges in this area.
Choosing the Right Supplier and Managing Bills
Moving is an ideal time to review your energy tariff to ensure it meets your needs. If you're on a good fixed-rate deal, consider transferring it to your new home. If not, this might be the perfect opportunity to shop around for suppliers offering better rates. If you don’t yet have a smart meter, take readings at both your old and new homes on moving day to avoid being billed for energy you didn’t use, which happens more often than you might think.
Reducing Costs with Smart Appliances
Depending on your current setup, using a timer or programmer can allow you to control when your central heating is on, helping you save energy by running it only when necessary. The advantage of smart appliances is their adaptability, and integrating new technology into your new home can be seamless. Smart controls enable you to monitor changes in energy use, identifying unusual spikes that deviate from your regular consumption patterns. If investing in new technology isn’t an option, the solution might lie below.
Upgrading Heating with ECO4 Funding
Launched in April 2022, the ECO4 scheme replaced previous government initiatives like ECO3. This program supports low-income households by providing affordable, high-efficiency heating and insulation solutions. Designed to help those struggling with rising fuel costs, many households may qualify for this free scheme.
Direct Savings is fully certified and qualified to manage all your heating and energy upgrade needs, including new boiler installations. We can apply for your ECO4 grant and do all the work from initial survey to installation. Visit our website to see if you qualify. It only takes a minute and could result in substantial savings on your heating bills throughout the year. Contact us for more information.
If you need further assistance or have specific questions, don’t hesitate to reach out. We're here to help you make your new home as energy-efficient as possible!
01506 444161