Lowering your Utility Bills

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Checklists

Checklist provided by 

www.propertychecklists.co.uk

 
 
Find out if you have an energy performance certificate for your property to see what energy savings measures they suggest and how much money you could save.
Check how much you are spending on your gas, electricity and water bills and make sure you are on the best tariff from your utility provider, for example ‘tariff check’.
Check the information about the property you own, are renting or are buying. For example how old is the property, how are the walls constructed? Do you have floorboards or concrete floors? Some properties will benefit from wall insulation, but if your property doesn’t have any cavities it won’t work. 
  Collate information about how you heat your home, such as the make and model of your existing boiler and its energy ratings, whether you have a combi boiler or hot and cold water tank. 
  Work out how many showers or baths you take a week, note your thermostat setting,  add up how many radiators or heaters you have in your home.
  Find a way of measuring your utility usage in your home, for example how you can measure the energy you and  your family are using, for example visit .Gov or visit British Gas Energy Smart.
  Consider energy saving gadgets, or heating accessories but make sure they genuinely save energy.

Investigate what energy savings measures which you can implement which will save you the most money:

  • Radiator panels
  • Loft, floor and wall insulation
  • Draught proofing
  • New heating system, for example boiler or under floor, solar panels, wind turbines
  • Double glazing 
For more information visit Energy Saving Trust and for instant tips on saving energy British Gas.
Find out more about the Green Deal and whether this is right for you.
Secure quotes in writing for any energy savings measures you are considering.
Agree how the works will be paid for, upfront or via the Green Deal system.
Make sure any quotes from companies you secure have third party endorsements, for example ‘Green Deal’ Approved, Gas Safe Engineers, Part P electricians or FENSA registered. 
Understand what guarantees are available for payback from energy saving measures.
Make sure you have a contract which explains what work will be one, how much energy this will save you and what happens if the measures don’t work as quoted.
Find out who you complain to if the energy saving measures don’t perform and what compensation  you are liable to receive.

 


All our information is brought to you by Kate Faulkner OBE, author of Which? Property books and one of the UK's top property experts.
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