Home energy saving advice

Stay energy efficient year-round

Having an efficient heating system running on a low carbon fuel is one of the most important steps you can take to reduce your fuel bills and your carbon dioxide emissions. If you want to reduce your carbon emissions and keep your energy bills low, installing insulation or draught-proofing will reduce heat loss. Many energy companies are also introducing programmes that encourage using electricity during off-peak hours. These programmes then pass the savings on to you.

Keep heat in your home with loft insulation

A quarter of heat is lost through the roof in an uninsulated home. As the air inside your home warms up, it heads upwards to the roof, and an uninsulated loft gives it a clear route to escape. Adding or topping up insulation in your loft can save hundreds on your energy bills each year. Rolls of mineral wool are widely available and easy to lay between joists. Aim for 270mm depth for maximum efficiency.  Visit the Energy Saving Trust website for common questions about insulation, including whether you can tackle the job yourself.

Save your boiler by insulating your pipes

Uninsulated hot water pipes lose heat quickly, making your boiler work harder. Wrapping them in foam pipe sleeves is a simple DIY job that can help keep water hotter for longer and reduce energy use. You can buy pipe insulation from most DIY stores and fit it yourself in minutes. Focus on pipes near your boiler and hot water tank first. Visit the Energy Saving Trust website to find out how.

Wrap up your hot water tank to reduce energy waste

If your hot water tank feels warm to the touch, it’s losing heat. A tank jacket helps trap that heat, keeping water hotter for longer and cutting down on energy waste. Jackets are inexpensive and easy to fit, just wrap and secure. Look for jackets at least 80mm thick for best results. Visit the Energy Saving Trust website to find out how.

Reduce draughts to reduce your bills

Draughts around doors, windows, letterboxes and chimneys can make your home feel colder and cost more to heat. Draught-proofing strips, brushes and sealants are quick fixes that make a big difference to keeping the heat inside your home. Borrow a thermal imaging camera to spot where air is coming in. Visit the Energy Saving Trust website to find out more about draught proofing options.

Put foil behind radiators to keep in heat

Radiators lose heat through external walls, especially if those walls are uninsulated. Up to 25 percent of a radiator’s heat can escape into the wall, but reflective foil can cut that loss to 2 percent. This simple, low-cost measure bounces heat back into your room, helping you stay warmer and use less energy. Foil works best behind radiators on outside-facing walls. Installation is quick: measure the radiator, cut the foil to size and slide it behind with the shiny side facing the room. Use double-sided tape or adhesive to keep it in place. Specialist radiator foil lasts longer than kitchen foil, which dulls over time. Savings vary, but you could reduce heating costs by £10 to £20 a year. Try this easy DIY trick to keep more heat in.

Borrow a thermal imaging camera to spot heat loss

You can borrow a thermal imaging camera from one of our libraries, if you have a Wokingham Borough library card. These cameras, which attach to Apple and Android phones, are used with a downloadable app to help you spot heat loss around windows, doors, roofs and walls. It’s a simple way to identify areas in your home where insulation or draught-proofing could make a big difference. See a video of the thermal imaging camera in action. You can reserve a thermal imaging camera online or in person at your local library. 

Energy and money saving tips for keeping warm

As temperatures drop, small changes around the home can help you stay warm and cut energy costs. Here are some tips for keeping warm:

• Close curtains at dusk to keep heat in and seal draughts around windows, doors and letterboxes
• Set your thermostat between 18 and 21°C. Each degree lower could save around £100 a year
• Layer up with warm clothing and blankets to reduce the need to turn up the heating
• Only heat rooms you’re using and use a timer to avoid wasting energy overnight or when you’re out
• Move furniture away from radiators so heat can circulate
• Bleed radiators regularly to keep them working efficiently
• Close internal doors to keep warmth where you need it most
• Draught excluders, hot water bottles and smart heating controls can make a big difference too

See the Energy Saving Trust's tips for saving energy during colder weather and how much money you could save.

Switch to LED Lightbulbs

Switching to LED lightbulbs is one of the easiest ways to save money and energy at home. LEDs use up to 90 percent less energy than traditional bulbs and last 15 to 25 times longer. Replacing one bulb, used for a few hours a day, could save you around £20 a year. If you swap out 10, that’s up to £200 off your annual bill. LED lightbulbs come in a range of brightness levels and colours to suit every room and they give off less heat too, helping keep your home cooler in summer. With prices starting from just a few pounds, most LEDs pay for themselves in no time. See how switching to LEDs can cut your energy bills.

Slash energy bills with smart appliance choices

Home appliances take up a big share of your energy bills, but small changes can make a big difference. When buying new appliances, check the energy rating. A is the most efficient, G the least. Choosing an A-rated fridge, washing machine or dishwasher could save you hundreds of pounds over its lifetime. Use appliances wisely too. Run washing machines and dishwashers on eco settings and full loads.

• Avoid standby mode. Switching devices off at the plug can save around £45 a year
• Skip the tumble dryer when you can and air-dry clothes to cut another £50
• Cooking smart matters. Air fryers and microwaves often use less energy than ovens for small meals
• Don’t overfill your kettle - only boil what you need

Discover which appliances use the most energy and how to choose smarter.

Standby steals your energy

Many appliances use electricity even when you’re not using them. TVs, game consoles, smart speakers and chargers all draw power unless they’re fully switched off at the plug. This is called standby power, and it adds up. The Energy Saving Trust says the average UK household could save £45 a year just by turning devices off at the socket. That’s money saved without changing how you use your tech, just how you power it. Smart plugs or standby savers can help automate this, especially for hard-to-reach sockets. You can also unplug chargers when they’re not in use and switch off your Wi-Fi router overnight if you don’t need it. Reducing standby power is a small change that makes a big difference over time. It’s good for your wallet and better for the environment.

Air out your home

Ventilation is vital for a healthy, energy-efficient home. Without it, moisture builds up and causes damp and mould, which damage walls and furnishings and can harm your health. The average home produces up to 100 litres of water a week from cooking, showers and even breathing. Use extractor fans in kitchens and bathrooms whenever you cook or shower. If your windows have trickle vents keep them open, or open windows for 5 to 15 minutes a day to let stale air out and fresh air in. These simple steps reduce condensation and help your heating system work more effectively, saving energy and money.

Drying clothes indoors adds extra moisture. If you use a clothes airer, place it in a well-ventilated room and open a window slightly. Avoid drying clothes on radiators as this traps moisture and makes heating less efficient. A dehumidifier can help if ventilation is limited.

Keeping your home dry and fresh improves comfort and reduces costly repairs. Learn how fresh air helps your home stay healthy and warm.

Help with your energy costs and government grants

Visit our Cost of Living support page for information on getting help with paying your energy bills and other financial support.

Government grants

The following government energy grants are available:

1. ECO4 Flex energy efficiency scheme

ECO4 Flex is a government scheme, funded by energy companies, that supports households on a low income or those particularly vulnerable to the impacts of living in a cold home. Funding is available for things that can improve the energy efficiency of your home, like insulation and heating systems.

Email warmhomes@wokingham.gov.uk. One of our team will email you a declaration form to show that you are eligible and provide supporting evidence. If you are eligible for the scheme, an installer will need to visit your property to make an assessment. The installer sends their recommendations to the energy company, who will make a final decision on what work will be carried out.

If you live in a private home (rented or owned) with an EPC rating of D or below and have a combined household income of £31,000 or less, then you are likely to be eligible for this scheme. Even if you don’t meet these criteria, but are living in a private home with a low energy efficiency rating, you may still be eligible for funding if:

• You or a member of your household has a medical condition that makes you more vulnerable to cold
• You are over 65 or a member of your family is under the age of 5 or over 65
• A member of your household is in receipt of Council Tax Support
• A member of your household is in receipt of free school meals, due to low income
• You have been referred to the scheme by the council or by Citizen's Advice after being identified as struggling to pay your utility bills

Read our ECO4 flex scheme eligibility criteria (PDF)

2. Warm Homes: Local Grant

Free home energy efficiency upgrades, such as solar panels, insulation and air source heat pumps are available to homes in Wokingham Borough. This includes upgrades such as solar panels, home insulation, and air source heat pumps – all designed to reduce your energy bills and help you switch to greener, more sustainable energy.

This scheme is open to homeowners and private renters across the Borough. Landlords can also benefit, with their first property fully funded and 50 percent funding for any additional properties. Whereas previous schemes have been restricted to off-gas properties, homes of all fuel types are now eligible.

To qualify, households must have a combined household income of £36,000 or under, receive benefits, or live in a lower-income area. To check if you are eligible, use the Government’s eligibility checker. You could get free energy saving improvements made to your home if you’re on a low income, getting certain benefits or living in a certain postcode area. 

To join the waiting list today, register your interest on the Warmer Homes website or call the Warmer Homes freephone on 0800 038 5737.

Free energy advice service

Green Doctors provide a free energy advice service helping households to stay warm, save money and use less energy. It is a programme run by the charity Groundwork South. We work with them to provide this service for Wokingham Borough residents.

Their energy advisors can help you:

• Save money on your energy bills
• Switch energy providers
• Claim available grant support (for example Warm Home Discount)
• Get prepayment meter support
• Tackle energy or water debt
• Book a consultation

You can book a free consultation by visiting the Green Doctors website or by calling 0300 365 3005.

Other Energy Schemes

The following energy saving schemes are available:

Solar Together Scheme

We have partnered with the Solar Together scheme to make it easier and cheaper to install solar panels. Solar Together enables residents in the Borough to install solar panels and battery storage at a competitive price, using pre-vetted suppliers.This scheme is useful for residents who are looking to get more from the renewable energy they generate as well as increasing their independence from the electricity grid. Register your interest for free on the Solar Together, Wokingham website.

Solar Together Case study:

Mike Bushnell first heard about the Solar Together scheme in one of our email updates and is now recommending it to others. A resident of Earley, Mike has been concerned about the climate emergency for a long time and he is always trying to take practical steps to be more energy efficient. He says solar panels were 'the next logical step' and he had an 8-panel system and a battery pack installed in September 2023, having registered his interest 3 months earlier.

Mike said: "Overall, I would say the entire process from start to end was very simple. From first signing up to getting all of the paperwork sorted was very smooth. The installation day itself appeared seamless and was very quick.

"Everything apart from the on-site survey and installation was done via email. Not only would I recommend this scheme to others, I already have. You can download an app to keep track of your system's performance, which I have found slightly addictive."

Although he says the time of year for installation was not ideal, there were still some days where he generated more electricity than he used. During September and October, about half of the energy used was generated from the panels.

As the days begin to get longer again, Mike is looking forward to seeing how much more the system will generate and how much money he can save. If you have been inspired by Mike's story, register your interest with Solar Together Wokingham.

Big Community Switch

Big Community Switch helps residents switch energy suppliers, move to a renewable electricity tariff, and save money on their energy bills. Switching with Big Community Switch means you can benefit from the bargaining power of a large group.

How does it work?

1. Register for free and without obligation on the Big Community Switch website
2. An ‘auction’ will be held so pre-vetted energy suppliers can submit bids. The supplier who offered the cheapest tariff will get to offer you a new contract.
3. You will receive a 'personal offer', based on your registration details, and you can see how much money you can save.
4. Decide whether or not to accept your offer. There is no obligation to switch.

For more information, contact the Big Community Switch.