Heating and Cooling

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• Energy Efficiency in the Home

Insulate your Home

About 60% of your home’s warmth could be escaping through the roof and walls. Loft insulation is the most cost effective energy saving measure and is the easiest to install. Building regulations require new properties to have at least 270mm (10”) of loft insulation. If your loft has less than this, it is well worth having it topped up. Installing cavity wall insulation could save you a further £110 per year. Contact the Suffolk Energy Action Link (SEAL) for information on how you can install energy saving measures at a much reduced rate by an independently approved company. Grants worth up to £3,500 to households on certain income-related benefits living in properties that are poorly insulated and/or do not have a working central heating system are also available from Warm Front.

For advice on energy saving grants please follow the link below:

• Energy Saving Grants

Temperature Controls

Turn your room heating down by just 1 or 2^oC. A temperature of 18 to 21^oC is adequate. You will be unlikely to notice a difference, but your pocket will - £30/year for a standard three bedroom property. Installing thermostatic radiator valves will allow you to distribute heat to where you most want it.

Replace Inefficient Boilers

If your boiler is more than 15 years old you could reduce your heating bill by up to a third by fitting an energy efficient condensing boiler for which grants are available. Contact the Energy Saving Trust Advice Centre Anglia.

Bills

Consider switching to a green tariff supplier who sells energy generated from renewable sources. Contact your current supplier or a utility switching organisation. When doing so, it may be worth finding out how much the company invests in new sources of renewable energy.

Cooling

Minimise the effects of summer heat waves by closing curtain and blinds in unoccupied rooms during the daytime. Remember also to stay hydrated by keeping water with you when out and about. For more advice on how to cope with extreme heat contact the NHS Direct via the web link below:

• NHS Direct.

For more advice you can call:

• Suffolk Energy Action Link (SEAL) on 0800 0288 938
• Warm Front on 0800 316 2805 (or textphone 0800 072 0156)
• Energy Saving Trust Advice Centre Anglia (EST) on 0800 512 012
• NHS Direct on 0845 46 47
• Suffolk Climate Change & Energy Helpline on 0800 02 88 938