Warmer winter checklist

• Paying by direct debit is usually cheaper than paying by cheque or cash.
• Paying by monthly direct debit can be cheaper than quarterly payments.
• Pre-payment meters can be the most expensive way to pay for your power. If you think a standard meter would be better for you, talk to your supplier. Most will swap them free of charge.
  • Prepayment meters (Centre for Sustainable Energy)
• Some suppliers charge for paper billing – getting bills by email may be cheaper, and more environmentally friendly.
  • Support on understanding your gas or electricity bill (Centre for Sustainable Energy)

Help with energy bills

Get help with your energy bills—grants, benefits, and affordable payment plans are available. If you’re on a pre-payment meter and can’t top up, ask your supplier for emergency credit. Reach out to your energy supplier, Better Housing Better Health, and Citizens Advice for more details.

Comparison websites can then help you check if you are on the best tariff. The website moneysavingexpert.com has advice on whether to stick, switch or fix your energy tariff.

Send regular meter readings to your energy company

If you don’t have a smart meter, submit regular meter readings to your supplier. This will help them bill you based on your actual use.

If you have a smart meter, these should submit your readings automatically. Smart meters are often provided with an energy monitor that can help you learn how much it costs to run different appliances. Alternatively, you can calculate it yourself using the guide below.

• Understanding gas and electricity bills (Centre for Sustainable Energy)
• [PDF] Smart meters guide (LEAP)
• [PDF] Running cost guide (LEAP)

If you are over 60, have young children, or use electrically powered medical equipment, register with your energy company and get extra help and support if there is a power cut. Where to register depends on where you live as you register with your network operator. To find out who your network operator is, put your postcode into this map.

For most Oxfordshire residents, register with SSEN. Find out more.

If you are a Western Power Distribution (WPD) customer, find out more here.

If you are a UK Power Network (UKPN) customer, find out more here.

When completing the form it would be really helpful for monitoring purposes if in the ‘How you heard about us’ section you select ‘Other’ and write Low Carbon Hub. Thank you.

The Help for Households website explains all the different support that’s available for energy – and also sets out other national schemes that can help with the cost of living.

A free service helping all Oxfordshire residents to keep warm, stay healthy, and live well. Call them for free on 0800 107 0044. Find out more.

Different councils offer a variety grants and support; check out your local council’s website for more information.

Sit down with a cup of tea and read your boiler manual. Alternatively, there are lots of how-to videos and guides on the internet for every heating system type, from combination boilers to storage heaters, which can help you get to grips with the basics.

• Central heating controls – Centre for Sustainable Energy [Also available as a PDF]
• Heating controls – Energy Saving Trust

Set your heating so it is only on when you will benefit from it. Remembering to put on a cosy jumper ahead of the heating can help you save money. It’s basic, but should allow you to maintain the same comfort level. You can try:

• Setting the thermostat to the lowest comfortable temperature, usually in the 18-21 degree C range. Turning down by just 1 degree could save £75 from your energy bill.
• Setting the programme so the heating comes on just before you get up in the morning and get home for the day.
• Switch off the heating before you go out for the day, or go to bed, as your home will stay warm for some time.

• Turn down radiators and heaters in rooms when you aren’t using them and set storage heaters to only heat rooms when needed.
  • Night Storage Heaters – Centre for Sustainable Energy
• Radiators can be made more controllable by adding Thermostatic Radiator Valves (TRVs). They can cost between £10-60 each. Digital TVRs are more expensive but can be programmed to adjust the heating in each room. Take care to protect rooms from damp and avoid frozen pipes by using frost-free settings.
  • Find out more about TRVs.
  • [Video] How to use your room and radiator thermostats efficiently
• Storage heaters: there are a number of helpful guides to help you get the most out of your storage heaters
  • [PDF] Electric storage heaters (LEAP)
  • [PDF] Night storage heaters – a simple guide (Centre for Sustainable Energy)
  • [Video] Using your night storage heater (Centre for Sustainable Energy)
  • [PDF] Quantum Storage Heaters (LEAP)

• Move furniture away from radiators so hot air can circulate.
• Bleed your radiators to remove trapped air.
  • [Video] How to bleed a radiator
• If your radiators are hot at the top but cold at the bottom, the system might have sludge in it, and benefit from being professionally cleaned.
• Check to see if your heating system is suitable for running at a lower flow temperature. You may be able to save 5-10% on your heating costs.
  • [Video] How to lower the flow temperature on a combi boiler
• Air source heat pumps: This guide helps you to make the most of your air source heat pumps
  • [PDF] Making the most of your Air Source Heat Pump (LEAP)

• Open your curtains in the morning, to make the most of winter sunshine.
• At dusk close your curtains. If they cover a radiator, tuck them behind so the heat stays in the room.
• Close internal doors to trap the heat in the room.
• Try a different energy saving hack from our ‘no-cost /low-cost’ energy saving ideas each day and see which work for you.

• Check the programme on your heating controls and tweak to match changes in your household needs and length of days.
  • Find out more about reading your gas or electricity meter (Centre for Sustainable Energy)

• Twice a year, adjust timers for daylight saving.
• Once summer comes, turn your heating off entirely – otherwise it may use fuel throughout the summer.
• Create a home emergency plan in case of power outages. Put together a kit that includes a torch, water, battery or wind-up radio, batteries, key medicines, and key contact numbers.
  • Find out more about home emergency plans (Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks)

• A great video that shows how to insulate the main areas of your home is this one from Which?.
  • [Video] Four ways to insulate your home and save money on your energy bills (Which?)
  • [PDF] Simple DIY draught-proofing (Centre for Sustainable Energy)

• Add insulating tape around the door frames.
  • [PDF] Find out more about installing draught proofing strips around door frames (Local Energy Advice Partnership)
  • Find out more about installing draught proofing strips around door frames (Local Energy Advice Partnership)
• Add a door brush to the bottom of the door.
  • [PDF] Find out more about installing a door bush (Local Energy Advice Partnership)
• Add a keyhole cover.
• Draughtproof your letterbox or consider replacing with a tightly closing model.
  • Find out more about letterbox draught-excluders (Energy Saving Trust)
  • [PDF] Instructions for installing a letterbox brush (Local Energy Advice Partnership)
• Make or buy a draught excluder.
  • How to make a draught excluder (Centre for Sustainable Energy)

• Use floor board draught excluder that expands to fill gaps.
• Fill gaps between your skirting board and the floor.
• Rugs can help prevent heat loss through cold spots in floors.

• An open fireplace can lose lots of heat. If you aren’t using a fireplace, you can buy a ‘chimney balloon’ or ‘chimney sheep’ to prevent heat going up the chimney, or you can make your own. Just remember to remove it before using the fireplace again.
  • [PDF] Find out more about chimney balloons (Local Energy Advice Partnership)
  • [Video] How to install a chimney balloon

• Install thermal blinds or add thermal material to existing curtains to help trap in heat.
• Acrylic secondary glazing is a cheap, effective and unobtrusive way of reducing heat loss through windows.
  • Find out more about acrylic secondary glazing in this blog and video from Transition Town Lewes
• Temporary ‘secondary glazing film’ can be put over single glazed windows, trapping an insulating layer of air. Cost £5-15 per window.
  • Find out more about secondary glazing options (Centre for Sustainable Energy)

• Add more insulation to your loft. It’s recommended for homes to have 270-300mm of insulation laid on the floor of the loft.
  • Find out more about loft insulation (Energy Saving Trust)
• Add draughtproofing tape around your loft hatch and put insulation on the hatch itself too.

• Get an insulating jacket for your hot water tank and add lagging to pipes.
  • Find out more about water tank insulation (Centre for Sustainable Energy)
• Gaps around pipe outlets etc. can also be a source of draughts that can be filled.

• Add radiator panels behind radiators that are on external walls. There are lots of different types you can buy, or make your own with card and foil. Cost: around £8-12 per radiator.
  • [Video] How to install radiator foil

• Air needs to flow in and out of your house, so it stays healthy. Make sure you don’t block any intentional ventilation such as air bricks, extractor fans, and vents.
  • [PDF] Dealing with damp, mould, and condensation (LEAP)

Try this free Plan Builder tool. Just put in your Oxfordshire postcode, and discover the current energy efficiency and performance of your home, based on existing data, then draw up your new plans. Find out more.

You may be eligible for energy efficiency upgrades to be fitted to your home, free of charge. These upgrades are known as ‘retrofitting’ and could help to reduce your energy bills and make your home easier to keep warm. Find out more.

If you have the funds to pay for work, and are considering multiple home improvements, this service provides a full, one-stop-shop service to help reduce your energy bills, cut carbon emissions and make your home healthier and more comfortable. Visit cosyhomesoxfordshire.org.

For more energy saving advice and how to sign up to the Priority Services Register. Find out more.

For retrofit advice, plus an excellent summary of key grants for householders, see here. You can also download their helpful flowchart covering possible funding here.

The latest energy efficiency grant news for Oxfordshire residents. Find out more. You can also see if you’re eligible for funding by registering your interest in their energy efficient scheme here.

Government website with key financial support available to help with the cost-of-living crisis.  helpforhouseholds.campaign.gov.uk

Call 0800 107 0044 for free and impartial energy advice for all Oxfordshire residents from understanding your bills to accessing grants and support. Find out more.

Start your energy efficiency journey with the free Plan Builder online tool. They also offer a one-stop retrofit service ideal for householders wanting to invest in transforming their house into a cosy home. Find out more.

• LEAP: The Energy & Money Saving Service. applyforleap.org.uk Freephone 0800 060 7567
• Energy Saving Trust: energysavingtrust.org.uk
• Centre for Sustainable Energy: cse.org.uk

Low Carbon Oxford North’s free home improvement guides can be downloaded from here.