With inflation and interest rates rising while earnings fail to keep pace, it’s undeniable that the UK is experiencing a cost of living crisis. When even government ministers feel able to frame our problems in such stark terms, you know it must be serious. There isn’t a single cause of our troubles; they are the result of various circumstances that have collided to make everything more expensive than most budgets can stand. For that reason, there isn’t a simple solution either, but while you can’t do much about the price of food or the shrinking funds in your bank account, you can make a significant difference by saving on your energy bills.

If you’re looking for ways to cut the cost of powering and heating your home, a quick online search will take you to dozens of sites with helpful money-saving tips. But you’ll quickly realise that there are essentially two ways of doing it: reducing the amount of gas and electricity you use and increasing the efficiency of how you use it. Next Energy is here to help you do both things.

Reducing Consumption

Among the many suggestions you’ll come across are simple actions such as turning off appliances at the wall, turning down thermostats, closing radiators in rooms you don’t use much and switching off unnecessary lights. Hang washing on airers to dry instead of using the tumble drier and, if you’re thinking long-term, install smart thermostats and replace old appliances with new, more efficient ones. Cutting down on hot water is another worthwhile measure, whether that means taking showers instead of baths or washing up in a bowl rather than under a running tap. On their own, each method will only save small amounts, but the cumulative effect is significant.

Increasing Efficiency

This is really all about insulation. Loft and wall insulation, double-glazing and draught-proofing can help you make the most out of the energy you pay for and save you a small fortune in lost heat. Visiting Scandinavians, who live with extremely severe winters, are often shocked at the poor level of insulation that’s common in the UK. What’s more, it doesn’t have to be expensive. For example, instead of formal double-glazing, you can buy relatively cheap plastic lining to create a temporary double-glazed effect and which you can remove when the weather warms up.

At Next Energy we would recommend any and all of these measures, but we can also offer you the benefit of Ofgem-approved schemes that will bring considerable savings. And because grants are available to eligible households, they won’t cost the earth.

Local Area Delivery Scheme (LAD)

The government’s Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has allocated £500 million of funding to the five Regional Energy Hubs of England. Instead of a centralised process, this delegates powers to local authorities who have the best knowledge of the needs of their regions.

The LAD scheme is designed to raise the energy efficiency of low-energy performance and low-income homes. Its twin objectives are lower costs for consumers and reduced carbon emissions to be achieved by phasing out fossil fuels.

The basic eligibility requirements are:

The combined household income must be no more than £30,000

The current Energy Performance Certificate rating must be E, F or G, the lowest levels

Owner occupiers can obtain a 100% subsidy

Social and private landlords can obtain a two-thirds subsidy

The scheme doesn’t specify particular methods, but leaves it to the local authorities to approve any home improvements proposed.

Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS)

Targeted at the same income bracket as the LAD scheme, the BUS scheme is focused on the installation of low-carbon heating systems. The three technologies covered are air source heat pumps, ground source heat pumps and biomass boilers. The subsidies available are £5,000 for boilers and air source pumps and £6,000 for ground source pumps. These substantial discounts make it easy and affordable for people on low incomes living in poorly performing homes to take advantage of highly efficient heating systems that can drastically lower energy bills while protecting the environment. The BUS initiative opened in 2022 and will last until 2025. Unlike LAD, boiler upgrade subsidies are not available directly to householders but are administered via approved installers, such as Next Energy.
So, at least in terms of household energy, there’s no need to be alarmed by the cost of living crisis. Next Energy provides the ideal pathway to savings and efficiency. With our help, you can enjoy a warm, affordable winter. Visit our application form to see if you qualify for help today.