Protect yourself against the high cost of gas and electricity.

Getting the best deal for gas and electricity is an important first step in reducing your bills, but it is time to start thinking about conserving energy as well. So what can you do to protect yourself and minimise you and your family's exposure? Here are our top ten tips:

Top 10 tips

1. Compare your energy prices online regularly with Unravelit.com.
   If you have never switched energy supplier before, you could save up to £170 per year. Even households who have switched before should look again for a better deal – savings of 15% can be achieved quite easily. Remember - check whether you’re still getting the best deal every six months!
2. Pay by monthly Direct Debit.
   Rip up those cheques and see if your current supplier can offer you savings by moving to a cheaper payment method. Consumer watchdog energywatch reckons you could save up to £67 per year by moving from cheque to monthly Direct Debit.
3. Don’t use prepayment energy meters.
   Prepayment meters usually accept tokens or coins that can be bought or topped up. If the customer stops paying, the supply is cut off. The advantage is that you can budget your expenditure, however, this is also the most expensive way to buy your energy. If you have a prepayment meter in your home, contact your supplier for advice on having it replaced with a credit meter.
4. Insulate your home.
   Did you know that 40% of heat in a typical home is lost through the walls and loft? Make your home more energy efficient through draught proofing, cavity wall insulation, double glazing and by putting a sleeve over your water tank. And before you worry about the cost – help is at hand: The government, energy suppliers and local authorities all have a range of grants to help pay for making insulation improvements. Check the energy savings grant search tool and check if a grant is there for you: http://www.est.org.uk/myhome/gid/
5. Get energy-saving light bulbs.
   Every time you switch on a regular light bulb, 90% of the electricity is wasted as heat, and only 10% is converted into light. And while these special bulbs cost more, you should consider that they can last up to 12 times longer than standard bulbs.
6. Make your own electricity.
   Government grants are available for a range of technologies to generate electricity in your home. Visit http://www.clear-skies.org/ for more information the amounts available. Download an application form and get that solar panel on your roof!
7. Get a gas boiler that generates electricity.
   Innovative new gas boilers provide hot water around the house, while absorbing the heat that would normally be wasted through the exhaust to generate electricity. The energy can then be used in your home or exported back into the electricity grid – saving up to £200 per year. Read this document by the European Association for the Promotion of CHP (Combined Heat and Power) for more information about this technology and its availability in the UK FactSheet_MicroCHP_UK.pdf.
   (This requires that you have the Adobe Acrobat viewer installed on your PC)
8. Take the Energy Savings Trust Home Energy Check.
   Still not convinced this is for you? Use this simple online tool by the Energy Savings Trust to generate a personalised report that shows where you could cut back on your energy consumption. http://www.est.org.uk/sense/propertyDetailsPublic.do?action=view.
9. Financial help for elderly people.
   The government operates a £200 Winter Fuel Payment scheme for pensioners over the age of 60. More information on how to apply for the scheme is available on this link http://www.thepensionservice.gov.uk/winterfuel/what-is-it.asp or by calling the Winter Fuel Payment helpline on 08459 15 15 15.
10. Think you know it all now?
    Visit the website of the National Energy Foundation and test your knowledge about renewable energy sources. Get it right and you could win a Solar Sunhat. http://www.nef.org.uk/energyadvice/quiz.htm.