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Being green
  • REAL

  • Energy efficiency

  • Energy efficiency. These two words are everywhere at the moment, but what do they actually mean for you and your energy bills?

    Basically, energy efficiency is about reducing the amount of energy you use in your home, which could help the environment and your bank balance.

    Follow our five step guide and you'll be saving energy and money in no time.

  • Step one - Know your usage

    To start saving, you first need to know how much energy you're using.
    Read your meter regularly and give the readings to us. If you have an online account, you can give us your readings whenever you like and we'll tell you straightaway how much energy you've used since your last bill. You can also view copies of your bills when it suits you. If you don't have an online account you can register for one quickly and easily. Keeping a record of your usage will let you track how you're doing.

    Step two - Take our survey

    If you're not sure how energy efficient your home is at the moment, you can take our energy efficiency survey to find out.
    You'll get an energy efficiency rating for your home and a personalised plan telling you what actions you can take to save energy.

    Step three - Make simple changes

    If you've completed our survey, you'll already have a personalised plan to get you started.
    Plus you can get even more help from our tips and advice page, including a number of changes you can make that won't cost you a penny.

    Step four - Think about bigger investments

    You might be interested in making greater investments in the energy efficiency of your home.

    There are a number of changes that could save you a lot of energy and money in the long term:

    • Green Deal is an initiative that can help you improve the energy efficiency of your home without large, upfront costs.
    • Insulation is one of the top ways to lower your costs.
    • Changing from a low rated to a high rated appliance could save you a lot of energy and money. Visit our online shop for great deals on energy efficient appliances and exclusive customer discounts.
    • Upgrading your boiler could save you up to £300* a year and we have some great offers on energy efficient boilers.
    • If you can afford a bigger commitment, why not consider micro-renewables? You’ll be able to generate your own energy using renewable technology such as solar panels and get paid for any excess electricity you generate with a Feed-in Tariff.

    Step five - Get more advice

    Hopefully you've found our guide a useful starting point and are well on your way to becoming energy efficient.

    You can get free, independent energy efficiency advice from a variety of places:

    • Energy Efficiency Advice Centres - the Energy Saving Trust run a network of centres which provides free energy efficiency advice. To contact your local centre phone 0800 512 012. 
    • Citizens Advice Bureau and Age Concern - these agencies have a wide range of useful information and advice. Check your library or phone book for details.
    • Energy Action (Scotland) - this is a national charity aiming to end fuel poverty and achieve warm, dry homes for all. Visit their website.
    • National Energy Action (England and Wales) - this charity helps people on low incomes to heat and insulate their homes. Visit their website.
  • ^betterplan add on only available with Standard Energy.