Energy Efficiency Information

Why Energy Efficiency?

For homes and businesses, saving energy means saving money, and saving the environment.  Energy costs are ever rising, and burning coal, gas and oil produces carbon dioxide, the main gas causing climate change (global warming).

For business energy efficiency advice visit the Carbon Trust website or call them on 0800 085 2005. The Carbon Trust is a Government sponsored programme to lower carbon dioxide emissions from businesses.

Under the Home Energy Conservation Act (1995) local authorities have a duty to improve the energy efficiency of homes locally. Around a third of the UK’s carbon dioxide emissions come from energy used in homes.

Living in a cold or damp home which is too expensive to heat can be dangerous to health. View Wyre Forest District Council's Affordable Warmth Strategy (73K)

The energy efficiency of homes can be improved by:

• Loft and cavity wall insulation
• Draught proofing
• Energy efficient electrical appliances
• Energy efficient boilers
• Low energy lightbulbs
• Double glazing
• Habits – see the 15 energy saving tips below
  

Take a free online Home Energy Check.

The Worcestershire and Warwickshire Energy Efficiency Advice Centre will send you a personalised report on how you can improve the energy efficiency of your property.

Grants and discounts for energy saving measures are available for everyone, whatever your circumstances. Measures may include efficient boilers, heating systems and insulation. For instance, cavity wall insulation can cost as little as £100, and loft insulation as little as £50. See latest grants and subsidised deals

If you are over 65 you may be eligible for free cavity wall and loft insulation. View the free loft and cavity wall insulation poster (713K)

We are also issuing free energy efficient light bulbs. View the poster to find out how to get hold of your free low energy light bulb (941K)

For advice on the most appropriate grants or discount deals for your personal circumstances, call the Worcestershire and Warwickshire Energy Efficiency Advice Centre (WEEAC) on 0800 085 0289.

Renewable energy sources include solar water heating, solar photo-voltaic, wind, wood fuel, and ground source heat pumps.

Grants are available towards renewable energy sources for your home, see the Low Carbon Buildings Programme website.

The Council is also offering grants of up to £1,000 to help householders and not for profit community groups to install small scale renewable energy technologies.

• View the renewable energy grants poster (1,026K)
• Download an application form for a grant to install renewable energy technology (2,427K)
• Download the guidance information for completing the application form (2,861K)

• View the planning information for domestic microgeneration equipment

• If you reduce the temperature of your home by 1ºC it can cut your heating bill by 10%
  
• Boilers operate more efficiently with regular servicing
• Only use enough water to cover the food you are cooking and always put a lid on the pan
• Always wash a full load of clothes and use the lowest temperature setting you need
• Don’t use a tumble dryer if you can dry your clothes on a washing line
• Don’t leave fridge or freezer doors open
• Defrost your freezer regularly
• Your freezer operates more efficiently when it is full. You can fill empty space with newspaper or tubs of water
• Low energy lightbulbs are 5 times more efficient and can last ten times longer than an ordinary bulb
• Turn off lights when you do not need them, but make sure stairs and hallways are adequately lit
• Close curtains at dusk to keep heat in, and tuck curtains behind radiators
• Fit a letter box flap to reduce the draughts
• A shower uses much less water and energy than a running bath
• If you are going on holiday remember to switch your water heating off
• Don’t leave televisions and videos on standby.