A fuel poor household is one which cannot afford to keep
adequately warm at reasonable cost. It is deemed that
households spending more than 10% of their income on fuel
bills are experiencing fuel poverty.
How to Calculate if you are in Fuel Poverty
Fuel Poverty Ratio = Fuel costs (usage x price) / income.
If the above ratio is greater than 0.1 then the household is
Fuel Poor.
Living in cold homes can damage people’s health and affect their
quality of life. The elderly, children, and those with a disability
or long-term illness are especially vulnerable.
There are three main causes of fuel poverty:
- poor energy efficiency in the home
- high energy prices
- low household income
The Benefits of Cavity Wall Insulation
Cavity wall insulation is a
great way to make cost savings in heating your home,
especially in houses where the external walls are made up of two
layers with a small air gap or 'cavity' between them.
If you have cavity walls, insulating them will
make a real difference to the warmth in your home and your heating
bills.
Did you know that cavity wall insulation will
keep your home warmer in the winter but cooler in the summer. It
can also help to prevent condensation on the walls and
ceilings.
According to the Energy Saving Trust if you
live in a typical three-bedroom semi-detached house you could save
over £160 a year on your fuel bills and around 800kg of carbon
dioxide each year – every little helps towards the environment!
The Benefits of Loft Insulation
Hot air rises, so without loft insulation you
may be losing as much as a quarter of your heating costs through
your roof. If your home already has loft insulation, but the
material is thin, it won't be saving you as much money as it
could.
If you live in a typical three bedroom semi
detached property and have no loft insulation, installing the
recommended 270 mm depth of insulation could save you over £200 a
year on your fuel bills. Also, that’s around a tonne of carbon
dioxide each year so not only will you be saving money and keeping
your home toasty, you’ll be doing your bit for the environment
too!
Loft insulation is a quick and easy, cost
effective way of saving money. The loft insulation acts as a
blanket, trapping heat rising from the rooms below, reducing the
amount of heat lost through the roof, making your home feel
warmer.
Tips on how to save Energy in the Household
There are a number of ways to reduce your energy bills and save
energy in the household, such as:
- Install cavity wall and/or loft insulation
- Install energy saving light bulbs
- Upgrade an old G-rated Boiler to an energy
efficient Condensing Boiler
- Draft proof doors and window frames
- Fit a jacket to your hot water cylinder
- Double-glaze windows
For information on how to do the above, and to see more
hints and tips please visit the Energy Savings Trust.
The Energy Saving Trust (EST) is the UK's leading
impartial organisation helping people save energy and reduce carbon
emissions.