With the nights drawing in and the temperatures dropping, it’s the time of year when energy bills start to rise – which is why we want to share some tips and advice with you on staying warm this winter for less.

Manage Your Thermostat

You can programme your thermostat to come on only when you need heating and hot water rather than staying on constantly.

A nice temperature in the home is 21 degrees in the sitting room and 18 degrees in the rest of the house. Depending on how high you currently set your thermostat, by reducing the setting by just 1 degree can save you up to £100 on your yearly heating costs.

Use A Smart Meter

Smart meters mean accurate energy bills and let you see how much energy you’re using so you can assess where any cutbacks can be made. There is no need for anyone to physically read your meter with a smart meter, too.

Don’t Overfill The Kettle

Only fill your kettle with the amount of water you actually need to avoid boiling water unnecessarily.

Stop A Dripping Tap

Make sure you fix a dripping tap as soon as possible as this wastes a surprisingly large amount of water – it can be the equivalent of enough water to fill half a bath within one week.

Keep Heat In

Block any draughts in the home and close curtains when it’s dark outside to stop heat escaping through the windows.

Don’t Leave Appliances On Standby

Try not to leave appliances on standby when you’re not using them, and unplug gadgets and phones once they’re charged rather than leaving them plugged in.

Be Prepared For Power Cuts & Floods

Some events are beyond our control, such as power cuts and floods. As we head into the winter months, it’s a good idea to be prepared in case of an emergency.

When it comes to floods, you can sign up for flood alerts and make a personal flood plan – there are further tips on preparing for flooding on Gov.uk.

In case of a power cut, make sure you have a torch or a fully charged smartphone at the ready. It’s also a good idea to keep food in the house that doesn’t need to be heated before it can be eaten. If you or a dependent rely on electricity for your heath and wellbeing, you can sign up to the Priority Services Register by contacting your energy provider. It’s a free service that provides help when needed.

Seek Advice

We are here to help all our tenants live in comfortable and safe homes, and if you’re worried about how you’ll keep your home warm this winter, pay your energy bills or prepare for a power cut or flood, let us know.

We have links to helpful websites such as Warm Home Discount and Winter Fuel Payments, as well as general advice on keeping costs down, on our Cost Of Living Help page.

You can also contact your Housing Officer or call us on 0121 358 0966 or email contact@nehemiah.co.uk and we will do all we can to ensure you can stay warm and safe this winter.