With the cold season around the corner, the challenge of maintaining a warm home amidst rising energy costs becomes a significant issue. 

In January 2025, Ofgem, is set to increase the energy price cap by 1.2%, bringing the average annual bill to £1,738. Although this is lower than the previous year, it’s still likely to cause concern among households, especially the most vulnerable.

To mitigate these costs and enhance comfort, now’s the time to implement effective energy-saving measures.

Enhancing insulation

Proper insulation is important to retain heat and reduce energy consumption. Key areas to address include:

• Loft insulation: A quarter of heat loss occurs through the roof in uninsulated homes. Installing or upgrading loft insulation can significantly decrease this loss. It’s now standard for new build homes to have loft insulation to help prevent heat loss.
• Wall insulation: Both cavity and solid walls can be insulated to prevent heat escape. Cavity wall insulation involves filling the gap between walls, while solid wall insulation can be applied internally or externally.
• Floor insulation: Insulating floors, especially those above unheated spaces, can prevent heat loss and improve comfort.

The government’s Great British Insulation Scheme offers support for such improvements, aiming to assist households in enhancing energy efficiency. 

Upgrading heating systems

Modern, efficient heating systems can substantially reduce energy bills. You might want to consider the following upgrades:

• Heat pumps: Air source and ground source heat pumps are eco-friendly alternatives to traditional boilers. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme provides grants of up to £7,500 to support their installation.
• Condensing boilers: Replacing old boilers with modern condensing models can improve efficiency and lower energy consumption.

Sealing draughts

Unintended gaps around doors, windows and floors can lead to significant heat loss. Sealing these draughts is a cost-effective way to enhance warmth. Simple measures include installing draught excluders, applying sealant to gaps and using thick curtains to retain heat.

Smart heating controls

Implementing smart heating controls allows for precise management of home temperatures, ensuring heating is active only when needed. Smart thermostats can learn household patterns and adjust settings accordingly, leading to savings. 

Government support and grants

The UK government has introduced several initiatives to assist households in improving energy efficiency:

• Warm Homes Plan: This was launched to help up to 300,000 homes with upgrades like insulation and low-carbon heating solutions.
• Energy Company Obligation (ECO): This scheme requires larger suppliers to fund energy efficiency improvements for low-income households.
• Home Upgrade Grant (HUG): Provides funding to local authorities to improve homes with energy-efficient upgrades and low-carbon heating.

Additionally, the Warm Home Discount scheme offers eligible households a one-time £150 discount on electricity bills during winter months.

Additional tips

Finally, the following tips can help increase the heat in your home: 

• Regular maintenance: Ensure heating systems are serviced annually to maintain efficiency.
• Energy-efficient appliances: Using appliances with high energy efficiency ratings can reduce electricity consumption.
• Behavioural changes: Simple actions like lowering the thermostat by one degree and turning off unused appliances can also lead to noticeable savings.