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You can now get help to save on energy bills

By getting long term assistance to make your home more energy efficient you can cut your energy bills and save money.

Every household can now get at least 50 per cent off loft and cavity wall insulation. A range of other energy saving devices like low energy light bulbs, real time displays and energy saver plugs are also available. Taking up these measures could help you save up to £300 every year on your energy bills.

You can access these energy saving measures through energy suppliers. To find out more, contact the ACT ON CO2 advice line on 0800 512 012.

Help if you are a pensioner or from a low income household

Pensioners and people in low income households may need more support with their energy bills. If you are in either of these groups, you may be eligible for some of the measures below:

Free energy efficiency improvements

11 million of the most vulnerable homes qualify for free improvements such as loft or cavity wall insulation.

The Warm Front scheme offers up to £2,700 worth of central heating and energy efficiency measures to low income and pensioner households. As a result of this new package, around 40,000 extra households will see their fuel bills reduce.

Cold Weather Payments and Winter Fuel Payments

Cold Weather Payments will be tripled for vulnerable households this winter from £8.50 to £25 a week.

Steps have already been put in place to make sure households with someone over 60 will receive an extra £50 on their Winter Fuel Payment (up from £200 to £250), with an extra £100 for over-80s households (up from £300 to £400).

Face-to-face energy saving advice

As part of a new Community Energy Saving Programme, local councils, voluntary organisations and energy companies will carry out house-to-house calls to offer help in some of the most deprived areas of the UK. This could result in as many as 100 community schemes across the country.

Social tariffs

Energy suppliers now offer lower “social tariffs” to their most vulnerable customers and are planning to bring the number of these discounted accounts to around 600,000 by the end of the year. The discounts can be worth £200 - £250 a year. For more information, contact your energy supplier.

• More on Cold Weather Payments
• More about Warm Front

Other steps you can take to reduce your energy bills

On top of this help, you can reduce your bills using simple measures which cost no money at all - like turning your thermostat down a notch and not leaving your television on standby.

You can also compare energy suppliers to get the best energy deals, as switching could save you money.

If you are able, moving to payment by direct debit could save you money - an average of £150 per household if you are currently on a pre-payment meter, or £100 per household if you are on a standard plan, such as paying by cheque. 

• Saving energy in your home

Calculate your carbon footprint

Everyone has a carbon footprint - it's your own personal measure of how much carbon dioxide you create and how much you contribute to climate change.

Much of the carbon dioxide you emit in your everyday life is down to your energy use – which means that cutting your carbon footprint can also have the effect of cutting your energy bills.

Use the ACT ON CO2 calculator to find out what your carbon footprint is. You’ll receive a personalised action plan with recommendations about how you can save money, save energy and help tackle climate change.

• Calculate your carbon footprint Opens new window

Find out more on Directgov

Get straight to information about saving energy, leading a greener life, reducing your emissions, climate change and more...

• Greener living: quick guides