Member Article

Winterproof your home & keep 'Warm Up North'

Temperatures may have fallen outside, but that doesn’t mean they should fall in the home as well this winter.

With thousands of homes across the region living in fuel poverty, the landmark energy efficiency scheme Warm Up North is urging residents to find out how they could benefit from energy saving measures.

Launched in 2013, Warm Up North is tackling fuel poverty in the region by making homes more affordable for residents to keep warm. Whether young or old, prepping the home for colder conditions can help residents to save energy and cut down the cost of their energy bills.

Endorsed by nine North East local authorities, Warm Up North has helped thousands of households by installing energy efficiency solutions, including cavity wall insulation, loft insulation, solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and new efficient boilers.

Jon Kershaw, head of operations at Warm Up North, said: “Fuel poverty can be all too common, but to date Warm Up North has already helped thousands of households in the region to benefit from more comfortable homes and more affordable energy bills.

“As a region we have a large proportion of older properties in the North East which are often inefficient and could benefit significantly from the installation of energy efficient or renewable energy measures.

“From insulation and new boilers to solar PV panels there is a range of solutions available and after a whole-house assessment our team of expert advisers will recommend the most appropriate measures to make a home more efficient.

“With 95% of our customers expressing a high level of satisfaction combined with our partnership with nine North East local authorities, residents can feel confident that the Warm Up North team will deliver an outstanding customer service and that all work will be completed to the highest possible standard.”

To find out more about Warm Up North call the team free [1] on 0800 294 8073.

Check out Warm Up North’s top 10 tips to help cut energy bills even further:

1. As the days get shorter remember to shut curtains at dusk to shut out draughts and trap heat inside.
2. Central heating can be a cheaper alternative to heating one room with a gas fire. Test the most efficient way to heat a property by comparing the meter readings using the two methods.
3. Always choose the correct duvet. Use a lower tog in the summer to keep cool and a higher tog in the winter to keep you feeling warmer.
4. Avoid heating unused rooms by closing internal doors. If there are gaps underneath doors use draught excluders to keep out chilly draughts.
5. Up to 25 percent of a property’s heat is lost through the roof, so if your loft insulation is looking a little thin an insulation top-up can help trap in extra heat.
6. Time your heating to turn on between 15 and 30 minutes before it’s needed and to switch off 30 minutes before bedtime. This will keep homes warm when it’s needed, whilst saving money.
7. Invest in a cosy rug – not only is it a great excuse to spruce up a living room, but it will insulate cold flooring.
8. Line-drying is a big no-no in colder months, so use clothes horses to avoid suffocating heaters with damp and heavy items. Also, remember to wash at 30 degrees to save even more energy.
9. Turning the boiler down will not always save money. If there is a room thermostat then turn the boiler to its maximum setting, if not set the boiler as low as is comfortable.
10. Secondary glazing film can offer a cheaper alternative to double glazing. Film for four windows should cost around £8.

[1] Calls to an 0800 number are free from a BT Landline, calls from other lines and mobiles may vary.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Warm Up North .