Save energy now as energy bills set to soar

Householders will have to slash their energy consumption by more than a quarter over the next seven years if they want their bills to stay at today’s prices, warns Midlands expert Ron Fox.

He said that if residents did not make any savings experts predict that fuel bills would rise by 26 per cent from the present annual average of £1,267 to £1,600 by 2020.

This is because of a fivefold increase in green subsidies as the Government phases out dirty coal power plants, the rising global gas price and the increased demand for heating during the recent freezing weather.

Ann Robinson, of the price comparison website uswitch.com, said: “It’s pretty grim news as it now looks like there will be significant price increases in electricity and gas bills before this coming winter.”

But the Government claims energy bills are lower because of their energy and climate change policies.

A report by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) published last week says that the average householders will pay £64 or 5% less for gas and electricity this year compared to if none of their green policies existed.

The department believes that by 2020 their strategy will have even more of an impact on household bills – saving £166 or 11 per cent compared to a do nothing scenario.

The Government is banking on the next generation of energy efficient boilers, fridges and washing machines and the Green Deal insulation programme to protect residents from higher bills. It has also signed a £10 billion 20-year deal for shale gas from the United States last week to reduce the country’s dependence on Russia and Qatar for energy, although shipments will not start arriving until 2018. This will also help offset the production of North Sea gas which has almost halved since 2006.

But Andrew Warren, director of the Association for the Conservation of Energy, said: “The calculations assume that new products are purchased and that people do not stagger on with their old boilers. It’s quite difficult to see what the stimulus will be to deliver these savings.”

However, Ron, who owns green energy company Noreus in Stafford, said householders can start cutting their energy consumption now.

He said firstly residents should have a free thermal imaging camera survey which shows where energy is lost from a home.

As up to 60 per cent of heat loss is through the roof and the walls he says the first priority should be to spray foam the attic to reduce bills by up to 50 per cent and save up to £600 a year.

Other ideas include solar panels, double glazing and the latest British designed thermodynamic panel system which provides hot water for only around £1 a week and central heating for about £5 a week.

One cheaper option is to clear the limescale as calcium carbonate reduces the efficiency of a domestic heating system.

For more energy saving ideas or to book a free thermal imaging camera survey call Ron on 01782 756995.