More than a third of Brits will be plunged into poverty this winter, missing out on meals and getting into debt to pay their energy bills.
The 10% hike in gas and electricity prices across England, Scotland and Wales from October will mean that many consumers need to cut back on essentials or rely on credit cards and overdrafts to cover their bills, a survey* of 2,000 consumers by Barratt Homes has found.
Under the new energy price cap, the typical annual dual-fuel bill paid by direct debit will be £1,717 per year**.
Oliver Novakovic, Technical & Innovation Director at Barratt, said: “The large number of poorly insulated, older homes across the country can cause stress for those living in them as we approach winter. While we are not seeing the huge spikes in energy prices that we had in 2022, it is still good for consumers to look at ways to cut their bills.
“One of the best ways to do this is by installing a smart meter to keep an eye on your usage, so you can understand when the energy peaks are, and can plan the most effective times to turn on your washing machine or dishwasher.
“At Barratt, we strongly believe in a fabric-first approach to building homes. This means filling homes with insulation and ensuring that windows and doors don’t allow heating to escape. Many older homes can have gaps that mean your heating seeps through. Draught-proofing is one of the cheapest and most effective ways to cut your energy bills.”
As many consumers try to budget for changes in energy prices, an enormous 75% of those surveyed said that they didn’t understand what the energy price cap is or how it affects their bill.
The energy price cap covers 28 million households in England, Wales and Scotland and is set every three months by the energy regulator Ofgem. It fixes the maximum price that can be charged for each unit of energy on a standard tariff for a typical dual-fuel household, paid by direct debit.
While a fifth of those surveyed said that they would ask their energy supplier for a payment plan if they were struggling to pay their bill, almost as many said that they didn’t know where to turn for help.
Despite there being several Government-backed schemes available to support consumers to improve the energy efficiency in their homes – such as the Great British Insulation Scheme, The Home Upgrade Scheme and The Energy Company Obligation – more than half of consumers are not aware of these schemes, or help offered by Citizens’ Advice.
As many consumers still feel the effects of the cost-of-living crisis, around 60% said that they plan to resort to energy saving methods used by their grannies, such as putting up heavy curtains across their doors, using sausage draught excluders, or buying thermal vests and blankets rather than putting on their heating. More than 1 in 10 consumers said that they would be relying on a warm bank this winter, such as a library, to avoid switching on their heating.
Tips to draught-proof an older home for winter:
Draught-free homes are more comfortable at lower temperatures, so you can turn down your thermostat, saving on your energy bills.
Budget-friendly:
• Find gaps around doors and windows by listening for rattles and feeling for air gaps. When you find gaps, fit foam, metal or plastic strips with brushes, which will go a long way to insulate many parts of your home. Always use properly certified products.
• Check your skirting boards or exposed floorboards for gaps and fill these with a silicon-based filler.
• Brushed letterbox excluders are commonly used on letterboxes to avoid draughts. Keyhole covers are also easy to find.
• Buy thermal curtains for doors and windows, as well as fabric door draught excluders.
• Fill in gaps around your loft hatch.
Splash more cash:
• Replace old glazing with argon-filled double or triple glazing.
• Increase the insulation in your loft, cellar or attic.
• Fill gaps in your exterior walls or pipework. Seek professional advice if you need this.
• Invest in a ground or air source heat pump to future-proof your home and save money on your bills.
• Add solar panels to take advantage of being able to sell energy that your home generates back to the National Grid.
Explore our range of highly energy efficient new homes today.
Learn how David Wilson Homes can assist you with our Part Exchange or Deposit Unlock scheme.
Sources:
*Savanta Group/ Barratt Developments surveyed 2,000 British consumers (September 2024).
**Ofgem energy price cap announcement (23 August 2024).
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