Energy bills are a sore subject for a lot of people, and it feels like there is always something in the news about them: energy prices are rising, energy prices are falling, the cap is being lowered – it’s all getting a bit confusing.
That’s why it has never been more important to start looking at your energy usage and consider how you can make changes around your home to lower your bills.
One way to do this is to explore green energy options such as insulation, solar panels, or air source heat pumps.
In this article, we explore the help available to residents of Scotland with their energy bills, how insulation, solar panels and air source hear pumps can help to reduce energy bills and provide you with some additional energy bill tips from the Green Home Systems experts.
Contents
- Help with Energy bills in Scotland
- Why does insulating your house reduce energy bills?
- How do solar panels reduce energy bills?
- How do air source heat pumps (ASHP) reduce energy bills?
- Additional Tips for Reducing Energy Bills from the Experts
Help with Energy bills in Scotland
There is a wide variety of help and payments available through the Scottish government or your local council including:
| Name of Payment | What is it? | How much could you get? | Who is eligible? |
| Winter Fuel Payment | Assistance towards heating bills | Between £250 and £600 |
|
| Warm Home Discount | Money off your electricity bill if you qualify for the Warm Home Discount scheme | £150 |
|
| Winter Heating Payment | Assistance for people on low-income benefits with extra heating needs | £55.05 |
|
| Child Winter Heating Payment | Assistance for disabled children, young people, and their families with extra heating needs | £235.70 |
|
If you are not eligible for the above, you could also consider a grant or loan for energy saving home improvements, such as ECO4.
ECO4 funding can be used to install air source heat pumps, home heating upgrades, and property insulation.
You can check your eligibility for this payment on the Green Home Systems website.
Why does insulating your house reduce energy bills? 2
5% of heat loss in homes is through the roof, resulting in higher energy bills as you try to heat the rest of the house.
Proper insulation traps warm air when it’s cold outside and allows warm air to escape during the summer when it’s (supposed to be) hotter, which is called the flow of thermal energy.
This keeps your bills lower as you are wasting, and using, less energy. To further reduce heat loss, you can install insulation in more than just the roof.
Other areas include:
- Cavity walls
- External walls
- Lofts
- Room-in-Roofs
- Internal walls
- Underflooring
It is worth bearing in mind though that it is possible to over insulate a house, which causes the house to stop ‘breathing’, which causes moisture to build up and comes with its own set of problems.
This is why employing a trusted green energy installer, like Green Home Systems, is a key first step when considering improving your insulation as they will conduct a thorough survey of your property and make informed suggestions.
How do solar panels reduce energy bills?
Solar panels generate electricity from the sun (yes, even in Scotland), meaning that you don’t have to rely on energy companies for your energy.
It is estimated that if your home has solar panels, you can save between 50-70% on your energy bills.
Your appliances can run off your stored solar power and you can even sell the energy you generate back to the grid, making solar panels a money saving and earning investment.
You can find out more about solar panels and battery storage, and how you can add them to your home here.
How do air source heat pumps (ASHP) reduce energy bills?
A properly installed air source heat pump can save you money as they are powered purely by electricity, meaning that you don’t have to rely on oil and gas prices to keep your home toasty.
They are also very efficient, require almost no maintenance and have a lifespan of 15-20 years, so you don’t have to worry about any additional, or surprise, costs.
You can find out more about air source heat pumps here.
Additional Tips for Reducing Energy Bills from the Experts
We spoke to our trusty Green Energy systems team to find out their top tips for reducing energy bills:
“My favourite energy saving hack is to use the lids on pots and pans when cooking. This not only makes the food cook faster (bonus!) but also uses less energy.”
– Gordon McDill, Private Sales Director
“I hate doing laundry but it’s a necessity. To save energy, I only use my tumble dryer for towels to keep them nice and fluffy and try to mimimise the number of clothes washes I do by putting as much as the machine can handle in at one time, but I need to stop mixing my white and colour washes!”
– Graeme Carruthers, Commercial Director
Conclusion
We've explored some energy saving possibilities available to Scottish residents, including financial assistance for energy bills, green energy solutions and Green Home System’s team’s top tips to start reducing your energy bills immediately.
From solar panels, ASHP, and getting proper installation installed, to grants and loans, there is a green solution for everyone, which not only benefits you and your home, but also the environment.
To find out more or get a quote from our trusted and reliable team, contact the Green Home Systems team today.