Introduction

Energy bills are set to rise by as much as 40% this winter. This will take the average household bill for gas and electricity for customers on standard plans to over £1,300 for the year. With many consumer organisations and action groups forecasting a steep rise in the number of people who will have difficulty paying their bills, it is a good time to look at ways to reduce energy and heating costs.

There are a number of relatively easy and inexpensive measures that people can employ to keep fuel and energy costs down. Additionally, grants are available from a wide variety of agencies to improve the energy efficiency of your home.

Next: Insulating the loft