What is the one thing energy experts recommend to save money on fuel bills?

• Energy expert Angela Terry, CEO of One Home, is urging people to do one thing and insulate their loft this bank holiday to save money on fuel bills
• Around eight million homes in the UK collectively lose over £8 billion per year due to inadequate loft insulation
• Installing adequate loft insulation in a standard semi-detached house is quicker and simpler than many people think and could save homeowners £200 from the first year, and for the next 40 years, based on current prices
• Energy prices are predicted to rise by 9% on 1 October when the Energy Price Cap is renewed, and remain high for years to come

(21 August, 2024) Many people wonder which one thing they can do to reduce their fuel bills, and leading climate solutions charity, One Home, is urging homeowners to insulate their lofts.

The charity is calling on consumers to invest in adequate loft insulation this bank holiday weekend before temperatures drop this winter – a move which could pay for itself in as little as four years.

Helping older people to insulate their lofts is also a smart financial move. Millions of pensioners are set to lose their winter fuel allowance this autumn, so finding ways to cut energy bills and help keep homes warm this winter is more important than ever for those we love.

Figures reveal that up to eight million households* across the country are unwittingly losing more than £8 billion per year by paying out for unnecessary energy bills due to inadequate loft insulation, while also adding to their home’s carbon footprint.

Although energy bills may be at their lowest levels for two years, they remain around £400 higher** than they were three years ago and are expected to rise again by 9% on 1 October 2024 when regulator, The Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem), renews the Energy Price Cap for the next three months.

One Home CEO, leading environmental scientist and media-friendly energy expert Angela Terry said: “Keeping your home warm is probably the furthest thing from people’s minds right now, but homeowners could be in for a real shock when energy bills start to go up again in just over a month’s time.

It’s horrifying to think that homes could be losing a quarter of their heat through an uninsulated roof – now really is the time to put preventative measures in place and tackle that job that you might have been putting off for years. Loft insulation is the single most impactful thing homeowners can do to reduce heat loss quickly and it is so much cheaper and easier than people think.

Choosing the right kind of insulation is important, and loft insulation should be mineral wool to a depth of 270mm. Spray foam insulation is not recommended as there are concerns it may affect the timbers in your loft, and installing it can cause issues if you later plan to sell or remortgage your home.

Nobody wants to see their hard-earned cash evaporate through their roof so our message to homeowners this August bank holiday is simple: insulate your loft. You will really thank yourself as temperatures start to fall this winter. What’s more the benefits aren’t just felt in household budgets – a well insulated home also benefits the environment by reducing carbon emissions so it’s good for the pocket and the planet.”

Five reasons to invest in adequate loft insulation:

1. An initial investment in new loft insulation could pay for itself in less than four years, and will last for approximately 40 years.
2. It’s quick and easy as a manageable DIY job for the weekend or it can be done in just a few hours by a professional.
3. The benefits are immediate – homes will feel warmer straight away.
4. It’s the quickest, cheapest and easiest way to significantly reduce a home’s carbon footprint. Proper insulation in a typical semi-detached house could save 600 kg of carbon dioxide escaping into the atmosphere every year. That’s the equivalent carbon saving of planting more than 300 trees.
5. There is a Government grant available for loft insulation and other home improvements. The Great British Insulation Scheme is open to people living in the least energy efficient homes and in certain council tax bands. Check if you are eligible here.

One Home is a UK charity which aims to help households adapt to a low cost, low carbon lifestyle and provides impartial information and advice on practical solutions that improve people’s lives whilst saving money and reducing carbon emissions. For more information, visit One Home, or download the charity’s energy saving guide.

-ENDS-

*The Big Loft Insulation Drive | One Home

**What is the energy price cap and who gets winter fuel payments? – BBC News

***https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/advice/roof-and-loft-insulation/

Notes to editors

For more information please contact:

Sam Carlisle at sam.carlisle@causecommunications.co.uk or Jenna Sloan at jenna.sloan@causecommunications.co.uk

About Angela Terry

One Home was founded by Angela Terry MSc MEI, an environmental scientist with over 20 years’ experience in the renewables industry. Angela set up One Home to raise awareness of positive climate solutions and help UK households to adapt to a low cost, low carbon lifestyle. Angela was a pioneer of community energy in the UK as Development Director for Energy4All. She was also Head of Wood Fuel for the Forestry Commission, Policy Manager for RES, and a carbon scientist in New Zealand.

Angela is an energy expert and enjoys working with the media. She’s been featured on news outlets including the Daily Telegraph, LBC, BBC 5 Live, The Guardian, Metro, The Sun and Sky News.

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The information in this article was correct at the time of writing and is provided for guidance only. Please see the full disclaimer in our terms and conditions.

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