Energy saving tips and support for our customers - North Devon Homes

At North Devon Homes we want our customers to feel happy, comfortable and warm in their homes. Our Money Matters Team is working with our customers to ensure that this is the case as we head into the cooler weather and darker nights.

The current cost of living is high and energy bills can seem overwhelming. That’s why we have put together some tips for our customers about small changes we can all make within the home to help reduce energy consumption and save money. The advice is being distributed to customers via a leaflet. It is broken down into different rooms in the house as well as tips on ventilation, heating and useful website links.

We want our customers to enter the autumn and winter months feeling positive and equipped with information on ways they can keep costs down.

The advice includes:

• Try to use LED energy saving lightbulbs in all rooms - they are much cheaper to run, and turn off lights when you leave a room
• Don’t leave the TV on standby and turn off plugs at the socket when not in use, this includes phone chargers
• Ensure you have carpets or floor coverings, such as rugs on hard floors, in each room
• Open curtains and blinds in the day to let sunlight and warmth in and close at dusk
• Do not put furniture in front of radiators/night storage heaters
• Put lids on pots and pans when cooking on a hob, this cooks the food quicker (using less energy) and stops moist air escaping
• Use an air fryer, slow cooker or microwave wherever possible when cooking as these are much cheaper options. If using a conventional oven, try batch cooking where possible.

Our dedicated Energy and Wellbeing Officer is working with our customers on helping them to reduce energy and is supporting customers on issues including ventilation and heating in the home.

All homes are at risk of condensation, particularly through the winter months. Excess condensation in our homes can lead to problems such as mould growth. We are working with our customers on how to control ventilation around the home to manage moisture levels that can lead to excess condensation. Any customer who is struggling to manage moisture levels in their home, please get in touch with us.

We are also supporting our customers who have Economy 7 heating to fine-tune the settings so that they match the individual household’s needs and lifestyle. We encourage anyone who is struggling with their energy costs to contact their supplier, in the first instance. If needed, we can help our customers to facilitate conversations with suppliers to ensure they are getting the best tariff.

Whilst it seems a little too early to be mentioning Christmas, planning in advance and setting a budget can avoid panic buying and keep costs down. We want people to have a fun and festive Christmas, but we also want people to remember that it is just one day and can be done on a budget, without spoiling the fun. Martin Lewis, The Money Saving Expert, has shared these tips https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/shopping/christmas-savings/

If you are a North Devon Homes customer and have any worries regarding money or debt or if you want to talk to us about how to budget and make savings, please contact us at 01271 312500 or email customercare@ndh-ltd.co.uk