Blog: Our top tips for keeping warm and well this winter

We know it’s a worrying time for many older people at the moment owing to the rise in gas prices.

While the situation is changing at a fast pace and there currently aren’t many cheap deals available, there are some basic things you can do to boost your home’s energy efficiency and save money on bills this winter. Lots of this will be common sense, but it’s worth checking that you’re getting the basics right.

You can find more advice and tips in our Warm and Well guide at www.age.scot/energy.

Simple measures which add up to big savings:

Turn down your thermostat from 22 to 21 degrees.
Change your lightbulbs to LEDs instead of traditional or halogen bulbs.
Make sure not to leave your electrical items on standby mode.
Only boil as much water in the kettle as you need.
Cut down on your shower time by one minute.

What to do if your energy supplier fails

You might have seen in the news that several energy companies have gone out of business due to the spike in gas prices. If this happens to your supplier, the energy regulator, Ofgem, will appoint a new supplier to take over their customers.

You should wait for the regulator appointed supplier to contact you – in the meantime, don’t switch to new supplier yourself or you may not be able to get back any money you’re owed by your former supplier. It’s a good idea to take meter readings and make a note of your account balance at this point.

Priority Services Register

You might want to contact your energy supplier and join their priority services register, particularly if you rely on medical equipment which needs mains power. If you are on the register, your supplier will know they need to try to reconnect you quickly if there is a power cut.

Warm Home Discount

You may be eligible for a £140 discount off your electricity bill each winter if your supplier is part of the Warm Home Discount Scheme. To qualify you must either:

receive Guarantee Pension Credit.
be on a low income, receive certain means-tested benefits, and meet your energy supplier’s criteria for awarding the discount.

If you receive Guarantee Pension Credit, you should automatically get the discount if your supplier is signed up to the Scheme and you were within them on the qualifying date (which is usually in July). If you are on a low income, check with your supplier to see if you are eligible and they’ll let you know how to apply. You must remain with your provider until the discount is applied.

Reducing heat loss

Energy efficiency measures to keep heat in your home will help you save money. However, how much money you can save will depend on the size and age of your house and how you use energy. Some measures are easy to do while others will require professional expertise and may be expensive.

Most people should be able to take one or more of these simple measures:

Draw your curtains and close your blinds in the evenings to minimise heat loss through windows.
If your windows are draughty, you can use a draught excluder or draughtproof tape to boost heat retention. You can also place draught excluders under doors to keep the heat in rooms.
If you cannot afford to heat all your rooms properly, make sure you keep your living room warm throughout the day and heat your bedroom before you go to bed.
Keep your radiators clear by not placing sofas or other large pieces of furniture in front of them if you can avoid it.

If you’re looking to make some larger changes, Home Energy Scotland can provide you with information and advice about options to insulate your home, the savings you may be able to make and any financial assistance available to help with costs. You can contact them on 0808 808 2282 or visit www.homeenergyscotland.org.uk.

Could you be missing out on social security?

Social security benefits can help you with your daily living costs and energy bills. However, many older people are not claiming the benefits they’re eligible for – make sure you aren’t missing out by calling the Age Scotland helpline for a free entitlement check and by reading our free social security guides which provide information on benefits for older people including:

Cold Weather Payments – means-tested payments which are paid automatically for each week when the average temperature recorded at your local weather station is zero degrees Celsius or less for seven days in a row.

Winter Fuel Payment – an annual tax-free payment to help people born on or before 26 September 1955 with their heating costs.

Don’t miss out on financial support – check in today by calling the Age Scotland helpline on 0800 12 44 222 (Monday-Friday, 9am to 5pm).

Find out more about keeping warm and well at www.age.scot/energy.