Why energy bills are expensive and what can we do to reduce them?

According to recent research carried out by Halifax, the cost of owning and running a home in the UK has hit a 3 year high of just over £9000 per year. The biggest rise was down to the higher cost of gas and electric. Gas and electric bills have risen by 19% since 2008 and they look set to keep rising, but why is this?

Well gas and electric is like any other product, it needs to be manufactured. The ingredients needed are what make up the costs so if the ingredients cost raises so will our cost as an end user. The vast majority of the electricity that powers our homes and businesses up and down the UK are still being produced by the conventional methods of turbines powered by fossil fuels like natural gas, oil and coal. Fossil fuels are becoming more and scarcer which is putting the cost up. The turmoil in the Middle East isn’t helping prices either.

So what can you do? There are government grants and incentives available for those in a position to install renewable energy systems to generate electricity to use and heat our homes. There is a feed in Tariff available for those in the UK (not Northern Island just yet) which means you sell some of the energy you create back to the national grid. This will dramatically reduce your bills each year, but there is an initial outlay to get the system installed.

If you just want to lower your bills without generating your own energy you need to make sure your home is as efficient as possible. If you have an old boiler a modern new condensing boiler will be far more efficient and save you money on your bills. Having your home installed with the proper amount of roof insulation will keep the heat in. Double glazing windows are another way to keep heat in. You would be amazed if you could see your home through a thermal imaging device because you would see where your heat is escaping. There are plenty of grants for landlords and those of low incomes for those looking to insulate their homes properly so there is no excuse for anyone.

Being more prudent with your electricity will help lower your costs. If you leave your appliances on even when you are not using them they will be using some amount of electrify. Turn off appliances from the mains. Too many of us leave televisions and stereos on standby and got to bed. This all adds up when it comes to our bills. So if you want to lower your bills, be more prudent with your energy. When it gets a little chilly in Autumn, put a jumper on, not your heating.

Northern Gas Heating the UK's local supplier of new energy efficient Condensing Boilers have some of the very best products and prices for Solar PV, Solar Thermal and Air Source heat pump installations.