Scots Urged To Install Energy Saving Measures As Energy Prices Continue To Rise
With cold weather set to continue next week, the Energy Saving Trust is urging householders in Scotland to embrace energy efficiency in a bid to keep their homes warm and save money as energy prices increase.
The caution to Scots comes shortly after Scottish Energy Advice Week concluded and on the back of recent price hikes from major energy suppliers across the region.
Research issued during Scottish Energy Advice Week revealed that two thirds of Scots would like to save energy in the home this year and two out of three Scots (69 per cent) would consider implementing energy-saving measures to save money, ahead of more conventional ways of cutting cash, such as changing car/house insurance (52 per cent), switching energy suppliers (51 per cent) or shopping around for the best credit card deal (31 per cent).
Mike Thornton, Head of the Energy Saving Trust in Scotland said; "Energy efficiency is the easiest and best solution for Scottish households to help limit the impact of fuel increases.
"With price hikes becoming increasingly common, actions such as switching suppliers will only serve as a short term solution to saving money on fuel bills. Saving energy at home continues to be the best way to offset fuel price hikes that look to continue in the future.
"Very simple measures, such as switching to energy efficient light bulbs, can help householders knock not just energy but pounds off their fuel bills".
Nearly half of Scots (49 per cent) claim that nothing would stop them implementing energy saving measures, such as using energy saving light bulbs or turning the thermostat down by one degree, after learning they could save up to £250 off their energy bills each year by being more energy efficient.
As part of Scottish Energy Advice Week, householders were urged to turn their commitment into action by ‘pledging’ to save 20 per cent of the energy they use in the home every day.
Over 30 MSPs signed a motion tabled in the Scottish Parliament by Sarah Boyack MSP to support Scottish Energy Advice Week and to recognise the work carried out by the eight Energy Advice Centres in Scotland.
Advisors from the national network of Energy Efficiency Advice Centres (EEAC) provide free, expert advice on lowering energy bills through energy efficiency, and can advise on applying for a variety of grants and offers for a range of energy saving measures such as loft insulation, cavity wall insulation, draught-proofing and central heating.
Householders are being urged to contact their local EEAC on the freephone helpline number 0800 512 012 or log on to www.saveyour20percent.co.uk for further information.
For further information, please contact Linda McIntyre at Consolidated Communications on 0131 240 6420 or 0771 890 4734 or email scotland@consol.co.uk
For celebrity quotes, please contact the above number.
The research was conducted amongst 1011 adults throughout Scotland aged 18+
If everyone in Scotland installed/adopted 4 low cost measures during Scottish Energy Advice Week, in one week alone we could save a collective £3.9 million and over 23,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
About the Energy Efficiency Advice Centres:
The national network of Energy Efficiency Advice Centres provide free, impartial advice on how to make your home more energy efficient and have information on the grants available in your area to implement energy efficient measures. The EEAC network provide a free telephone advice service on 0800 512012 between 9.00 am and 5.00 pm Monday to Friday
Save your 20% campaign:
The Energy Saving Trust’s ‘Save your 20%’ campaign aims to reduce UK homes’ energy use by a fifth of their current levels. The ‘Save your 20%’ campaign involves the Energy Saving Trust working with local authorities, energy suppliers and other parties to promote the uptake of energy-saving measures such as cavity wall insulation and loft insulation, as well as encouraging consumers to adopt simple, everyday measure such as turning appliances off standby. For more information, visit www.saveyour20percent.co.uk
About the Energy Saving Trust:
The Energy Saving Trust was set up by the UK Government after the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro and is one of the UK’s leading organisations addressing the damaging effects of climate change. It aims to cut carbon dioxide emissions by promoting the sustainable and efficient use of energy. Energy Saving Trust is a non-profit organistion funded by government and the private sector.