On Tuesday, the Cabinet signed off on a new scheme to support households across Ireland in coping with rising energy costs next year.
As a way to mitigate the effects of price hikes, all domestic electricity customers will be given a once-off €100 towards their bill in 2022.
In the meantime, Met Eireann’s forecast for the weeks ahead shows the arrival of ‘colder than normal’ temperatures from next week - just in time for Christmas.
The expected chill could see Irish homeowners opting to switch the heating on full blast amid these rising energy prices.
While many will be trying to keep their homes toasty over the coming weeks, experts at the Sustainable Energy Association of Ireland listed some tips to follow in order to save on costs.
“By reducing the amount of energy used in the home, homeowners can permanently reduce the impact of rising energy costs on their household budget and reduce their impact on the climate, without compromising on comfort,” a spokesperson said.
From easy lifestyle changes to more impactful home energy upgrades here is what you need to know:
Lower the thermostat
You can reduce your heating bill by 10% by lowering the thermostat by just one degree.
Turn the thermostat for your living areas down to 20°C, and the temperature in hallways and bedrooms to between 15-18°C.
Once you’ve adjusted the thermostat, use timers to control the heating in your home.
Organise it to have your heating on at set times when you are at home and off when you are out.
Use the control on your immersion heater to heat only your water only when required.
By using heating controls, you can save up to 20% on your heating bill.
There are plenty of other ways to improve your heating and lower costs this winter, including:
A BER Assessment
A Building Energy Rating or BER assessment is carried out by a SEAI registered assessor.
The report will tell you what home energy upgrades your home needs to meet the modern standard for comfort and energy efficiency.
It also sets out what supports are available to help fund the works, so you can decide which upgrades you want to go ahead with.
Insulation
A home loses up to 30% of its heat through the walls and 30% through a poorly insulated attic.
Investing in insulation will help to keep your valuable heat inside your home increasing your comfort and reducing your heating bills.
Renewables
Adding renewable energy to your home will reduce your energy bills and support the move away from polluting fossil fuels.
The most popular renewable systems are heat pumps, solar water heating panels and solar photovoltaic panels.
“You should always ensure your home is well insulated before considering installing renewable systems.”
