Energy saving advice

Advice and information

Being energy efficient can save you money and help the environment. You can be energy efficient by looking at ways to conserve energy through to making decisions about how ongoing energy needs are met, such as using renewable sources.

In-person support and resources

Suffolk - Creating the greenest county logoWest Suffolk Council is part of the Suffolk Climate Change Partnership and together with our partners Groundwork East residents and communities can access support for improving the energy efficiency of their homes. Groundwork’s Green Champions can visit your community to raise awareness and engage with residents to provide in depth advice. Alternatively, Groundwork can provide residents and community groups with all the tools required to engage among themselves on domestic energy efficiency.

In both categories energy saving recommendations will be no to low cost (less than £500) however, advice on more expensive measures can be provided where residents have a particular interest.

Energy saving advice

The Energy Saving Trust provides free and impartial advice to help you be more energy efficient so you can use less energy, save money and produce less carbon emissions, helping the environment.

They also give advice on efficient home appliances. Make sure to look at the energy label to find appliances that use the least amount of energy. Find out more here.

Additional support can be found using the following links:

Smart meters

Smart meters show how much gas and electricity your home is using and how much your energy bill will be each month. Consumers can use this information to manage energy use, save money and reduce emissions.

You can ask your energy supplier to provide you with a smart meter for free.

Install energy efficiency measures

Visit our Home energy efficiency page for information and support on energy efficiency measures such as insulation, solar panels and heat pumps that can help you save money on energy bills in the longer term.

If you are considering extending or renovating your home or building a new home, guidance and advice on what should be considered when making a planning application can be found in the West Suffolk Climate Change and Sustainable Building Planning Advice Note on the supplementary planning guidance page.

Energy efficient home diagram highlighting ways to save money on your energy bills

  1. Solar photovoltaic (pv) panels – Solar panels capture the sun’s energy and convert it into electricity that you can use in your home. By installing solar panels you can generate your own renewable electricity which you could receive payments for extra energy generated.
  2. Solar thermal – A solar thermal system uses the energy from the sun to heat up water to use in the home. The solar panel absorbs the heat from the sun and the heated water or heat-transfer fluid then runs from the panels to your hot water cylinder. 
  3. Air and ground source heat pumps. A heat pump is a device that can replace traditional heating systems such as boilers to provide space and water heating. Rather than burning a fuel to produce heat, they move heat from a low-temperature source and ‘pump’ it to a higher temperature where it can be used to provide space heating or hot water. The source is normally heat in the ground or the outside air. 
  4. Domestic wind turbine. Households can install micro turbines, also known as small wind or ‘microwind’ turbines. When the wind is strong enough it turns the blades of the turbine, generating electricity. There are two types of ‘microwind’ turbine: Building mounted which are installed on roofs and have a fairly small capacity, averaging at 1-2kW, or Pole mounted which are freestanding and have a larger capacity of around 5-6kW.
  5. Battery storage. Battery storage is typically used alongside solar pv and domestic wind turbines. It enables energy from renewables to be stored and then released when you need power most.
  6. Loft and floor insulation, cavity wall fill, internal and external solid wall insulation. Installing insulation in your home will help keep the heat in creating a warmer and more comfortable home. It will also reduce energy bills as less will have to be spent on heating the home.
  7. Double and triple glazing. Both double and triple glazed windows will increase the energy efficiency of your property. Less heat loss means your home will be easier to keep warm, leading to lower energy bills.
  8. Electric vehicles and charging points. Battery electric vehicles do not produce any exhaust pipe emissions at point of use and therefore help to contribute to improved local air quality. For more information on electric vehicles visit our Electric vehicles page.
  9. Water conservation measures (for example rainwater harvesting). Conservation of water refers to the preservation and management of water. Rainwater harvesting is the collection of rainwater directly from the surface it falls on. Once collected it can be used for toilet flushing and garden watering.
  10. Nature. If you have a garden add some colourful nectar-rich flowers, berry bushes, fruit trees, bird boxes and hedgehog homes to attract nature. Add planter boxes to balconies and windowsills.

Need help paying for fuel bills?

With energy bills rising many people are finding it more difficult to pay for their energy bills. For support and advice on how to reduce energy bills and to find out if you are eligible for schemes visit our Help with fuel bills page.