Your guide to a more

Your guide to a more

A warm welcome It s good to feel comfy and cosy at home. And we d like to help you keep your home warm for less simply by becoming more energy efficient. What is energy efficient? If something uses less energy to get the same result, then it s energy efficient. You re saving energy. As a result, your bills could come down. That s good news for the planet and good news for you too. How we can help you In this guide, you ll find everyday ways to be more energy efficient and start saving money right now. You ll also find details about free or subsidised energy saving home improvements that you might qualify for, thanks to a government scheme called ECO (the Energy Companies Obligation). 2

It s very easy to start saving energy and money Every household could benefit from reduced energy bills, by making simple, low cost changes to the way it uses energy. We ll show you how you can make a start. First though, a quick quiz: More or less? Guess which uses the most energy each month: Washing machine or tumble dryer? Kettle or TV? Iron or toaster? Answers Tumble dryer. Based on a 2,400W tumble dryer versus a 1,200W washing machine Δ. Kettle. Based on a 3,000W kettle used 8 hours a month versus a 200W TV used 90 hours a month Δ. Iron. Based on a 1,400W iron versus a 1,200W toaster Δ. Please note that the exact cost of your appliances will depend on their individual power rating, your household s usage and the tariff you are on. Δ Source: UK Power: www.ukpower.co.uk/tools/running_costs_electricity 3

Think about where you re using energy right now 1 What s on? 3 How long does it take to use one unit of electricity? Walk round your home, have a look at what s plugged in. Do you need them switched on, are they using energy with standby lights? The amount of electricity each item uses is usually marked in kilowatts (kw) on the appliance itself or in the manual. Here are a few examples to start you thinking: Electric Shower Hair dryer LCD TV Stereo 7 minutes* 30 minutes* 10 hours* 89 hours* 2 How does it work? Electricity is sold by the unit. One unit called a kilowatt hour, kwh is simply one kilowatt used for one hour. So if you have a 1kW fire switched on for an hour, then it will use one unit of electricity. On our bills, you can see how much we re charging you for each unit of electricity you use. We also show you if there s another tariff that would cost less. When choosing appliances, look for A-rated items. They usually help you save energy, cost less to run and help the environment. *Energy Saving Trust, 2013 4

Start saving energy right now Little changes are easy to make. Here s a list of little things that could add up to a big difference. You can start saving energy, right now: In the kitchen: Fill your kettle with the water you need no more Use the right size saucepan so you re not losing energy round its sides Only use a dishwasher s high temperature programme for really dirty dishes. In the bathroom: A shower could cost about half as much as a bath Set your hot water thermostat to 60 C, don t overheat your water. When it s laundry time: Use a reduced-load programme on your washing machine for smaller washes. Around your home: Turn your heating down 1 C you probably won t notice the difference but you will start using less energy straight away. 5

Helping to reduce heat loss in your home Does your home feel cold? That may be because it s not properly insulated. Here you can see how up to 35% ** of the heat can escape from an uninsulated home just through the walls. That s energy you re paying for escaping from your home, which doesn t make sense. It s important to make sure your boiler s running efficiently too. Older boilers can be very inefficient and cost a lot of money to run. With a new energy efficient boiler you could save money. 25% lost through the roof 35% ** lost through the walls 20% Δ lost through windows and doors 15% ** lost through the floor Source: ** http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/content/download/70663/848045/version/6/file/refurbishing%2bliving %2Bspaces%2Bguide%2Bfor%2Bhomeowners.pdf&sa=U&ei=l8QNVMa5Fc7iau3_gLgJ&ved=0CC4QFjAD&us g=afqjcngewsclphsdjfgovycgmxxe81ovkg http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/insulation/roof-and-loft-insulation Δ http://www.nia-uk.org/householder/index.php?page=did-you-know-facts 6

Could you get free energy saving home improvements? Free or subsidised energy saving home improvements What is an energy saving home improvement? It s anything that helps you use less energy to heat your home (or hot water). And if you re saving energy, then you could be saving money too. We help thousands of people make their homes more energy efficient, every year. It s part of a government initiative called ECO (the Energy Companies Obligation). We re proud to say we ve done over 25,000 energy saving improvements in the last 2 years *. But how do I know if I qualify? Well, the good news is these offers are open to many different people. That may include you too: 1. if your walls or loft are currently uninsulated 2. if you live in a particular area 3. if you or someone you live with gets some government benefits Each person s home is assessed individually, but on the next couple of pages you ll get a good idea about whether you might qualify. * ECO Installations: Cavity wall, loft insulation and new boilers, installed under the Energy Companies Obligation scheme since 28th January 2013 7

Your home and postcode could mean you qualify If you don t have any insulation in your walls and loft, then you may qualify - even if you ve been told in the past that your home isn t suitable. If you qualify, you could get: free or subsidised wall insulation free loft insulation Your postcode If you live in certain areas of the UK, then you may qualify for free or subsidised energy saving improvements too. You could get: free or subsidised wall insulation free loft insulation To find out more call our UK-based team free Call free on: We re here to help you 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday Or visit: Landline: 0800 072 1740 (free from most landlines) Mobile: 0330 100 8122 (included in any inclusive minutes ) Online: npower.com/ energyimprovements 8

Government benefits could mean you qualify too If you or someone in your household gets any of these government benefits then you could qualify for free or subsidised energy saving improvements: Pension Credit Child Tax Credit and an annual income of 16,010 or less Income-related employment and support allowance Income Support Income-based Jobseeker s Allowance Working Tax Credit and an annual income of 16,010 or less Universal credit Depending on your property, you could qualify for the following: Free or subsidised energy efficient boiler Free cavity wall insulation Free loft insulation You also need to own your own home or be a private tenant (but we can speak to the landlord on your behalf). Additional criteria may apply to some benefits. 9

Wall insulation Wall insulation is one of the best ways to reduce the amount of heat you re losing from your home. You pay to heat your home, and good insulation can help to keep more heat in. If you qualify for free or subsidised insulation then you could enjoy a warm home for less money. Cavity wall insulation could save up to 160 * a year on your energy bills. In a solid wall the bricks usually have an alternating pattern like this: In a cavity wall the bricks usually have a regular pattern like this: Was your home built before the 1930s? It probably has solid walls. If so, thermal blocks can be fitted to the outside of your home and then rendered to give you a weathertight finish. This will help your home stay at a more even internal temperature and could even enhance its appearance. Was your home built after the 1930s? It probably has cavity walls which can be injected from the outside with insulation. It s quick, and we do it all from outside your home. You also have the valuable peace of mind of a 25 year guarantee. 10

Loft insulation If your home doesn t have insulation then up to a quarter of the heat you re paying for is lost through the roof. Loft insulation is like putting a woolly hat on your head. It just makes sense to reduce the level of heat escaping. It usually only takes a couple of hours to professionally install and is simply rolled out and laid flat across your loft floor between and over the joists. You could save up to 140 * a year on your heating bills by installing free loft insulation why not call and find out more? We re here to help If there s still something which you re not sure about or just want to chat through, whatever your question, we re here to help you. Simply call us on Landline: 0800 072 1740 (free from most landlines) Mobile: 0330 100 8122 (included in any inclusive minutes ) Source: http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/insulation/roof-and-loft-insulation *Energy Saving Trust, 2015 11

Boiler replacement If you have an old boiler, you could be spending money you don t need to. A-rated boilers are the most efficient, and could save you up to 225 a year compared to G-rated boilers.* We work with Baxi, one of the UK s leading boiler manufacturers, who have been in the heating industry since 1866. Every Baxi boiler is thoroughly tested before it s fitted in your home, as though it were already up and running. You can be sure that it will be efficient and working properly. There are a range of different types and sizes too to suit your specific type of home. If a Baxi boiler can t be installed for technical reasons, then an equivalent boiler will be installed from another leading boiler manufacturer. * Energy Saving Trust, 2015. Based on a semi-detached gas-heated property. Savings will vary from home to home. 12

You ve already made a great start Just by reading this guide, you ve probably found ways to help start saving energy and saving money too. When you choose npower for energy saving home improvements, here s what else you can expect: A free home energy assessment from an independent and impartial assessor - at a time to suit you One person to deal with at npower, who ll look after your installation from start to finish Work that meets national and regulatory standards, with full warranties And we won t be satisfied, until you re 100% satisfied with the work. To find out more call our UK-based team free Call free on: We re here to help you 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday Or visit: Landline: 0800 072 1740 (free from most landlines) Mobile: 0330 100 8122 (included in any inclusive minutes ) Online: npower.com/ energyimprovements 13

What our customers have said Don t just take our word for it. Here s how some of our customers rated npower, our free or subsidised offer and our service: Mrs Anderson Milton Keynes The call centre adviser knew what they were talking about, they were very polite and it all went through easily. 99% Assessment Satisfaction^ Mrs Evans Dudley Absolutely fantastic, I am already noticing the difference in how warm my house is. 96% Mrs Stokes Luton The installer was very good, he was very efficient and a true professional. Installation Satisfaction^ ^ Customer satisfaction figures based on interviews conducted by DJS Research from October - December 2014. Assessment satisfaction based on 295 interviews. Installation satisfaction based on 300 interviews. 14

Don t worry, if you don t qualify for free improvements. You could still make your home warmer and more energy efficient Sometimes we can offer subsidised improvements, so you d make a contribution towards the cost of improvements being installed. If you don t qualify for free or subsidised improvements, there may be other ways you could pay for the installation of energy saving improvements in your home - such as a personal loan or Green Deal finance, for example. If you want to find out more about Green Deal finance, independent and impartial advice about the Green Deal is available on 0300 123 1234 or at www.gov.uk/green-deal 15

Contact details Save energy, get a warmer home. To find out more call our UK-based team free Call free on: We re here to help you 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday Or visit: Landline: 0800 072 1740 (free from most landlines) Mobile: 0330 100 8122 (included in any inclusive minutes ) Online: npower.com/ energyimprovements Estimated cost savings: Energy saving improvements may not deliver cost savings if the thermostat isn t turned down, but could result in a warmer home at your current energy costs. Phone calls: Calling is normally free on a 0800 number, but charges may vary if you use a mobile. Calling us on a 0330 number will cost you no more than 01 or 02 numbers from landlines or mobiles. If you get inclusive minutes with your package, calls on a 0330 number will be part of these. Calls may be monitored and recorded for training and security purposes. Eligibility: Eligibility criteria apply and available to mainland Great Britain only. Subject to survey, availability and changes to government legislation. npower is a registered trademark and the trading name of Npower Northern Limited (Registered No. 3432100). Registered in England and Wales. Registered office: Windmill Hill Business Park, Whitehill Way, Swindon SN5 6PB npm12142/mm17158/12.14