Energy Saving Week Ideas

Energy Saving Week runs from 17-23 January 2025 but the advice below is available all year round.

Energy-saving tips and advice

For the home – visit the Energy Saving Trust website. This has a range of simple cost-free switches which could save you up to £356 on your energy bills. To save you even more, there are other low cost solutions and ideas for bigger home improvements, which will all help make your home more comfortable.

A great place to start is understanding your energy bills and where you’re using the most energy. Try out the Low Carbon Hub’s winter warmer checklist. If you have a smart meter you can use Oxfordshire County Council’s FREE Energy Saver app which links to your phone. It can tell you where your energy is being used in your home and offer money-saving advice based on your use.

For businesses – Please see the ‘opportunities for businesses’ pages on our websites in South Oxfordshire and Vale. These include green skills training eg installation of solar panels or heat pump or EV chargers. There are also workshops and webinars available to help with advice on how to decarbonise and lower your energy use.

Where to get help locally

The good news is that some simple fixes to your home can be provided free or at a low cost by community action groups such as Draughtbusters in Abingdon, Wallingford and Wantage.

For bigger changes there are government grants available eg Warm Homes, Government boiler upgrade scheme and the Great British insulation scheme.

Tenants, landlords and homeowners can contact Better Housing Better Health on 0800 1070044 for information about grants towards insulation, boilers and draught proofing. If you want to get started on your own green home improvements, the retrofit specialists at Cosy Homes Oxfordshire can help with their free plan builder advice tool.

Working with local community groups

Local community groups and town and parish councils can borrow a thermal camera from us at the council for free. It can be used to identify heat loss in residential and community buildings. The infrared thermal imaging equipment can show clearly where insulation could reduce energy waste and costs. Contact the Climate and Biodiversity team for more information. Email climateaction@southandvale.gov.uk.

Low Carbon Hub supports neighbourhoods to save energy and develop renewable energy projects.

For further information on what is available in your council area please click on the map of the district where you live and it will take you to the more detailed local web page.