Energy saving at homeEnergy saving information and advice from Power NI

www.powerni.co.uk /savingenergy

Energy saving

Running costs

Insulation

Heating

Renewables

Code of Practice on the efficient use of electricity

Let’s tackle energy costs together

Power NI knows that customers are keen to find out ways to save money and energy in their homes because of rising energy costs and also to be more environmentally friendly.

This handy guide will help you to think about where you useenergy at home and suggest ways to help you save.

Our team of energy experts has also created a portfolio ofproducts and services that are designed to help you save money at home. You can find out more on our website:www.powerni.co.uk/savingenergyor contact us on our freephone number 0800 0321 894Lines open Mon-Fri 9am-7pm.

Energy saving tips that cost nothingEnergy saving ideas that you can put into action in your home.

HeatingGreat value boiler installation and check up services from Power NI.

BillsGreat ways to save more with our flexible payment schemes.

ContactsUseful telephone numbers.

InsulationLow cost deals on home insulation that will keep you snug and save money.

Renewable technologiesWhy not try an alternative way to heat your home or generate electricity?

Contents

Appliance running costsTypical running costs of various household appliances.

Help availableFind out what help may be available through our schemes.

Energy saving tips thatcost nothing

Start using these energy saving ideas around your home and you should see

a reduction in your energy bills. The more you apply, the more you’ll save.

3 Turn off games consoles/TVs/iPod docks when not in use – if they are on

standby they still use energy.

3 Turn lights off when a room is empty.

3 Switch to energy saving light bulbs - they use around a quarter of the

electricity and will last ten times longer than an ordinary bulb.

3 Don’t leave the fridge door open and try to avoid putting hot or warm food

straight into the fridge, as this increases the energy required to keep the

contents cold.

3 Defrost your freezer frequently and check the door seals. If possible, keep the

freezer in a cool room or garage.

3 Use a lid on saucepans where possible, as the contents heat up faster and

use less energy.

3 Turn the room thermostat down by 1 degree – it could save you around £30 a

year on heating costs.

3 Make sure radiators are not obstructed by sofas or other furniture.

3 Draw curtains at dusk to stop heat escaping from your home.

3 When using a washing machine, use a low temperature setting and only wash

full loads where possible - one full load uses less energy than two half loads.

3 In summer, dry your clothes outside rather than using a tumble dryer.

3 When drying your clothes indoors use a clothes rail, not a radiator. Using a

radiator blocks heat from the room.

3 Overfilling your kettle costs money - only boil the water you need.

3 When buying electrical appliances, choose the most energy efficient

(A rated), rather than the least energy efficient (G rated).

3 A standard shower uses around 40% of the water needed for a bath.

3 Unplug phone chargers/laptop chargers once the appliance is fully charged.

Take a look at the electricity usage in a typical household

Lights use more electricity than anything else in a typical household,

so why not switch to energy saving light bulbs today?

To calculate the running cost of any light or appliance, you will first need to find

out the wattage.

- An energy saving light bulb, for example, is 20 watts.

- To convert this number to kilowatts (kW), you simply divide by 1000

(20 watts ÷ 1000 = 0.02kW).

- Multiply this number by the time the appliance is running for (For 2 hours,

multiply by 2 or for 15minutes, multiply by 0.25).

- 0.02 kW x 5 hours means you have used 0.1 kWh of energy.

Now you have calculated the amount of energy used, you can calculate how

much it will cost you.

- To do this, you multiply the energy used (0.1kWh) by the unit cost (each unit of

electricity costs approximately15p).

- 0.1kWh x 15p = 1.5p.

23%

11%

22%6%

12%

6%

4%

3%

3%

10%Lights

Cooker

Fridge & freezer

Kettle

TV

Washing machine

Microwave

Tumble dryer

Dishwasher

Others

Appliance running costs

GENERAL APPLIANCESComputer consoleTelevisionKettleToasterIronShowerHair drierVacuum cleaner

HEATING, COOKING3 bar electric fireImmersion heaterCooker – 1 ring– Oven only – Oven & rings

WHITE GOODSWashing machineRefrigeratorFreezerDish washerMicrowaveTumble drier

LIGHTING1 x 100 watt lightbulb1 x energy saving bulbStrip light

POWER RATING (watts)

250100 – 5002,5001,0001,0004000 – 70002000350 – 1000

30003000140021507750

2500 – 3000100 – 1501502500600 – 8005000

10020

20 – 65

COST TO RUN FOR ONE HOUR*3.8p1.5p-7.5p37.5p15p15p60p - £1.0530p5.3p – 15p

45p45p21p32p£1.16

37.5p1.5p-2.3p2.3p37.5p9p – 12p 75p

1.5p 0.3p

0.3p – 1p

Generally, most of the electricity we use at home is to run lighting and a wide range of appliances. This guide provides an indication of how much various appliances cost to run. These costs depend on their function and efficiency. Although different models will vary, this should provide you with a rough guideline.

*Costs are based on an approximate cost of 15p per unit.

Insulation

Cavity Wall Insulation

What can it do for my home?3 Save up to £115 each year off your energy bills by installing

cavity wall insulation*

What is it?The walls of most homes have two layers of bricks, internal and external,

with a small air gap or cavity between them. Cavity wall insulation involves

filling this gap with insulation material.

Many different types of products are available for cavity wall insulation.

Power NI use silver bead, which is 20% more efficient than alternative,

white bead insulation.

Loft Insulation

What can loft insulation do for my home? 3 By installing loft insulation, you could save up to £150 each year off your

heating bills*

What is it?Loft insulation is one of the easiest and most cost effective ways to improve

your home’s energy efficiency. It is a man-made material, which comes as a

rolled quilt, and is laid down between and over the joists on the floor of your

loft, so it is quick and easy to install.

*Source: Energy Saving Trust.

Don’t miss out on our latest insulation offers!Visit our website www.powerni.co.uk/savingenergyor call our experts today on 0800 0321 894

What are the advantages?3 By installing loft insulation you are reducing the amount of heat lost

from your home

3 If you don’t have insulation, most of your heat is lost through your roof

3 All pipes and cold water tanks in the loft will also be reinsulated to

Heating

Did you know that we can service your oil or gas boiler or install a new,

efficient one for you? Using our fully approved local team will give you

complete peace of mind, as you will know that your central heating is

running safely and efficiently, and that your fuel bills are as low as possible.

New Boiler

With home heating making up about 60% of your annual energy bills, it

can really make sense to upgrade your boiler to a new, more efficient one.

Why get a new boiler?3 A new boiler heats the water for your home and your radiators quickly

and efficiently

3 Many homes use oil or gas boilers for their central heating, but if your

boiler is over 15 years old, then it is probably due for an upgrade

3 Rather than worry about your boiler breaking down just when you really

need it, enjoy complete peace of mind with a brand new boiler

Did you know?Our engineers are fully approved Gas Safe / OFTEC

registered, so they can fit your new boiler quickly, safely

and with the minimum of fuss.

The Power NI boiler service includes:3 A full, thorough 15 point service check up

3 A full service certificate on completion

3 A repair service is also available if additional

parts are required for your boiler

Need a boiler check up?Visit our website www.powerni.co.uk/savingenergyor call our experts today on 0800 0321 894

What can Power NI’s boiler service do for my home?3 It will make your boiler operate more efficiently, which will help you save

money on your energy bills

3 A full boiler service is only £49.50

3 Or get a full boiler service and carbon monoxide alarm fitted for

only £74.50

Boiler Servicing

A regularly serviced boiler is a happy, healthy boiler, so why not let

Power NI’s trusted team look after yours?

Renewables

Solar...here comes the sunWhy not start generating your own heat or electricity using solar panels

fitted to the roof of your home?

We offer two different types of solar panels – one which heats your

domestic water, called ‘solar water heating’; and the other which generates

electricity, called ‘solar photovoltaics’ or ‘PV’ for short.

Solar Water Heating

Solar water heating panels capture the natural radiation from the sun

to heat water, which is then stored in a hot water cylinder. Your fuel bills

will reduce because you will be relying less on traditional energy sources

for generating your hot water.

Solar PV

Solar PV systems use the sun’s energy

to generate electricity and this can

power your home’s lights and appliances.

By generating your own energy, you will

see a reduction in your electricity bill.

You can generate additional income by

selling any unused electricity back to

Power NI and you will also benefit from

government incentives.

Air Source Heat Pumps

Alternative ways to heat your home

A heat pump extracts heat from

the air and turns it into a higher,

more useful temperature for your

home – a bit like a fridge in

reverse. Unlike gas or oil boilers,

heat pumps heat your home at a

lower temperature over a much

longer period and this means

that they are more efficient. The air source heat pumps which we install are

designed and manufactured by a local company, Dimplex Renewables.

Wood pellet boilers are an environmentally friendly, safe and convenient way

of heating your home. They differ from traditional solid fuel boilers because

they are fully automatic and use clever controls to regulate the fuel being

used by the boiler.

Wood Pellet Boilers

Power NI offers a first class, fullyaccredited service for renewable energy.Visit our website www.powerni.co.uk/savingenergyor call our experts today on 0800 0321 894

Help available

Home Energy Check

Power NI’s home energy check allows you to understand your home’s energy

efficiency performance, helping you reduce your energy consumption and save

money. All you need is a few minutes to fill in our online questionnaire. We can then

work out your home’s current energy efficiency rating and provide you with

personalised suggestions about how to reduce your energy bills.

Before you start your home energy check, you will need a few things:

3 Information about your home - this will help us to make sure that your

report is tailored to your home.

3 5-10 minutes of your time - please take some time and answer the questions

in full.

3 A valid email address - you will be sent a link to view your report by email.

Complete a home energy check at: www.powerni.co.uk/hec. If you don’t have

internet access, we can arrange to complete a home energy check by telephone on

0800 0321 894.

Customer Care Register

By joining our confidential customer care register you could benefit from the

services that we offer.

3 Password scheme – if you are worried about bogus callers, you can give us a

password to use each time we call.

3 Carers contact service – if someone helps you manage your bills, we can post

your bills directly to them. We can also contact them if we need to reach you

at any time.

3 Braille bill – if you are blind we can send a copy of your bill and all other

correspondence in Braille.

3 Talking bill – if you are blind or partially sighted, we can phone you with

details of your bill. You will get the opportunity to ask any questions you may have.

3 Large print bill – if you have a sight difficulty, we can send a copy of your bill

and all other correspondence in large print.

Warm Homes Scheme

The Warm Homes Scheme is funded by the Department for Social

Development to make your home warmer, healthier and more energy

efficient.

There are two levels of help available

Warm Homes – Offers a range of insulation measures to households who

receive a qualifying benefit.

3 Cavity wall insulation

3 Loft insulation

3 Hot water tank jacket

3 Benefit entitlement check

3 Energy sdvice

Warm Homes Plus – Offers insulation and heating measures to house-

holds in receipt of a qualifying benefit and who are identified through the

assessment process to have Economy 7 , solid fuel, bottled gas / LPG or no

system at all.

As well as the improvements available under Warm Homes, householders

who are in receipt of one of the qualifying benefits may also be eligible for:

3 Installation of a fully controlled energy-efficient oil or gas central

heating system where no system currently exist.

3 Conversion of an existing bottled gas (LPG), solid fuel or Economy 7

heating system to oil or natural gas.

For more information and to fnd out if you qualify for either of these

schemes visit www.warm-homes.com or call 0800 988 0559

Giving you discounted electricity

Your Keypad guarantees youdiscounted electricity

3 2.5% discount off the standard rate

3 Provides you with information to help you manage your usage and control your energy costs

3 Free installation and no rental fee

Buying top-ups 3 Online at www.powerni.co.uk

3 By telephone using our Customer Helpline 03457 455 455 (anytime 24hrs a day)

3 At any Post Office or Paypoint 3 Free iPhone and Android Keypad App now available, so you can top up on the move

3 You can also top up at any Post Office or Paypoint outlet

Direct Debit – Discounted Electricity3 Save up to £40 per year when you pay by monthly Direct Debit or up

to £26 when you pay by quarterly Direct Debit

Monthly Direct Debit 3 Up to £40 discount a year, 4% discount

3 Spread the cost over the year

3 Pay an agreed amount every month

Quarterly Direct Debit 3 Up to £26 discount a year, 2.5% discount

3 Statement every 3 months

3 Full amount paid from your bank account by direct debit

Contacts:

Power NI Customer Helpline:

www.powerni.co.ukemail: home@powerni.co.uk

For energy saving advice:

Power NI’s energy saving offers*:Bryson Energy: Warm Homes Scheme:

Other useful numbers:

Age NI:Citizens Advice:Advice NI:Consumer Council:Disruption to electricity supply:

*Freephone Mon-Fri 9am-7pm

03457 455 455

0800 0321 8940800 1422 8650800 988 0559

0808 808 7575028 9026 1970028 9064 5919028 9067 248808457 643 643

Mon-Fri 8am-7pm

Customer Helpline03457 455 455 www. powerni.co.ukLines open Mon-Fri 8am-7pm.Calls recorded for quality assurance.