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Slide1
While you’re waiting…
Follow us
and our friends on Twitter
Like the Student Switch Off Pagewww.facebook.com/studentswitchoff
@
ecopowerranger@NUS_sustainable@NEA_UKCharity Slide2
Saving energy and money in your rented accommodation
Dr Neil Jennings, NUSSlide3
Before we start…
Introduce yourself to someone you don’t know!
Ask them why they came along today?
Energy-saving tipsAdvice on how to save moneyTo know more about your rights as a tenantMore information about smart metersSlide4
Areas we will cover today
Context
Your rights as tenants
Actions you can take to save energy yourselfThings to look out for next time you house-huntThe session is meant to be informal, with group work, so feel free to ask questions!Slide5
Energy bills have a significant impact on students
How much do you think the average student spends on energy in their home each year?
Average student energy bill (gas and electricity) over £500/person/year
Significant financial outgoing for studentsInability to pay bills or heat the home adequately can have a significant impact on physical and mental well-beingThat’s why we’re running a campaign on itSlide6
Homes Fit For Study survey (2017)
2,500 respondents across the UK
45% struggled at least from time to time to pay their energy bills
43% had turned their heating off even though they would have liked it on because of concerns about energy costs.49% of respondents say they have felt uncomfortably cold in their accommodationSlide7
Homes Fit For Study survey (2017)
55% say that the overall level of warmth in their accommodation at the time of completing the survey was either a bit or much colder than they would have liked
Cold-related
problems - damp or mould on walls or ceilings (38%), condensation
(33%), slugs, mice or infestation (16%).
Almost half (49%) say their accommodation is poorly insulated and/or draughtySlide8
The impacts of living in cold homes described by students include…
Mental health and wellbeing
“At
the time was making me quite sad and miserable as I don't like being cold.”Woman, 2
nd year, South East, Separate billing
Physical health
“The main issue with health has been mould related. Cold and damp houses mean mould and that's probably played a big part in me and others getting ill.”Woman, 3rd year, East Anglia, Separate billing
Academic workSocial relationships
"I
feel stressed that its all in my name and my bank account, sometimes issues in situations where its only one person there for 2-3 weeks over breaks and they still rack up a huge bill etc. Makes me sad and lonely at times cause have to always be in my bedroom under duvet, find it difficult to concentrate on reading
etc."
Woman, 3
rd
year, South West, Separate billing
“It
would have been so much easier to work this winter if I had been warmer! My hands get so cold when typing that I lose my feeling in them and can't physically type anymore so I have to have a break.
I considered
getting
USB
hand
heaters.”
Woman, PhD, North West, Separate billingSlide9
Actions you can take to save money on your energy bills
Reduce the cost of your energy bills by:
paying less per unit of energy
using less energyLive in a warmer house by:Making small changes yourselfLobbying your landlord to make changes to the infrastructure of the property
Avoid living in a hard-to-heat house in futureSlide10
As a tenant you have the right to switch suppliers
Switch supplier – if you pay the bills yourself, you have the right to
switch supplier or tariff
Can save typical households over £200/yearMay be slightly less for student householdsLook at the price comparison websites online – name some!Some landlords and letting agencies state that tenants can’t switch their energy provider– this is illegalSlide11
Smart meters are being rolled-out across Great Britain at the moment
If you pay the bills yourself you can request a smart meter from your energy provider
Available at no additional cost to you
The In-Home Display (IHD) helps you to keep track of energy usage and identify wastageSlide12
It is important to understand your energy bills
Depending on your energy provider and tariff you may receive energy bills once a quarter or see real-time costs/usage via a smart meter
Can be a long time between moving in and getting a bill
Take meter readings when you move in – including a dated photoIf you pay by direct debit you will probably pay the same each month and the difference between that and your actual usage will hopefully average out over the year Slide13Slide14
Things to look out for on bills
Estimated usage – contact the energy company if your actual usage differs significantly, particularly if it is much lower
Standing charges – daily charges for access to electricity and gas irrespective of how much you
useCheck that the meter number is correct!Slide15
Low cost, no cost energy saving tips
Different parts of the home/themes
2-3 mins to come-up with as many energy-saving tips as possible in a team of 2-3 peopleSlide16
Actions you can take to save energy
Different parts of the home/themes
2 mins to come-up with as many energy-saving tips as possible
The kitchenSlide17
Energy can be saved whilst cooking
Put a lid on when cooking
Correct sized pan for the hob
Don’t overfill the panCook together!Slide18
Microwave food – e.g. rice!
100g rice, rinsed – own-brand is fine
220ml boiled water
Microwavable dishMax power, 12 minsSaves energy, saves time, perfect riceSlide19
Don’t overfill the kettle
Minimum fill-line
Turn off the kettle just before it boils
Optimal temperature for most tea and coffee is below 100ocSlide20
Defrost your freezer
As ice builds up the freezer uses more energy to keep it cold – because it’s cooling ice/water rather than air
Defrost your freezer when lots of ice accumulates
Don’t flood your kitchen!Slide21
Other kitchen tips
Don’t leave taps running, save energy and water – clean dishes in a basin
Allow food to cool down before putting in the
fridgeKeep a window/door open when cooking to avoid condensation build upSlide22
Space and water heatingSlide23
Boiler/heating settings
Make sure you’re not heating the house unnecessarily!
Google your boiler if you need details of how to change the temperature/timing settings
Adjust radiator valvesSlide24
Boiler/heating settings
Make
sure there is a cylinder jacket.
Don't leave the hot water heating on all the time - discuss as a household what you need and when!Check whether the property has a 'time of use' tariff (e.g. Economy 7) which gives cheaper electricity to heat water at some times of the day. Slide25
Keep the heat in
Close curtains when it gets dark
Tuck curtain behind radiators
Plug gaps – ask your landlord to fill any gaps in the windows, install insulation tape around the doorsGet/make a draught excluder!Slide26
Lower energy washing
Take (shorter) showers
Wash full loads of clothes
Wash clothes at lower temperatures (30oc)Dry clothes naturallySlide27
Get the most out of your radiators
Open windows to get rid of moisture – it’s harder to heat moist air than dry
air
Don’t dry clothes on radiators
Install reflective foil behind radiatorsAvoid portable heaters if possibleSlide28
Be smart about your appliance choices
Buy energy efficient appliances (A+++ = best D = worst)
Buy LED lightbulbs (best) or CFLs (pretty good too!). Avoid halogen bulbs
Don’t leave appliances on (or on standby) unnecessarily
Turn off appliances when you head home
for holidays (apart from your freezer!)Slide29
House-hunting tips
Ask to see the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) from your landlord/letting
agent
Check
the energy-rating of appliancesAsk if the property has a smart meterLook out for the tell-tale signs of a cold house (mould/condensation)
Speak to current tenantsAsk what their typical energy bills have beenAsk to see a Gas safety certificateCheck for working smoke and carbon monoxide alarmsSlide30
Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) are important to check
Every property should
have one – legal responsibility of the landlord to display it when advertising the property
Shows how energy efficient the property is on a scale from A to GA = best G = worstRating is likely to affect how much it costs to keep the property warmBest to avoid F and G-rated propertiesSlide31
Tell-tale signs
Report problems to the landlord/lettings agent
Take action to address it yourself tooSlide32
We are here to provide tips and support
Student Switch Off+
Monthly e-mail newsletter with energy-saving advice
Competitions to win prizes for showing your energy-savingLet us know if you want to be added to the newsletterSlide33
What we covered
Context
Your rights as tenants
Actions you can take to save energy yourselfThings to look out for next time you house-huntQuestions and idea-sharingSlide34
Thank you
Dr Neil Jennings
neil.Jennings@nus.org.ukSlide35
Thank you
Follow us
and our friends on Twitter
Like the Student Switch Offwww.facebook.com/studentswitchoff
@
ecopowerranger@NUS_sustainable@NEA_UKCharity
Dr Neil Jennings -
neil.jennings@nus.org.uk