Tag: Utilita

Three Hands to host live webinar on Utilita Energy Hub community screens this weekend

THIS Saturday, 14 February at 11am, the team at Three Hands will take to the large community screens inside Utilita’s high street Energy Hubs to promote the opportunity to speak directly to some of the UK’s biggest businesses, to tell them what does doesn’t work for you as a customer.

The session will introduce hub visitors to the work Three Hands does to bring real‑world insight into organisations such as high street banks, energy companies and insurance providers, ensuring that people whose voices are often overlooked are represented in important conversations.

The team will explore the positive impact lived experience has already had in designing solutions that genuinely meet community needs. They are now looking for more people with lived experience to share their views to help even more businesses meet a fully diverse range of needs. 

After hearing about the work Three Hands do, attendees will be invited to join their Lived Experts Research Community.  Being a member of the community means being contacted directly about paid opportunities to share your views via online or in-person group discussions, or 1-1 interviews.

Participants will always receive a thank you payment for their time via bank transfer or gift voucher.

We’d love to hear your voice!

Donna Hall, Utilita’s Partnership Manager, said: “We’re delighted to be supporting Three Hands’ ongoing mission to create stronger links between organisations and the communities they serve, ensuring that real experiences drive real change.

“Why not pop along this Valentine’s Day as we’d LOVE for you to have a chance to share your voice with the Three Hands team.  Hot drinks will be available and our friendly Energy Experts can also provide top tips for saving energy and staying warm this Winter.”  

A Three Hands Lived Expert added: “Since working with Three Hands over a year now, I can truly say that it has been the best decision of my life.

“I am blessed to be working with such a great team that has given me back the confidence and courage to actually tackle the challenges I face every day in my life.”

One Three Hands client said: “The personal experiences and insight these sessions provide have been invaluable and enabled us to ensure that the improvements we make will actually make a difference.”

Where’s my local hub?

The first Utilita Energy Hub opened in 2018 as there was a demand to bring face-to-face dialogue to the retail energy sector.  Since then, they have opened multiple hubs around the UK to serve local communities – and be part of them. 

  • Leith Energy Hub: 41 Newkirkgate, Leith, Edinburgh, EH6 6AA
  • Isle of Wight Energy Hub: 121 High Street, Newport, PO30 1TP
  • Shirley Energy Hub: 7A Shirley High Street, Shirley, Southampton, SO15 3LR
  • Gosport Energy Hub: 67 High Street, Gosport, PO12 1DR
  • Luton Energy Hub: Unit 47 Luton Point, Luton, Bedfordshire, LU1 2TD
  • West Brom Energy Hub: 3D Astle Park, West Bromwich, B70 8NS
  • Leicester Energy Hub: 56 Charles Street, Leicester, LE1 1FB
  • Derby Energy Hub: Unit 8 St Peters Street, Mall, Derby, DE1 2NR
  • Sheffield Energy Hub: Unit 2, 5 St. James Row, Sheffield City Centre, Sheffield, S12EU
  • Huddersfield Energy Hub: 71 New Street, Huddersfield, HD1 2BQ
  • Blackburn Energy Hub: Unit 158, The Mall, 28 King William St, Blackburn, BB1 5AF
  • Hartlepool Energy Hub: Unit 1, Jubilee House, York Road, Hartlepool, TS26 9EN

See more on Utilita Energy Hubs at https://utilita.co.uk/energy-hub.

Utilita launches Energy Efficiency Guide for New Parents

Reduce your energy bills: essential tips for new parents

The UK’s leading Smart PAYG energy supplier, Utilita, has launched an Energy Efficiency Guide to help new parents reduce their energy use and see where they could save money.

Officially launched at Pregnancy Counselling and Care (Scotland) this week, the new guide will be rolled out at Utilita’s 12 energy hubs located across the UK.

The cost of general living inevitably goes up when you’re welcoming a child into the family – thanks to the use of electric appliances such as bottle sanitisers, electric baby bouncers, baby monitors and an increased wash load.

Sasha Dixon, Utilita’s Partnerships Manager, explained: “Our Energy Experts are on hand to help you with any questions you have about your account or energy usage. Plus, they can help you top-up your meters and offer advice on schemes and benefits that may be available to you.

“As new parents, you want to save money anywhere you can, and one of the first thought for many is about how to reduce your energy bills. Whether you’re a Utilita customer or not, we’re keen to help new parents take advantage of the quick and easy ways to reduce energy bills without compromising your baby’s comfort.”

Lucy Aitchison, Operations Manager at Pregnancy Counselling and Care Scotland, added: “We’re delighted to be able to share such a helpful resource for new parents, as it will help them not only to keep their baby safe, but also possibly save money on their energy costs. 

“All of the families that are referred to the Baby Bank are struggling with the high cost of living, and the helping hand we provide with our newborn packs, which would cost the equivalent of over £2,500 is a real lifeline.  

“We’ve seen demand increase hugely this last year, as we have more than doubled the number of Baby Packs that have been sent out around the region.  In 2023 we gave out over 22,000 items of baby toys, clothes and equipment, and this last year it is over 58,000 items!  

“We need funding support each year to continue this valuable service, that not only helps families, but recycles so much and prevents it from being sent to landfill.  Please get in touch with us if you can help support us www.counsellingandcare.co.uk.”

Utilita Energy Hubs are high street locations where customers can top up their accounts, check their balances, and get energy-saving advice – based in Edinburgh, Blackburn, Derby, Gosport, Hartlepool, Huddersfield, Isle of Wight, Leicester, Luton, Sheffield, Southampton, and West Bromwich.

See more on Utilita Energy Hubs at https://utilita.co.uk/energy-hub.  

Edinburgh Energy Hub supports Utilita’s renewed Pride365 Pledge

Leith hub offers warm, safe space on the high street for the whole community

Utilita’s high street Energy Hubs strive to provide ‘Safe Spaces’ for the LGBTQ+ community and beyond – welcoming people to host events, meetings, and more in a supportive environment.

No matter whether you are a Utilita customer or not, the Leith Energy Hub team is always happy to give free energy saving advice, something Hub Supervisor Natasha Baillie says is very important given the current cost-of-living crisis – and they’re also able to offer energy-saving products at competitive prices.

As an energy supplier that was created with the mission to offer consumers better service and a fairer deal, people have always been at the heart of Utilita – and its high street hubs provide an inclusive environment for staff, customers and the wider community.

The energy supplier’s renewed pledge to Pride365 ensures that everyone feels welcome and valued at Utilita, not just for a day, a week or month, but all year round.

The Utilita Pride365 Pledge

365 days of the year, Utilita Energy is committed to:

  • Standing proudly with the LGBTQ+ community

We’ll be vocal and visible in our support for LGBTQ+ inclusion every single day – both within our company and out in the world.

  • Creating ‘Safe Spaces’ for everyone

Our Energy Hubs will provide ‘Safe Spaces’ for the LGBTQ+ community and beyond – welcoming people to host events, meetings, and more in a supportive environment.

  • Giving back to our community

Whenever we run awareness day activities, we’ll donate to local LGBTQ+ charities chosen by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion group. This supports not only our communities but also any staff who may need these vital resources.

Utilita Founder and CEO, Bill Bullen, commented: “At Utilita, inclusivity isn’t just a goal; it’s who we are. Our core values align seamlessly with the Pride365 pledge as we work every day to create a workplace – and a world – that is fair, sustainable, and a little bit smarter.

“We’re not afraid to challenge the norm or stand up for what’s right. For us, that means building a supportive environment for everyone – from our customers to our team and the communities we serve – and our hubs offer something rare in the energy world – a friendly, face-to-face service.

“Our core values – fairness, smart, and sustainability – are at the heart of everything we do. They drive us to create an honest, inclusive, and nurturing culture for our customers and staff alike.”

Making inclusivity know no bounds

Leith Energy Hub Supervisor, Natasha Baillie, added: “Having a presence on the high street lets the public know that the Utilita team are here for everyone and all you need to do is pop down for anything you may need help with, customer or not.

“We aim to make it super simple to manage your energy – no phone lines or online dashboards, just a friendly face to speak to in a warm, safe space and with a cuppa if you’d like one!  Whether you’re looking for account support, help to manage your spend or energy-saving advice, Utilita’s Energy Experts are on hand to help.”

Utilita’s partnership with Pride365 is an integral part of its commitment to make inclusivity know no bounds. 

Natasha concluded: “We’re committed to continually evaluating and taking positive steps towards improving inclusion both within and outside our business, and we recognise the impact this will have on ensuring a happy and successful team and community. 

 “Together, we’re proud to create a brighter and fairer future for everyone – every day of the year.” 

Utilita Energy Hubs are high street locations where customers can top up their accounts, check their balances, and get energy-saving advice – based not just in Edinburgh but also Gosport, Southampton, Isle of Wight, Luton, Derby, West Bromwich, Sheffield, Leicester, Blackburn, Huddersfield and Hartlepool. 

The Utilita Leith Energy Hub is open from Monday to Saturday at 41 Newkirkgate, Edinburgh, EH6 6AA. See more on Utilita Energy Hubs at https://utilita.co.uk/energy-hub. 

Energy boss slams Bulb’s ‘free energy’ scheme

Every UK household will have to pay extra on their energy bills in 2022 – just to pick up the tab for more than £130m of FREE energy given out by Britain’s biggest energy failure.

That’s according to Bill Bullen, Founder and CEO of Utilita Energy, who has slammed Bulb’s strategy of giving new customers a £50 free energy credit – and another £50 to friends who referred them – in a bid to drive growth.

He says that Bulb’s “irresponsible approach” to lure in customers from rival suppliers will slap £5 on every domestic energy bill next year – at an estimated total cost of £132m1.

Just days after Ofgem revealed its action plan for improved financial resilience in the sector – effectively a ‘stress test’ for incumbents and new entrants – Bill Bullen is calling for the regulator to review the use of ‘free energy’ referral schemes too. 

 “It is not the fault of Bulb’s customers, but the reality is everyone else will end up paying for Bulb’s irresponsible approach,” he says. 

Bulb has lost tens of millions of pounds since 2015 and is now being run by Government consultants to save it from collapse. Taxpayers are funding this to the tune of an estimated £2bn already. 

Mr Bullen believes the firm’s referral strategy is partly to blame and, worse still, says it encouraged behaviour at odds with the nation’s net zero ambitions.

“Telling customers that energy is free, cheap, or selling it ‘below cost’ is not only unsustainable and irresponsible, but by doing so it encourages consumers to be frivolous with energy. Right now, most homes in the UK waste around 20% of the energy they pay for. This cannot continue.

“To enable consumers to make the right choices for their pocket and the planet, I am calling for the industry regulator to require suppliers to show their value proposition, whereby each supplier presents what value it can offer to the consumer, as an energy partner. This would result in households using and paying less and would give the UK a chance of hitting its 2050 net zero target.”

Utilita launches Planet Pledge

  • New campaign encourages pro-planet habit forming for 79% of people who want to impact climate change, but struggle to do so
  • Research confirms pro-planet habits can form in 66 days
  • National campaign has the power to fast-forward the UK’s journey by as much as two years and save households around £250 on annual energy bills

A new consumer behaviour change campaign named ‘Planet Pledge’ is inviting every household in the UK to sign up to a 66-day environmental pledge starting on 17th January with the ambition of encouraging long-term pro-planet habits that will get the nation to net zero as much as two years before the Government’s 2050 target.

The campaign is based on research that reveals that 79 percent of people in the UK would like to do more at home to tackle climate change but can’t get into the habit of doing so.

Despite the popular belief that it takes 21 days to form a habit, the campaign has been designed around a behavioural science study undertaken by Dr Pippa Lally and colleagues at University College London, which found that the average time it took to form a habit is 66 days.

All members of the household can get involved – not just the bill payer – at www.planetpledge.co.uk. 

Participants will receive a welcome guide to introduce as many as nine new energy-saving behaviours, each to be completed for a minimum of 66 days. Each week participants will receive an email with exclusive tips and advice on pro-planet habit forming from Dr Lally.

By signing up, households can reduce their home energy wastage by up to 20 percent, which would help the UK to reach its 2050 net zero target as much as two years sooner and save each household around £250 on their annual energy spend.

Utilita Energy, the UK’s only energy supplier created to help households use less energy, is behind the campaign, after revealing that the majority of people want to make positive changes in their behaviours at home (79%) and more than three in five people said it makes them feel good when they make an effort to reduce their carbon footprint (63%).[3] The Planet Pledge campaign will reward participants who share their efforts via social media, with eco-themed prizes, including a smartphone, washing machine and an eco-friendly staycation worth £3,000.

Dr Pippa Lally, Behavioural Scientist at University College London is an expert on habit forming. She said: “Forming pro-planet habits makes it easier for us to continue to work towards tackling climate change in our daily lives even when we are busy and distracted.

“The Planet Pledge is a great way to challenge ourselves to make alterations to how we behave – be that turning the tap off whilst brushing our teeth or turning lights off when we leave the room. Every little action will add up to make a big impact.”

The most common pro-planet behaviours that people across the UK already do are:

  1. Recycle rubbish – 63%
  2. Turn off unused lights – 61%
  3. Re-wearing clothes (and not washing them after one wear) – 48%
  4. Keeping the home heating to a healthy home heat – 46%
  5. Using a reusable water bottle – 44%

However, some of the easiest and free ways to reduce the impact households have on the environment are still not being done by most people:

  1. 80% of those with a dishwasher don’t use the eco setting
  2. 70% of people have never used the eco setting on their washing machine
  3. 66% of people shower with no consideration of time
  4. 66% of people use standby instead of switching items off
  5. 58% of people leave items plugged in to use vampire energy

Utilita Energy’s well-established relationship with schools, football clubs (from grassroots through to the Premier League), community groups, and its nine High Street Energy Hubs will mean the Planet Pledge initiative has the power to reach hundreds of thousands of households right across the UK.

Sarah Mitcherson, Headteacher at Ridgeway Academy in Welwyn Garden City in Hertfordshire comments on why she thinks families will be keen to make their pledge: “As a school we do everything in our power to act in the interest of the planet.

“For the first time we’ve been able to invite every family to get involved with Planet Pledge, and all do something as a collective. We expect the campaign will be a great success, and we hope to keep the conversation going with families well after the 66-days.”

David James MBE, former England goalkeeper and environmentalist, comments on why he’s making a pledge to the planet: “I’ve been attempting to do the right thing by the planet for three decades – sometimes it works out, and sometimes, it just doesn’t.

“If the intention is there – which it appears to be for 79% of the nation – the habits can and will form, with the advice given by the week-by-week campaign.

“This is the first time I’ve ever known a brand to identify the barriers to positive behaviour change and go some way in helping consumers to get over them, which is really commendable.”

Archie Lasseter, Utilita Energy’s Sustainability Lead is responsible for getting the supplier to become a net zero business by 2030. He comments on why Utilita has been leading the way on ‘using less’ since 2003: “Energy suppliers exist with one main objective – to sell as much energy as possible and to make a margin.

“Utilita is very different. Our mission since launch has been to give as many homes as possible the technology and energy intelligence, they need to cut their energy wastage, and this latest campaign to promote habit-forming will support that.

“Back in 2019 we launched our award-winning Energy High 5 campaign, which has already reached almost four million households, and now we’re enabling every household to shave £250 off their annual energy bill. This latest research reveals that consumers want to do their bit for the environment, but just need a little help in doing so.”

The campaign follows on from the November launch of the hugely successful ‘Wear Warm’ campaign, which encouraged households not to go above 21 degrees at home and wrap up warm instead.

Reports from many of the 660 charity shops taking part in the campaign said the engagement with the idea has been fantastic for driving footfall and encouraging conversations around the healthy amount of home heat.  

Signing up to make a ‘Planet Pledge’

Everyone can sign up to make their Planet Pledge from Friday 17th December 2021.

The campaign begins on Monday 17th January 2022 to celebrate the first day of the Energy Savings Trust’s ‘Big Energy Savings Week’.

Everyone taking part will be in with a chance of winning weekly prizes, including energy efficiency bundles and one uk-based eco holiday worth £3,000.

Debra’s energy-saving tips to top up the Ice Cream Fund!

The smell of freshly cut grass and kids shrieking as they have their first dip in the paddling pool makes being outdoors great, but they are just a few of the hundreds of great benefits.

Debra Clason, Hub Manager of the Utilita Energy Hub in Leith, said: “Whether you’re heading to Cornwall or Portugal, or simply looking to spend more time out in your garden or local park, save money by switching off items in your home, and resetting timers where hot water might not be needed so much.

“By doing so, you’ll save what could be going towards the ice-cream fund!”

To help save energy in the home this summer, Debra’s shared the following tips:

  • Invest in a plug-in timer

If you’re planning a trip away, but would like to keep a light on for security reasons, consider investing in a plug-in timer, to pop the light on and off at times you choose. Doing so will save you energy whilst keeping your home looking ‘lived in’ whilst you’re away.

  • Eat up!

If you’re looking to be away for some time, why not be savvy with mealtimes and use up everything in your fridge freezer before you leave? You could then turn the appliance off at the plug whilst you’re away – saving precious energy.

  • Pull the curtains

As the weather heats up, pull the curtains and blinds before leaving the home to keep your home from heating up like a small furnace for your return. It’ll keep your home cool whilst saving you a small fortune on fans.

  • Switch appliances off

Keeping appliances on standby is one of the biggest ways to waste energy! Game consoles in particular are massive vampire suckers, likewise with TVs and home entertainment systems. Ensuring everything is switched off at the socket will save you a pretty penny.

Check out Utilita’s five free and easy-to-follow energy-saving tips to save £163 a year with Energy High 5: https://utilita.co.uk/campaigns/energyhigh5

Hibernian FC’s new principal partner announced

UTILITA GETS ‘UP FRONT’ TO CELEBRATE HIBERNIAN FC’s PRO-PLANET APPROACH TO FOOTBALL

Utilita – the UK’s only energy company created to help households use less energy – has officially announced this week that it will become the front of shirt sponsor as part of its two-year principal partner agreement with one of the UK’s greenest football clubs, Hibernian F.C.

The deal follows a successful partnership between Utilita and Hibernian F.C. during the 2020 and 2021 season, which saw the energy company’s logo on the back of shirt. Now in the fifth year of their long-term partnership, Utilita will feature in prime position on the front of the club’s home and away shirts and third kit strips, which are soon to be unveiled.

Both Utilita and Hibernian F.C. share many common values, with the two biggest being pro-planet and pro-local community.

Over the past few seasons, Utilita has been working with the club to make a difference within the local area, most recently donating significant sums to the Community Foundation’s “Famous Five a Day Campaign” – which provides food parcels to families who need them – and donating match passes to local schools.

Utilita also has offices and an exclusive high street Energy Hub in the buzzing port district of Leith.

Opened just two years ago, the hugely successful Energy Hub is a first-of-its-kind in Scotland, offering face-to-face customer service, energy efficiency advice and technology, access to interactive kid-friendly energy efficiency apps, and a dedicated community space that is open for the public to book and use from Monday to Saturday. Locals can also purchase Hibernian F.C. merchandise in-store.  

Central to the partnership will be Utilita’s industry award-winning Energy High 5 movement – helping households to avoid the five habits that waste energy, enabling households to save up to £163 per year, while helping the planet. Everyone can take part and start saving today, at www.utilita.co.uk/energyhigh5 . 

Greg McEwan, Hibernian F.C.’s Interim Chief Executive, commented on the support from Utilita: “The front of shirt sponsor needs to be just right, and must share the same values as our club.

“Therefore, I am delighted that we have exactly that in our partnership with Utilita, which is pro-planet and pro-community – it’s great to see an energy company with such high moral standards. 

“The team at Utilita are passionate and want to make a difference, not only in terms of reducing energy bills, but in the local community too.” 

Jem Maidment, Utilita’s Chief Marketing Officer, said: “We couldn’t be prouder to be Hibernian F.C.’s principal partner after what has already been a hugely successful four seasons with the club.

“As the greenest club in Scotland – and the third greenest club in the UK – we share many common values and we’re chuffed of the support they’ve given us in backing Energy High 5, a campaign which encourages people to cut down their energy usage with five free and easy-to-follow tips – saving both their pocket and the planet!

“We’re excited to see what next season brings as Hibs take on European opposition.”

The partnership announcement follows Utilita’s newly launched Football Rebooted campaign with environmentalist and former goalkeeper, David James MBE, which encourages people to donate and claim pre-played football boots and all-weather football trainers, to save families a small fortune, as well as 136,000 tonnes of carbon – the same as taking 7,000 cars off the road for a year, or turning the energy off in one million medium-sized houses for a week. Over 500 pairs of boots were donated in the first 48-hours of the campaign launching. 

Football Rebooted is designed to put an aspirational spin on a mechanic that will get good boots through to families struggling to afford new ones, after Utilita’s State of Play report revealed that out of the 74 percent of families who had been impacted financially by the pandemic, 18 percent won’t be able to send their kids back to grassroots football as they can’t afford boots and other items such as goalie gloves and shin pads. 

Founded in 2003, Utilita is one of the nation’s fastest-growing independent energy suppliers – currently powering more than 800,000 UK customers. It’s established itself as a hugely-recognisable brand within British football, having supplied power to a number of iconic stadiums while partnering with over 20 clubs.

Millions of football boots to find new homes in new environmental awareness campaign

A new ‘Football Rebooted’ campaign has been launched today by the UK’s leading smart energy supplier, Utilita, and former England and Premier League goalkeeper, David James MBE.

The campaign has been created to help the nation recycle at least one million pairs of ‘pre-played’ football boots and astro boots, saving families a small fortune, as well as 136,000 tonnes of carbon – the same as taking 7,000 cars off the road for a year, or turning the energy off in one million medium-sized houses for a week.

The ‘donate and claim’ campaign, enables anyone with spare football boots or astro boots to request a freepost ‘boot bag’ to donate their boots, after which their boots will appear at one of many claim stations that will pop up in parks, training grounds, and at some of the UK’s largest football clubs.

Premium pairs of the ‘most wanted’ retro boots and former and current players’ boots and other items will also be in the mix, giving anyone a chance to come along and grab a pair to be proud of.  

The campaign is strategically designed to put an aspirational spin on a mechanic that will get good boots through to families struggling to afford new ones, after Utilita’s State of Play report revealed that out of the 74 percent of families who had been impacted financially by the pandemic, 18 percent won’t be able to send their kids back to grassroots football as they can’t afford boots and other items such as goalie gloves and shin pads. 

Campaign ambassador and keen environmentalist, David James, and the Utilita team held focus groups with families, which revealed the barriers to boots finding new homes – the biggest being pride.

The donate and claim mechanic avoids families needing to accept charity from people they know, and makes claiming a new pair an aspirational activity, whereby people are impacting the environment, too.  

Campaign ambassador, David James MBE, comments on why the campaign is so important: “Right now, there are millions of pairs of football boots that people have grown out of or replaced, and we need to make sure they don’t end up in landfill.

“Getting these boots replayed through Utilita’s Football Rebooted campaign will not only save players a few quid but will also act as an important reminder about the power of upcycling and reusing items that still have a lot of life left in them.” 

https://twitter.com/i/status/1396005495866118144

Bill Bullen, founder of Utilita – the only energy company created to help households use and waste less energy – explained why Utilita has created the Football Rebooted campaign: “Most consumers are becoming more thoughtful about how their choices impact the environment, but sometimes life gets in the way of making the right choice. That’s why we have created Football Rebooted, which makes recycling football boots with plenty of life left in them, really easy. 

“The campaign has been shaped by grassroots football players, coaches and parents, so uses carbon-saving examples that really resonate with this audience – home energy usage and taking cars off the road. It’s been incredibly encouraging to see football players as young as six years old talk passionately about the importance of protecting the environment.”

Premier League and EFL clubs across the UK, including Portsmouth, Southampton, Derby County and Leeds United, have already signed up to donate the football boots worn by their academy players, while first-team players have also donated their own boots in the interests of the environment.

As part of the new campaign, schools can request boots be sent to them for children who they identify as needing football boots to enable them to play in or outside of school. 

English Schools’ FA (ESFA) Chairman, Phil Harding, said: “The last 12 months have been very difficult for families, teams, players and schools alike and, as the National Governing Body for Schools’ Football, the ESFA welcome any campaign to help ensure children have every opportunity to take part in a sport that they are passionate about, but that is also so beneficial for both their physical and mental health.

“The Football Rebooted campaign not only has a great environmental message but is also working towards helping children to be active, participate and enjoy school sport.” 

Find out more information about the campaign at www.footballrebooted.co.uk.

Utilita Hub Manager shares energy-saving tips

After over a year in and out of lockdown, many of us have turned to technology to keep ourselves entertained – from binging on hit Netflix shows such as Tiger King and Bridgerton, to making daily purchases via Amazon Prime.

But as things continue to ease up, and we edge ever closer to the Great British Summertime (and freedom!), we may be planning exciting days out with friends and family – many of whom we haven’t seen in several months, or even a year!

Before you step outside and enjoy the sunshine, take a moment to check around the home for any appliances which may be on standby. Doing could save you £30 a year – not bad!

Debra Clason, Hub Manager at the Utilita Energy Hub in Leith, Edinburgh, has shared her top tips for saving energy during this time:

  1. Dust off the clothes horse

As the days get warmer, pull out the clothes horse from the back of the cupboard and dry freshly washed items quickly in the sun without the need of the tumble-dryer.

  1. Check your heating

When the weather heats up, check your heating and make sure it’s either off because it’s warm enough outside, or that it set lower to save you in the long run.

  1. Stay cool with cross ventilation

Create a cool breeze through the home by opening a window at the font and another at the back, to let air free flow through rooms – and save the fan until things really heat up!

  1. Make the most of the great outdoors

As the weather improves after being cooped up inside for several months, make the most out of the great outdoors. Less time in the home enjoying ourselves means less energy used.

Debra comments: “Our research reveals on average, British homes have 10 unused items plugged in and switched on at any time. Across the UK’s millions of homes, those with at least one TV waste a staggering £432 million on unnecessary energy every year by leaving the set on standby. 

“By simply switching your appliances off at the power source after using them, you could save £30 a year.”

“Find other tips on how you could save £163 each year on energy bills with our Energy High 5 movement.”

Energy-saving tips from Utilita

Energy-Saving Tips from Debra Clason, Hub Manager at the Utilita Energy Hub in Leith:

As the nation eases out of lockdown, after a year of working, living and home schooling in the same four walls, many of us may be looking to spring clean our homes ready for the summer months of freedom that lay ahead.

But how can you spring clean your home cost effectively? Debra Clason, Hub Manager at the Utilita Energy Hub in Leith, Edinburgh, shares some tips:

  1. Make use of the natural light –after polishing the windows from the inside, why not show off your hard work by pulling up the blinds and letting the natural light come in – saving £14 by switching off lights.
  2. Turning electricals off at the plug – as you spring clean your way room-to-room, check that unused electricals are switched off at the power source to save £30.
  3. Turn the heating down – Whilst clearing out the boiler cupboard, spend a couple of minutes readjusting the temperature for the summer months – by turning the heating down by just one degree, you could save £80!
  4. Refresh the fridge and freezer – it’s easy to forget that the fridge and freezer are constantly consuming energy. Cleaning the fridge, especially at the back, will allow air to circulate more freely and use less energy.

Debra also explained the money saving advantages of washing at low temperatures: “Before you pop those bedsheets in the wash, did you know you could save £9 by simply switching from 40C / 60C to 30C – it might not sound like a lot, but when combined with our four other energy-saving tips with Energy High 5, you could save up to £163 per year. Not bad!

“And did you know that stains are not impacted by the temperature of the water? Instead, it’s about carefully breaking down of any residue on the item. You only need a higher temperature wash (40C / 60C degrees) for heavily soiled items, such as muddy football socks. If you rinse the soiled item under the tap before popping them into the wash, you could wash at a lower temperature – helping to save money!”

Working in partnership with the Energy Saving Trust and National Energy Action, Utilita – the only energy company created to help households use less energy – prepares monthly advice that every household can put into action, at no cost, to save up to £163 each year on their energy bills with its Energy High 5 movement.