Summer round up from BEN

What’s going on with our bills, get started on simple summer DIY, chatting all things Energy at ‘Sparks’, and ‘Bright Green Homes’ opportunity.

The warmer days and nights are in full swing now which is good news for keeping our energy bills down but it is still a difficult time for people as they struggle with the cost of energy bills, rent, and food. There has been a lot of mention in the news about the ‘Energy Price Cap’ (the amount that a company can charge per unit of energy) coming down which sounds like good news. In the long run it is good news but it’s important to recognise that we have not been paying the price cap over the winter as the government put in place an artificial cap and provided the ‘Energy Bill Support Scheme’ (the £67 a month rebate). Long story short, it is not going to feel like there is much difference to what we’re paying BUT summer is here and we will be saving energy on our heating and therefore bringing down our bills.

While we are in the warmer months it is a great time to do the basic DIY draught proofing that will help keep your home warmer next Autumn and Winter. Everything you can do now to address draughts will reduce the amount you have to pay on your energy bills once it gets colder. Our top tips are:

- Use builders' caulk to fill in the gaps along your skirting boards

- Use foam insulating tape around the frames on your entrance doors. This will form a seal and keep the cold air out

- Make sure that letter boxes and keyholes on your external doors are covered so the wind doesn’t blow through them

BEN is part of the new arts and sustainability hub in the old Marks and Spencer’s space in Broadmead called ‘Sparks’. We are part of the ‘Energy Department’ and are onsite delivering energy advice with our ‘Energy Help Desk’ weekly. Do pop by for some advice and a chat!

One of the projects that we are talking about at Sparks is ‘Bright Green Homes’. It’s a project delivering fully funded energy efficiency improvements to homes in Bristol. Check out the details below and share with anyone you know who doesn’t use gas to heat their homes to see if they’re eligible.

Link: https://www.bristolcityleap.co.uk/domestic/bright-green-homes/