| Conservative Party Conference: David Cameron tells Britons 'Your country needs you' Mr Cameron urged people to "pull together" and said the controversial cuts planned to slash the deficit will be worth it. telegraph.co.uk |
Trio guilty of Halloween murder Three men have been found guilty of murdering an IT worker on Halloween in a row over his girlfriend's hat. bbc.co.uk |
Pilots 'unaware' of safety check Many pilots were not fully checking a seat-locking device designed to stop people falling out of RAF jets, an inquest hears. bbc.co.uk |
High energy costs prompt householders to cut back on winter heating UK consumers face a winter of discontent as they attempt to keep this year's energy bills downMore than six out of 10 households are worried about the cost of their energy bills this winter and 20% of consumers are already struggling to pay their energy bills, according to a survey published today.Research from uSwitch.com also revealed that almost three-quarters (73%) or 19m households have already cut back on their energy usage or intend to do so in an attempt to cut their bills.Almost half (48%) of those polled have attempted to make their homes more energy efficient, with a further 24% saying they are more likely to do so because of the last year's particularly cold winter.But 17% of households either went without heating last winter or did not have adequate heating for fear of energy bills going through the roof. uSwitch said people could feel forced to ration their heating again this year if this winter turns out to be as severe as last year's.Ann Robinson, director of consumer policy at uSwitch.com, said: "The high cost of energy coupled with last year's bitter winter has had a lasting impression on British householders."In some ways it has acted as a force for good, encouraging people to make their homes more energy efficient in time for this winter. But it isn't all positive news and the big concern is for those who have been left behind, who cannot afford to make their homes energy efficient, and who look set to face another winter of self-rationing to stop their fuel bills going through the roof."Under the Cert (Carbon Emission Reduction Target) scheme,, energy suppliers have a pot of money allocated to boosting energy efficiency. According to the research, one-fifth of households have been contacted by their supplier offering help in making their homes energy efficient. Consumers can also ask their supplier for help under the Cert scheme – but less than one in 10 (9%) have done so and over half of consumers (51%) are unaware that they can ask their supplier for help with grants and special offers."Before cutting back on energy usage, I would urge consumers to speak to their energy supplier about the help they could get with energy efficiency and to then ensure that they are paying as little as possible for the energy they use by moving to a more competitive energy plan," Robinson said. "By taking these steps, hopefully households can keep a lid on their winter fuel bill without having to take drastic and potentially dangerous measures."According to uSwitch, households can save around £239 a year by moving to an online plan. The current best online providers are E.ON (£894 for the year) and nPower (£952 for the year). The company advises consumers sign up for dual fuel (getting both gas and electricity from one supplier) as there are discounts available for doing so, and pay by direct debit as suppliers give direct debit customers a discount.Moneysupermarket.com says the earlier you switch, the greater chance you have of saving money during winter. It says those switching now could expect to complete the switch by early to mid-December, saving up to £500 off their annual bill.Other tips for bringing your winter fuel bill down include:• Turn your thermostat down to reduce your room temperature by 1°C – this could save 10% on your annual heating bills.• Almost 25% of heat is lost via poorly insulated roofs so invest in cheap but effective insulation.• Heat only the rooms you use most often, especially if you live in a large house.• Close your curtains in the evenings – they keep the heat in and are one of the simplest and easiest ways of cutting heating bills.• Reduce draughts around doors (keyholes, letterboxes, gaps in doors and windows) because heat escaping your home is money wasted. Moneysupermarket.com says draught-excluder packs are available from most DIY stores for as little as £60.• Remember the basics: don't leave electrical appliances on standby (a computer on "sleep" mode uses up to 75% of its energy); turn off lights and appliances when you go to bed; don't overfill your kettle; take showers rather than baths; wash clothes in your washing machine at a lower temperature; and change to energy-saving lightbulbs.Energy billsHousehold billsEnergy efficiencyEnergyConsumer affairsMark Kingguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Newly-wed cleared of wife murder A man is cleared of murdering his wife following a drunken night out, five months after their wedding. bbc.co.uk |