Energy efficiency and energy advice for Crawley Homes

Keeping residents' homes safe, warm and well maintained is a priority for us. Understanding how to use energy efficiently can help you to keep your home comfortable, reduce wasted energy and, where possible, keep your energy costs down.

Our Energy Efficiency Officer can provide you with practical advice and support, helping you to understand energy use and the steps to make your home more energy efficient and fuel bills smaller.

Our free advice service includes a complete home energy assessment which looks at:

• checking insulation, heating controls and ventilation which could lead to improvements in insulation, windows and doors as well as a better understanding of programmers and thermostats and reduced energy costs
• identifying any mould and damp in your home and arranging for treatment and investigations if needed
• checking your current energy and water tariffs to make sure that you are getting a good deal, as well as advice on how to get better tariffs if needed
• checking eligibility for any reduced tariffs if you are on a low income or have a disability or long-term illness
• referrals to debt advisors for help if you have any energy or water debt
• checking water bills, as high bills may mean there are leaks in the system. If needed, we can then check to see where those leaks might be

Contact our Energy Efficiency Officer, David Howell, on:

• email: david.howell@crawley.gov.uk
• telephone: 01293 438506

Depending on your circumstances, you may be eligible for help with your energy and water bills:

• priority services registers can provide vulnerable residents with additional support, including faster help if your energy or water supply is interrupted. You need to contact your energy and water suppliers to find out more
• water suppliers may be able to offer reduced tariffs to people on a low income or with a long-term disability or illness. For most of Crawley this is Southern Water and Thames Water. Contact your supplier for more information
• if you are struggling with energy or water debt, contact Citizens Advice for advice and support, including help negotiating with your energy or water company
• in cases of severe financial hardship, some residents may be eligible for fuel vouchers. These are usually provided directly by the energy company

Citizens Advice:

• telephone the Crawley branch on 0808 278 7969
• visit the Citizen's Advice West Sussex website
• Citizens Advice Debt Helpline: 0800 240 4420
• visit the Citizen's Advice energy webpage

Local Energy Advice Partnership (LEAP) - free independent energy advice:

• telephone: 0800 029 4543
• get home energy advice from LEAP

West Sussex Energy:

• visit the West Sussex Energy website

Energy Saving Trust - for the latest general information on saving energy and renewable energy

• visit the Energy Saving Trust website

Check your insulation levels or get these checked

• if your home has little or no loft insulation, we can arrange a top up
• we can get uninsulated walls checked to see if these can be improved

Check windows and doors for draughts:

• simple adjustments and servicing can help reduce draughts
• insulating curtains will help keep the heat in during the winter months

Change old type light bulbs to modern energy saving LED light bulbs:

• changing a 100 watt incandescent light bulb for a 7-watt LED is over 10 times cheaper to run

Get to know your heating controls:

• using the heating only when you need it and keeping the thermostats under control will save you money

When buying appliances try and get the most energy efficient ones available:

• fridges and freezers are on 24 hours a day and 365 days a year and constantly use energy