30+ Charity & Community Energy Saving Ideas And Energy Efficiency Grants

A checklist of 30+ charity and community energy saving ideas to save on heating, electricity and gas bills. My work is in support of charities, but it will be a very hard winter for many, so I've also included energy savings tips for individuals and families.  At the end are energy efficiency and renewable grants for charities and families, including the EC04 grant scheme for loft insulation, boilers etc.  

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But we're doing much more to help charities through the cost of living crisis.  Use Funding Finder, to find a huge range of grants and Help Finder to find lots of free fundraising support and also companies that make product/financial donations. There's a fundraising online health check, with 60+downloadable funder lists.

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CHARITY AND COMMUNITY ENERGY EFFICIENCY SAVING IDEAS

A range of charity and community energy saving ideas and tips, as well as energy efficiency grants, switching your energy supplier and links to the Charity Excellence online list of crisis grant funding for charities.

Energy Efficiency Savings - Electricity & Heating

With energy costs spiralling, even small savings in your charity energy costs helps, these are cumulative, so build up over time and not wasting energy helps the planet too.  Here are a series of energy saving ideas for the workplace and home.  

• Switch Stuff Off. 
• You may have 'power save mode', but this often saves little energy.  
• Ensure photocopiers, computers, printers and other equipment are switched off at night, weekends and during holidays. 

Your equipment will also last longer and be less of a potential fire risk.  

• Energy Saving Equipment.  It costs but will deliver lower running costs. 
• IT Equipment. 
• Screensavers do not save energy.
• Swap your PCs for laptops, which can consume less than half the energy of a PC. 
• Opt for a smaller screen, which will use less energy.
• Set all monitors to automatically turn off after 10 minutes of inactivity.
• Lighting. 
• Do you have more lighting than you actually need?  If you do, switch off what you don't. 
• Use low-energy lights, especially in areas where the lights are on over long periods. 
  • LEDs can help save you as much as 80% on electricity. 
• Consider investing in timers, movement detectors and light level sensors.
• Heating. 
• Turning the thermostat down by just 1°C can save 8% in heating costs.
• Where practicable, heating should be turned down or off in unoccupied rooms or areas;
  • With heating reduced to ‘frost protection’ levels when unoccupied, e.g., Christmas.
• Ensure doors and windows are not left open after cease work to save on heating costs and improve security. 
• Move furniture away from radiators to allow heat to circulate and;
• Consider sheets if sticky back aluminium foil behind radiators to reflect heat back into the room (£7.59 from Screwfix).
• Keep The Cold Out.   Rather than relying on a heater, make sure rooms are properly insulated.
• Seal gaps around windows and draught-proof wall cavities.
• Window blinds and curtains can help improve thermal insulation and prevent heat loss.
• Check loft spaces to ensure:
• Insulation is adequate, and;
• Pipes and hot water tanks are properly lagged.
  • As much as 40% of heat is lost through the roof of buildings that are not insulated.
• Get A Smart Meter.  By having your monthly meter readings, you can make sure your bills are more accurate and help you manage your energy usage.

Want more?  Here are a whole series of office energy efficiency guides from the Carbon Trust. 

Other Ways To Make Savings To Reduce Bills

Here are 20+ ways to reduce your costs, without cost cutting. These savings can be significant and, even small savings add up, pay you back every month and the funding saved is always 'unrestricted'.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY SAVINGS FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES

We exist to support our beneficairies and our people are our greatets asset.  It'll be a very hard winter for many, so I've included energy savings tips and grants for them too, as well as sources of advice and help. Our online crisis grant funding list for charities, includes sectiosn at the bottom for them.  

Home Energy Saving Ideas

You can try these energy saving ideas for the home as well as those above:

• Washing Machines.  
  • Washing your clothes at 30 degrees compared to a higher setting uses around 40% less energy.
  • Use a shorter washing cycle.
  • Full loads and;
  • Dry your clothes outside.
• Dishwasher.  Use an eco-setting and a full load. 
• TVs and Other Equipment. 
  • Do not leave equipment, such as TVs on standby;
  • Or charge phones overnight. 
• Baths & Showers. 
  • Swapping a long bath for a four-minute just once a week could save you £12 a year.
  • Swapping your shower head for a more energy-efficient one to save around £55 on your gas bill and £45 on your water bill (for a family of four) and/or;
  • Spend less time in the shower. 
• Kettles.  Don't over fill your kettle.
• Cooking. 
  • A microwave is probably the most efficient way of cooking but;
  • If using saucepans, use a lid.
• Fridges.  Defrost food in your fridge instead of using your microwave.
• Freezers.  A build-up of ice makes your freezer’s motor work harder, so defrost your freezer regularly to avoid wasting energy.
• Curtains.  Keeping your curtains shut can reduce heat loss by up to 17%.

Financial Support For Those Struggling With Energy And Water Bills

Turn2Us are a fantastic charity supporting those in poverty.  They provide specific support for those struggling with energy and water bills, including Energy Schemes, Charitable Grants, Energy Efficiency, Water Schemes, Benefits and Help from your local council and Advice and Support.

Providing Energy Advice To Vulnerable People

The Citizens Advice Big Energy Saving Campaign provides resources to help you deliver energy advice to those who need it most.  They are keen to work with partners who can help them reach consumers who are not able to access the internet or those who are at risk of fuel poverty.  You can contact them via the web page. 

Cost Of Living Advice For Parents With Disabled Children

Advice and support from Contact With Families With Disabled Children, including Government support for cost of living, help with household bills, benefits and tax credits, online granst search and dealing with debt. 

ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLE ENERGY GRANTS

Energy grants for charities and families. 

Energy Efficiency Grants For Charities

Energy efficiency grants and schemes and how to switch your utility supplier for your office or workplace from Ofgen. 

Other Cost Of Living Crisis Grant Funding

Our online list of crisis grant funding and other help for charities, non profits and community groups. However, there are about 70 in the Finding Finder Crisis Funding search category, so use that if you want to find more.  

EC04 Grants - Home Energy Efficiency

There are various energy efficiency schemes and grants available. The main scheme is a home energy efficiency scheme known as the Energy Company Obligation (ECO), provided by the government. The Government is comitting £1 billion a year to it, but there are eligibility criteria.  Essentially, it is for people who are claiming benefits, such as Universal Credit.

Sadly, there have been a lot of scams and cold callers approaching vulnerable people.  Consumer Rights has created an online portal that allows anyone to check if they qualify for government-funded upgrades, such as loft, cavity wall and solid wall insulation, and boiler replacement or repair options from ECO4 Grants. It's simple to use and takes less than 2 minutes with a simple step-by-step process.  You can also get more information about the ECO from Ofgem. 

You might also be able to find local grants to help with things like insulating your home from Simple Energy Advice.  You can find more on Citizen's Advice excellent guidance on home improvements.  

Renewable Energy Grants

Sadly, I haven't been able to find mcuh yet.  I'll keep looking. 

Energy Resilience Hub

Good Finance have created an Energy Resilience Hub of case studies so peole can see social investment in practice and explore how organisations are using repayable finance to increase their energy resilience. 

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