Green Doctor Week spreads the word about saving energy

From Monday 5th to Sunday 11th February, local charity Groundwork Five Counties is holding its first Green Doctor Week in collaboration with Rushcliffe Borough Council and Rushcliffe Community & Voluntary Service.
This weeklong social media campaign helps people become more aware of their energy consumption and give handy tips to reduce their usage – saving lots of money along the way.
Green Doctors are energy experts who are making free home appointments around the Rushcliffe area. This service can save local residents thousands of pounds, and help keep both their homes and themselves warm and healthy.
During these home visits they give bespoke advice to tackle high energy bills, draughts, damp and mould. They will also install free energy-saving items like LED light bulbs, draught excluders, radiator foil and more.
On top of this, they can also help eligible households access grants for new boilers and heating systems, loft insulation, and support with energy debts.
The service by charity Groundwork Five Counties is completely free of charge as it is funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, awarded by Rushcliffe Borough Council.
To make a free home appointment, you can simply fill in their online form, which only takes one minute to complete. Find out more about the Green Doctors and get a home visit: https://www.groundwork.org.uk/fivecounties/green-doctor/
In the meantime, by following a few handy tips, people can save over £221 each year.
Many appliances continue to use electricity even when they are turned off, like phone chargers, TVs, kettles, and others. By simply turning off appliances at the plug rather than leaving them on standby, you can save £60 every year.
Turning down the thermostat by one degree can save over £100 a year. Setting your thermostat to 19 degrees (or 20 if you have health issues) should be enough to keep you warm and stave off cold and damp in your home. You may not feel the 1 degree decrease in temperature, but your bills certainly will.
Putting an extra layer of clothing on will make a big difference to your body temperature. Wear a base layer of underwear and regular socks, then thermals or a long sleeve top, thick trousers, a jumper, warm socks or slippers. You can also use a hot water bottle, blanket or warm fleece clothing for extra cosiness. Don’t rely on clothing to keep warm though, as it’s important to heat your house, not just for your health but also to prevent damp and mould in your home.
Many people take unnecessarily long showers, and electric showers are often the most energy inefficient item in the home. Think about your water usage – 5 minutes should be the maximum length of your shower. This could save you up to £50 each year.
We often fill the kettle up to the maximum when we only need one or two cups of water, this uses unnecessary energy and can add up quickly. Try to fill the kettle only to the point that is needed. This super easy tip can save you around £11 each year.
Find out more about the Green Doctors and get a free home visit in Rushcliffe: https://www.groundwork.org.uk/fivecounties/green-doctor/