Could yours be the cheapest house for heat and power in Wilmslow?

by Lisa Reeves

Tuesday 30^th April 2019

Tue 30^th Apr 2019

Transition Wilmslow, which has been offering free energy surveys in the Wilmslow area for the past 6 years, is challenging local residents to see if theirs could become the cheapest house for heat and power in Wilmslow

So far they have surveyed 200 houses, and want to know now if anyone can beat the best house they surveyed for energy use which is a fairly modern detached house, with two occupants, one of whom works from home. Last year the cost for heat and power was £578.

The house is well insulated house (with porches) and a small wood burning stove using free pallets to chop up. Their appliances are A+/++ rated with an induction hob, and a combi microwave.

However, a lot of what they have done to reduce costs is about behaviour, including

Keeping the temperature down inside the house except in the room they are in, ensuring doors are kept closed
Review and switch (if applicable) utility contracts once a year
Wearing thicker clothes
Hanging washing outside or in the conservatory
Not leaving appliances on standby
Using a steamer or microwave more and the main oven less
Plus using bicycles around Wilmslow for shopping, reducing car use.

Amanda Williams, one of the owners, said "I don't like waste, we need to try and protect the environment. We live behind a farm which is being dug up to build more houses on green belt land. If I can save money and do my bit to help the environment, it helps towards the loss of trees and the surrounding habitat that our society is taking away."

Andrew Backhouse, Chair of Transition Wilmslow said "Saving money for us all is really important – but Transition Wilmslow wants to help to conserve the planet for our next generations. Can you beat this house?"

Photo: Amanda Williams outside their house, taken by Simon Williams.

Transition Wilmslow is a community non-political group trying to get people working together to make the planet more sustainable and build community in the process. Email Andrew Backhouse or call him on 01625 537087.

Tags:: Transition Wilmslow

Comments

Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.

Roger Bagguley

Tuesday 30^th April 2019 at 9:40 am

Really well done Amanda and Simon. Unfortunately my family talk the talk but don't walk the walk. My bill is theirs x 4, way above average for SK9 6DX.

Oliver Romain

Tuesday 30^th April 2019 at 11:41 am

Our leaky Victorian house is about £1800 but some of that is down to size and using a gas and electricity supplier that sells renewable energy and invests in renewable generation, so it’s not the cheapest.
Older properties are more difficult to make efficient. Cavity wall insulation is one of the most important. Walls lose more heat than windows.

Andrew Backhouse

Wednesday 1^st May 2019 at 1:30 pm

Really important to start talking the talk and then taking steps - but we all need a bit of a challenge to move forward. I am always learning new tricks on energy saving. Two of the best other houses we have surveyed are large victorian house where the owners either have huge porches, and wall insulation (houses in Wilmslow had cavity walls long before other places!), or have taken huge steps to insulate, install LED lights, smart controls and so on. I am happy to put people in touch with others that they might learn from.

Wendy Falk

Wednesday 8^th May 2019 at 10:57 am

We changed our CH thermostat to a more sensitive one and have the radiators either off or really low in those rooms rarely used. We also have a wood burner in the lounge (always on the lookout for trees being chopped down, locally) and season the wood, ready for the following winter. This keeps my husband fit too!

Please note, people, generally, pallets are safe to burn in fireplaces, although those that are treated with the fumigant methyl bromide (labeled with the initials MB) are unsafe to burn.

Let's all do something so it will grow and become the norm.