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Energy efficiency

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Improving energy efficiency involves taking steps to use less energy while still meeting our needs.

We can all reduce the amount of energy we use. By only using what we need‚ we can save money too.

Reducing your energy use results in smaller bills‚ leaving you with a greater proportion of your income to spend elsewhere. Think about how much you spend on energy at the moment. Do you have to go without other comforts to make your finances balance?

Money-saving measures

The money you can save by taking common energy efficiency measures is considerable. Here are some examples:

  • installing cavity wall insulation can save you up to £320 per year
  • increasing loft insulation to 250mm can save up to £120 per year
  • an ‘A’ rated fridge/freezer can cost up to £37 less per year to run than a less efficient model
  • draughtproofing can save up to £20 per year insulating your hot-water tank can save up to £20 per year
  • a single low-energy light bulb can cost up to £4.50 less a year to use than a traditional bulb.

Together‚ these savings are the equivalent of an extra £10 in your pocket every week.

The savings listed above are based on information issued by the Energy Saving Trust. The amount you save may vary depending upon the size and age of your home and how you use energy.

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Let's talk money publications

  • opens link in new window More money in your pocket booklet
    A guide to claiming benefits for people over pension age. (PDF 164KB)

    opens link in new window Pension Credit leaflet
    3 steps to find out if someone you know qualifies for Pension Credit. (PDF 105KB)


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      A download is a document (like a research report, a leaflet, or an application form) that can be transferred from our website to your computer. You can download a file, view it on your screen, print it, or save it to your computer.

      What is a PDF?

      PDF stands for ‘portable document format’.

      Most downloads on this website are PDFs. We use this format to ensure that the document looks the same on everyone’s computer (website pages, by contrast, appear differently depending on how people have got their computer set up).

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      Computers use a program called Adobe Acrobat Reader to download PDFs. If you try clicking on a link to download a PDF and it doesn’t work, you will need to install Adobe Acrobat Reader onto your computer.

      How do I install Adobe Acrobat Reader?

      The process is quite straightforward and is free.

      1. Go to opens link in new window http://get.adobe.com/uk/reader/
      2. Click ‘Download’.
      3. Wait for the window to offer you the option to ‘Run’, then choose this option.
      4. Click ‘Next’.
      5. Click ‘Install’
      6. Wait for the window to offer you the option to ‘Finish’, then choose this option.

      How do I change a download?

      PDFs cannot be changed. If you need to be able to type into a downloaded document (for example, if we are offering a letter template that you need to put your name on) we will provide it as a Microsoft Word document rather than a PDF. You can then download it, type into it and save it to your computer.

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      Close the browser window to return to the Age UK website.

      Can my screen reader read PDF downloads?

      We have made every effort to make our PDFs accessible to screen readers. Here is an overview of your accessibility options available in Acrobat Reader. Please ensure that you have downloaded the latest version of Acrobat Reader from the Adobe Reader website to ensure that they are included in your version of the programme.

      You can use Adobe Reader to read a PDF out loud with the following shortcut keys:

      • Read the document: Shift +Ctrl+Y
      • Read the open page only: Shift +Ctrl+V
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      • Stop Shift+Ctrl+E


      You can also convert a PDF into a web page by following these steps:

      • Copy the URL (web address) of the document (right-click on the link and select ‘Save target as’ or ‘Copy link’).
      • Open the Adobe online conversion tool in your browser and paste the URL into the URL box.
      • Tick the HTML box on the Format option and click ‘Convert’.


      You can convert a PDF document into a text file for use with other software and hardware such as Braille printers by opening the PDF and choosing ‘Save as text’ from the File menu.

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