Energy saving options for your home
Dartford Council offers the borough residents information and practical solutions on how to save energy.
On this page you will find information on:
Energy Saving Light Bulbs
Did you know? If every household in the UK fitted just one energy saving light bulb, enough electricity would be saved to power lighting in 3 million homes for a year!
In most homes lighting accounts for 10 – 15 per cent of the electricity bill.
Energy saving or low energy light bulbs come in various shapes and types.
Energy saving light bulbs are ideal for landings, hallways and stairs – places where you leave lights on for longer but which aren’t easily accessible when you want to change a bulb.
Although energy saving light bulbs are more expensive then their counterparts, energy saving light bulbs make use of modern technology to reduce overall costs and consumption over time.
The chart below highlights cost savings per light bulb you could be making in your home or work place.
Price comparisons are based on:
- average bulb usage of 4.65 hours per day (1700 hours per year)
- a 5000 and 8000 hour lifetime
- electricity cost of 7p/kWh
- an average cost per energy saving lamp of £5.00
| Energy saving wattage | Nearest incandescent wattage | Savings over 5000 hour life | Savings over 8000 hour life |
| 3 watt | 25 watt | £2.70 | £3.70 |
| 4 watt | 25 watt | £2.35 | £6.75 |
| 5 watt | 30 watt | £3.75 | £8.98 |
| 7 watt | 40 watt | £6.55 | £13.46 |
| 9 watt | 50 watt | £9.34 | £17.93 |
| 11 watt | 60 watt | £12.14 | £22.41 |
| 13 watt | 70 watt | £14.94 | £26.88 |
| 15 watt | 75 watt | £15.99 | £28.56 |
| 18 watt | 90 watt | £20.19 | £35.27 |
| 20 watt | 100 watt | £22.99 | £39.74 |
If you are on benefits you are entitled to free energy saving lightbulbs you will need to show relevant identification of the benefits you receive.
- You can collect the lightbulbs from: Dartford Borough Council Civic Centre Reception, Home Gardens, Dartford.
INSULATION
Cavity Wall Insulation can reduce your fuel bills by £130 - £160 each year. The low cost of insulation means that it will pay for itself through fuel bill savings within 2 years.
Approximately 33% of a home’s heat is lost through uninsulated cavity walls. If your home was built between 1930 and 1976 then your home probably has cavity walls.
Loft Insulation can reduce your fuel bills by £180 - £220 each year as approximately 25% of a home’s heat is lost through an uninsulated roof. A depth of 270mm (10.8 inches) is recommended and we recommend a top up if you have less than 100 mm (4 inches).
Install Cavity Wall insulation and/or loft insulation through the Dartford British Gas Council Tax Rebate Scheme at a substantially reduced price and get a credit of £50 on your Council Tax Account. This payment is funded by British Gas and not the Council. You don’t need to be a British Gas customer to benefit from this initiative.
For more information on the British Gas subsidised prices please contact British Gas on 0845 971 7731 and quote reference ‘Dart’.
Please note: other energy providers also offer discounted insulation schemes. Details of these can be obtained directly. Dartford Borough Council can not guarantee that this scheme offers the cheapest deal to all householders.
Efficient Condensing Boilers
A new efficient condensing boiler could cut your annual fuel bill by £80 - £120. Boilers more than 15 years old become less efficient and break down more frequently.
Kent Energy Centre can provide very good discounts on installed systems or on boilers for your own installer to fit.
The installed cost of an A rated condensing boiler starts from £1722 inclusive of a compulsory power flush and VAT. Call Kent Energy Centre on 0800 358 6669 for a free installer quote.
