• Make sure your hot water cylinder is insulated with a suitable jacket. These are available to buy at a range of DIY stores
• Don’t overheat your home. Setting your heating thermostat at 20 degrees should be sufficient and could cut your fuel bill by over £100 per year
• Draw your curtains in the evenings; as much as 40% of heat can be lost through windows
• Only heat the rooms you use. Turn off radiators in bedrooms during the day and turn them back on an hour before you go to bed
• Keep doors closed as warm air is sucked into cooler areas like halls and landings
• Lay a rug or carpet on vinyl or laminate floors to help retain floor heat
• Use electricity wisely, such as only boiling the amount of water you actually need or not keeping the oven heating up longer than required
• Switch off lights and working appliances when not needed, including computers and laptops and mobile phone chargers
• If you have a dishwasher, wait until it is full before switching it on
• Use your washing machine when full, half loads do not mean half price!
• If you have a car, it’s a good idea to think about how you could reduce your travel too, saving money on petrol by using public transport, cycling, walking or car-sharing

Green Doctors is a team of expert energy advisers who arrange a one-hour phone consultation or home visit with residents to help with their energy use. This service helps you save money and reduce the anxiety of bills at an already stressful time. It also helps you keep your home comfortable, which can improve health conditions that are exacerbated by the cold and dampness.

During an energy consultation, the Green Doctor will help you with:

• Personalised advice on energy bills, for example, help to understand confusing/incorrect bills
• Energy saving tips, encouraging behavioural change
• Delivering free energy-saving items such as draft proofing strips/LED light bulbs/showerheads, etc

And where eligible:

• Access the Priority Services Register (for example support in a case of power cut)
• Access the Warm Homes Discount (£150 payment)
• Access to water discounts (WaterSure/WaterHelp) and other discounts for which you may be eligible
• Apply for grants for energy and water debt
• Refer you to other services for additional support

Criteria

The service is available if you are on a low income (£15,900 or less per annum) or in receipt of any means-tested benefits. Other criteria includes:

• Poor health conditions (such as respiratory/ circulatory disease or mental health condition)
• Disability
• Aged 65 and over
• Households with children under five years old
• Pregnant and on low income

To use this service, you need to be in the boroughs- Kensington & Chelsea, Hounslow, Brent, Ealing, Harrow, Hillingdon

To be referred to the Green Doctors service please email engagementandcommunities@inquilabha.org or contact our Engagement and Communities team on 020 8607 7777.

For more information about the service please visit Green Doctors London

South London Healthy Homes provides help for vulnerable residents to stay warm and healthy.

Keeping warm over the winter months can help prevent colds, flu or more serious health conditions such as heart attacks, strokes, pneumonia and depression which affect more vulnerable people.

The South London Healthy Homes programme provides a free winter home, financial, and health support package to those most in need, including:

• Energy efficiency advice
• Installation of energy saving devices
• Support for home improvement grant applications
• Impartial advice that will help you heat your home for less
• Signposting and connecting you to other sources of help

South London Healthy Homes can offer free help to anyone living in South London who is:

• Over 65, or
• On a low income, or
• Have a long-term health condition or disability
• Or with children under five years old

To use this service, you need to be in the boroughs of Kingston & Richmond

• To be referred to their service please email engagementandcommunities@inquilabha.org or contact our Engagement & Communities team on 020 8607 7777.

For more information about this service please visit South London Healthy Homes

We have recently partnered with Pocket Power, a social enterprise that helps those on lower incomes to apply for discounts and switch to cheaper providers for their household bills - such as energy, broadband, phone, and water.

If you are referred to the service, you will be booked in for a phone appointment at a suitable time for you.

At your personal, 1-2-1, appointment you will go through your situation, energy bills and costs. Pocket Power will follow up to help you to apply for new discounts when they are announced or switch when your contract runs out.

This service is available to all our residents.

To be referred to this service please email engagementandcommunities@inquilabha.org or contact our Engagement & Communities team on 020 8607 7777.

For more information about this service, please visit Pocket Power (pocket-power.co.uk)

It’s always a good idea to review your energy provider, where you can, to ensure you are getting the best deal. Some providers offer incentives too.

At Inquilab we also keep a close eye on what incentives, discounts and grants are available for our residents and we will notify you accordingly of any energy saving schemes we can offer you.