Council say changing boiler settings could save individuals £112 a year

With temperatures dropping, the council say there is a double incentive to think about how individuals heat their homes efficiently this winter.

An average household gas boiler annually emits greenhouse gases equivalent to driving from Land’s End to John O’Groats (1,347km) 13 times in a new petrol or diesel car.

The council says anything members of the public do to use less gas heating their homes makes a contribution to the climate crisis as well as reducing energy bills at a time of very high prices.

As part of the ‘Be the Change’ climate change campaign, the council are encouraging Swindon residents to take up the ‘Money Saving Boiler Challenge´ organised by Nesta, the UK's innovation agency for social good.

Many combi boilers are burning more gas, generating more carbon emissions and costing households more than they need to.

The council adds that people could be saving energy and money simply by making sure their boiler is running as efficiently as possible - but many people are not aware they can change their boiler settings.

A spokesperson from the council explains: "If you’ve got a combi boiler at home - one that produces your heating and hot water - you could save up to £112 a year on your gas bill by changing a single setting.

"The 'flow temperature' is the temperature your boiler heats up water to before sending it off to your radiators. Combi boilers work best when they heat radiators to 60°C or below. But this ‘flow temperature’ is often set much too high, between 70°C and 80°C.

"It only takes a few minutes to lower your flow temperature, and it can be changed back instantly. There’s nothing to lose by trying it."

Individuals can also search ‘Money Saving Boiler Challenge’ online or visit www.moneysavingboilerchallenge.com to find out more on how to do this.

If 10 million households turned down the flow temperature on their combi boilers to 60°C or below, it is estimated that this could wipe £1billion off UK energy bills and save 1.7 million tonnes of carbon emissions – the equivalent of nearly six million transatlantic flights.

Members of the public can visit the Be the Change webpages for more resources: www. swindon.gov.uk/bethechange

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