USEFUL RESOURCES
SEAI.IE/SUSTAINABLE-SOLUTIONS/ENERGY-SAVING-TIPS/ This link, which is from the website of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), offers advice on how to make your home more energy efficient — which in turn should reduce your energy consumption and bills. It includes advice on the ideal temperature for living areas, halls and bedrooms; and how to use your electric appliances more efficiently.
SEAI.IE/GRANTS/HOME-GRANTS/BETTER-ENERGY-HOMES/ This link provides information on the SEAI grants which are available towards the cost of insulating your home, the cost of installing solar heating, and the cost of upgrading your boiler or heating controls. These grants are available under the Better Energy Homes scheme. The insulation grants available under the scheme are for attic, cavity wall, internal wall and external wall insulation. You can also find out how to apply for the various grants here — and if you are eligible for one.
ELECTRICIRELAND.IE/RESIDENTIAL/HELP/EFFICIENCY/MY-ENERGY-PAL This is a link to Electric Ireland’s My Energy Pal app, which should help you to understand your energy usage and control your energy costs.
THEOWL.COM This link provides information on Owl energy monitors — including the Owl electricity monitor which tells you how much you are paying for your electricity at different times of the day. This monitor will help you see how much more you’re paying for your electricity when you have one, or a number of, electrical appliances running. The website’s ‘Where to buy’ section tells you the Irish retailers that you can buy this device from.
CRU.IE This the website of the energy and water regulator, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU). In the ‘Switching Supplier’ section of this website, there is a step-by-step guide on how to switch energy supplier as well as a rundown of important information which you should know before you switch. Its ‘Make a Complaint’ section tells you how to make a complaint to an energy supplier — or to the CRU. You can learn how to better understand your electricity bills in the ‘Customer Information’ section — as well as what to do if you are running into difficulties repaying your bills.
SWITCHER.IE This is a useful price comparison website where you can compare gas and electricity prices across the market and find out the best broadband, landline, TV and mobile phone deals. It also offers advice on how to switch your gas, electricity and broadband. It’s worth reading this website’s blogs to catch up with the latest energy, broadband and mobile phone news.
BONKERS.IE This is another useful price-comparison website where you can search for the best gas, electricity and broadband deals, and compare the cost of mortgages, credit cards and loans. It also has a good blog section with the latest consumer news.