LOWER FUTURE ENERGY COSTS

Could now be the time to invest in eco alternatives to keep bills low? The government has said that for the next five years homeowners will not pay VAT when installing green measures. So consider the following:

✱ Solar panels These power your home using energy from the sun so you’ll need less electricity from the National Grid. They cost about £5,000 and best suit south-facing roofs.

✱ Eco heat pumps An alternative to your gas-guzzling boiler. Costs start from £10,000, but you can potentially get up to £5,000 as part of the government’s boiler upgrade scheme. See gov.uk for details.

✱ Insulate your home This could save you £500 a year*. It costs about £600, but the savings are big and should last for 40 years – that’s over £20,000 saved.