With the government, and homeowners, continuing to look at the most energy efficient solutions and products to combat these price increases, BOXT has produced this report to explore the home energy topics that are currently trending in the UK. 

Learn

Home Energy Trends Report 2024

Middlesbrough FC Goalkeeper, Tom Glover, Luke & Family

As official principal partner of Middlesbrough FC we are delighted to have launched a new campaign which will see fans given the opportunity to enjoy a ‘once in a lifetime’ experience at the club.

As official principal partner of Middlesbrough FC, we are delighted to have launched a new campaign which will see fans given the opportunity to enjoy a &lsquo;once in a lifetime&rsquo; experience at the club.&nbsp;
Launching today, The &lsquo;Warm Wishes&rsquo; campaign invites fans to submit their own wishes to have a unique experience at the club. Middlesbrough and BOXT will then work together to make a number of these wishes come true.&nbsp;
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/SxKnj8stRECzKg7L5CWH" alt="Middlesbrough FC Goalkeeper, Tom Glover, Luke &amp; Family">
Middlesbrough schoolboy Luke, recently had his wish granted by the partnership when he became a mascot at Middlesbrough&rsquo;s New Year's Day game against Coventry. Luke was able to meet the players and manager Michael Carrick before the match, receive a signed ball, and walk out with the players in front of a packed crowd at the Riverside.&nbsp;
Andy Kerr, Founder, BOXT said: &ldquo;We are incredibly proud to launch our &lsquo;Warm Wishes&rsquo; campaign as part of our ongoing engagement with the fans to thank them for the warm welcome we have received as sponsors.&nbsp;
We understand how much the club means to its fans and want to give them the opportunity to experience money-can&rsquo;t-buy, once in a lifetime experiences that they have always dreamt of.
At BOXT, we pride ourselves on providing a 5-star, warm experience for all of our customers, and we are delighted to be able to extend this same warm feeling to the Boro fans through this campaign.&rdquo;
Lee Fryett, Chief Commercial Officer, Middlesbrough Football Club, said: &ldquo;We are delighted to partner with BOXT on the &lsquo;Warm Wishes&rsquo; campaign. We love engaging with our fans, and this is a unique opportunity for them to experience something they have always dreamt of.&nbsp;
Whether it&rsquo;s being a kit-man for the day, commentating on a game, or taking a penalty against Tom Glover or Seny Dieng, we can&rsquo;t wait to hear what our fans wish for!&rdquo;
To submit your wishes, please visit: <a href="https://www.mfc.co.uk/boxt">https://www.mfc.co.uk/boxt</a>

New ‘once in a lifetime’ campaign launched for fans of Middlesbrough Football Club

Our experts at BOXT have analysed data from the Child Poverty Action Group and the UK government to reveal the state of fuel poverty in England.

Since the energy crisis began in the Autumn of 2021, the proportion of fuel-poor houses in the UK has absolutely sky-rocketed. According to the Child Poverty Action Group, in 2019/2020, 19.2% of UK households were fuel-poor; by <a href="https://cpag.org.uk/news-blogs/news-listings/fuel-poverty-estimates-uk">January 2023 this had increased to 55.8%.</a>
Households now living in fuel poverty have impossible choices to make, which usually result in going hungry or slipping into debt. The average <a href="https://www.endfuelpoverty.org.uk/surge-in-energy-disconnections-and-debt/">electricity bill debt in the UK is around &pound;1,214</a>. Whilst the government did put vital energy crisis support in place last winter, more than <a href="https://www.nea.org.uk/news/vulnerable-households-missed-out/">one million eligible households </a>missed out on this crucial support. According to the chief executive of the National Energy Action, around &pound;440 million went back into the treasury when it should have gone to households struggling with the cost of energy. Furthermore, according to The Trussel Trust, over <a href="https://www.trusselltrust.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2018/02/The-Trussell-Trust-Fuel-Poverty-Briefing.pdf">90% of food banks in their network had people referred to them who were experiencing fuel poverty</a>. And four in five food banks in their network identified fuel poverty as a significant concern. Our experts at BOXT have analysed data from the Child Poverty Action Group and the UK government to reveal the state of fuel poverty in England. We have looked at the regions in the UK that are most affected by fuel poverty, as well as offering a breakdown of fuel poverty by house type, income, and what fuel your <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/boilers">boiler</a> uses for England.
Key findings:&nbsp;
&bull;&nbsp;Much of Northern England is worst affected by fuel poverty, as the North East, North West, and Merseyside, and Yorkshire &amp; the Humber all have fuel poverty rates above 67%.&nbsp;
&bull;&nbsp;Residents of converted flats suffer fuel poverty more than residents of other property types, at a rate of 24.82%.&nbsp;
&bull;&nbsp;The fuel poverty gap for fuel-poor residents of detached houses is around &pound;702, almost double the average UK fuel poverty gap of &pound;337.&nbsp;
&bull; Houses fueled by electricity have the highest rate of fuel-poor households, with a rate of around 21%.&nbsp;

Andy Kerr, Founder at BOXT, comments:
&ldquo;It is sadly unsurprising but, nonetheless, shocking that such a high proportion of people in the UK are living in fuel poverty.&nbsp;
&ldquo;This year, the UK government will be offering some help to those struggling to pay their energy bills. The Winter Fuel Payment scheme, a one-off payment of up to &pound;600, is available to those born before September 25, 1957. There is also the Warm Home Discount Scheme, which is expected to run again this year, offering a one-off &pound;150 discount to those eligible.
&ldquo;That being said, it is clear that the support offered by the government is not enough to help most households, as the cost of living is still high in other areas too. We need to prioritise the development of long-term solutions to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and make more sustainable energy solutions more accessible and affordable for households in the UK.&rdquo;&nbsp;
<h3></h3>
<h2>Regions in the UK worst affected by fuel poverty</h2>
The Low-Income Low Energy Efficiency indicator measures fuel poverty in England. A household is considered fuel-poor if the property they live in has an energy efficiency rating of band D or below, and when they spend the required amount to heat their home, they are left with a residual income below the official poverty threshold. The threshold for fuel poverty is defined as spending ten percent or more of the total income after housing costs on fuel.
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1. North East
Estimated % of households in fuel poverty: 73.1%
The North East of England is the region worst affected by fuel poverty, as almost three-quarters of households are expected to be fuel-poor by April 2024. This is a massive increase of one quarter (25%) on the estimations from the year prior when 58.6% of households were predicted to be fuel-poor by the start of 2023.

2. Northern Ireland
Estimated % of households in fuel poverty: 71.6%
Coming in as the region with the second-highest level of fuel poverty in the UK, we have Northern Ireland. Current estimations predict that 71.6% of the country&rsquo;s households are fuel-poor, a 0.14% decrease from the previous year's estimations.

3. Scotland
Estimated % of households in fuel poverty: 70.1%
Scotland is the third-worst fuel poverty-affected region in the UK, with 70.1% of households predicted to be fuel-poor by April 2024. This represents a 14% increase from the predictions made the year prior, which stated that 61.5% of households would be fuel-poor in Scotland by January 2023.
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<h2>Regions in England with the largest fuel poverty gap</h2>
The fuel poverty gap is the reduction in required fuel bills that the average fuel-poor household needs to be no longer classed as fuel-poor. The following estimates on the fuel poverty gap in each region of the UK are taken from government data relating to fuel poverty in 2022 and how the situation has changed since the previous year.
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1. South West
Average fuel poverty gap: &pound;521
The South West of England, home to Bournemouth and Bristol, is the region with the country's most significant fuel poverty gap. As the latest data shows, the fuel-poor households in the area would need a &pound;521 reduction in energy bills to no longer be considered fuel-poor. This gap is 54% higher than the &pound;338 average for all of England. The fuel poverty gap in the South West has increased by almost half (48%) from 2021.

2. North West
Average fuel poverty gap: &pound;442
The area in England with the second-highest fuel poverty gap is the North West. Fuel-poor households in this region would need a &pound;442 reduction in energy bills per household to no longer be fuel-poor, which is almost a third (31%) higher than the average for England. In 2021, the fuel poverty gap in the North West was &pound;347, meaning that it has increased by 27% in 2022.

3. East
Average fuel poverty gap: &pound;435
And rounding out the top three areas in England with the highest fuel poverty gap, we have the East of England, which includes cities such as Cambridge, Luton and Peterborough. This area&rsquo;s fuel-poor households would need a &pound;435, which is 29% higher than England&rsquo;s average, reduction in fuel spending to no longer be considered as such. The year prior, the East of England had a fuel poverty gap of &pound;248, meaning that in 2022 the gap increased by 75%. This can largely be attributed to the skyrocketing energy prices the UK had endured in late 2022.
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<h2>Property types in England most affected by fuel poverty</h2>
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1. Converted flat
Proportion of fuel-poor households: 24.82%
The property type with the highest proportion of fuel-poor households in 2022 was converted flats, with 24.82% of families living in this property type in England being fuel-poor. This is over 10% higher than the average for properties in England, which is 13.4%.

2. End-terrace
Proportion of fuel-poor households: 19.81%
End-terrace houses are the property type with the second highest proportion of fuel-poor households as of 2022. Somewhat similar to semi-detached houses in that you are only connected to one other house, they are classified differently due to their terraced status. Of the people in England who reside in this property type, 19.81% are fuel-poor.

3. Mid-terrace
Proportion of fuel-poor households: 15.38%
The property type with the third-highest proportion of fuel-poor households is mid-terraced houses. These houses are essentially any house on a terrace, except for the two on the end; they are connected to another house on both sides. As of 2022, 15.38% of mid-terraced houses are fuel-poor.

<h2>Property types in England with the largest fuel poverty gap</h2>
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1. Detached
Average fuel poverty gap: &pound;702
By far, detached houses have the most significant fuel poverty gap amongst property types in England. Fuel-poor households living in detached houses would need a &pound;702 reduction in energy bills, as of 2022, not to be considered fuel-poor. This gap is 108% higher than the average fuel-poor gap in England.

2. Converted flat
Average fuel poverty gap: &pound;436&nbsp;
Converted flats, the property type with the highest proportion of fuel-poor households, have the second-highest fuel poverty gap. For fuel-poor families living in this property type to no longer be fuel-poor, they would need a &pound;436 reduction to their energy bills, as of 2022, 29% higher than the average.

3. End-terrace
Average fuel poverty gap: &pound;309
The property type with the third-highest fuel-poor gap is end-terraced houses. Fuel-poor households in this property type would need a &pound;309 energy bill reduction as of 2022 to escape fuel poverty. This is 9% lower than England's average fuel-poor gap of &pound;338.

<h2>England fuel poverty by central heating fuel type</h2>
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1. Electricity
Proportion of fuel-poor households: 20.9%
Households with electrically fueled central heating have England's highest proportion of fuel-poor households. Almost 21% of homes that are primarily fuelled by electricity are fuel-poor. Electricity is the second-most common energy source for central heating in England, with 5.64% of households using this energy source.

2. Oil
Proportion of fuel-poor households: 19.4%
Oil is the fuel type with the second highest proportion of fuel-poor households in England, with 19.4% of households using this fuel type for their central heating are fuel-poor. It is England's third-most commonly used fuel source for central heating, with 3.51% of all households using it.

3. Other
Proportion of fuel-poor households: 12.5%
Other fuel sources have the third highest proportion of fuel-poor households. This includes families that use propane, community heating systems and solid fuels, such as wood and house coal. More than 12% of households that use other fuel sources to heat their homes are fuel-poor, though only 3.06% of all households in England with central heating use it, making it the least commonly used.

<h2>England fuel poverty gap by central heating fuel type</h2>
<img src="https://cdn.buttercms.com/6p3HBv9QdOBtH0p93Zg5" alt="undefined">
1. Other
Average fuel poverty gap: &pound;1,508
The central heating fuel type with England's largest fuel poverty gap is all fuel sources regarded as other. This fuel type often includes homes that use heating oil, smokeless fuel like house coal and anthracite nuts, propane, or community heating either from a CHP or waste heat heating system. Fuel-poor households with other fuel as their primary source of central heating fuel would need a &pound;1,508 energy bill reduction to no longer be fuel-poor. This gap is 383% higher than England&rsquo;s average of &pound;312.

2. Oil
Average fuel poverty gap: &pound;801
Oil is the fuel type with England's second-largest fuel poverty gap. Fuel-poor households using this fuel type need a &pound;801 energy bill reduction to no longer be classed as such; this is 157% higher than England&rsquo;s average fuel poverty gap.

3. Electricity
Average fuel poverty gap: &pound;636
And rounding out the top three, we have electricity as the fuel source with the third-highest fuel poverty gap. This shouldn&rsquo;t come as a surprise with how much the cost of electricity has increased for England and the rest of the UK. As such, fuel-poor households using electricity as their main energy source would need a &pound;636 bill reduction to escape fuel poverty. This is 104% higher than England&rsquo;s average fuel poverty gap.

Methodology -&nbsp;
Using the UK Government &ldquo;<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/fuel-poverty-detailed-tables-2023-2022-data">Fuel poverty detailed tables 2023 (2022 data)</a>&rdquo; dataset, we were able to source fuel poverty gaps by region (Table 6), property type (table 7) and primary fuel source (table 13). We also sourced the proportion of households in fuel poverty by property type and primary fuel source. For the estimated proportion of households that are fuel-poor by region in the UK, we used the Child Poverty Action Group &ldquo;<a href="https://cpag.org.uk/news-blogs/news-listings/fuel-poverty-estimates-april-2023-following-autumn-statement-including">Fuel Poverty Estimates For April 2023 Following The Autumn Statement, Including Social Security Mitigations</a>&rdquo;. We then ranked each region, property type and primary fuel source on their proportion of fuel-poor households and their fuel poverty gap.

Fuel Poverty Report

BOXT accelerates expansion plans to become the leader in the domestic heating market after raising £20 million in a fresh round of funding.

British smart home systems installer BOXT accelerates expansion plans to become the leader in the UK domestic heating market after raising &pound;20 million in a fresh round of funding.
The latest round was led by Brookfield, one of the largest global investors in infrastructure which invested in companies that include residential infrastructure specialists Thermondo in Germany and Enercare in Canada and the U.S.
With its sights set on improving heating efficiency and installing smart home solutions to anyone in the country, whatever their post code, BOXT will use the cash injection to spur UK growth, whilst also supporting the government&rsquo;s pledge to cut UK emissions by 80% by 2050.
The fundraising follows an initial investment from engineering giant Bosch.
Born out of a belief that the heating industry wasn&rsquo;t fair on consumers, founders Mel Butler, Andy Kerr and Keith Jones launched BOXT in 2017, developing a unique digital platform to simplify and democratise the process for homeowners.
In less than four years the Leeds headquartered technology company, which offers consumers an uber-style service for fitting <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/boilers" rel="follow">boilers</a>, <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/ev-chargers" rel="follow">electric vehicle chargers</a> and <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/air-conditioning" rel="follow">air conditioning units</a> with accompanying smart home devices such as thermostats, smoke alarms, cameras and speakers has successfully disrupted the home heating installation market, becoming Britain&rsquo;s second-largest <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/boilers/boiler-installation" rel="follow">boiler installer</a>, providing services to over 100,000 households nationwide.
Removing the need for an on-site visit to quote, BOXT passes on the cost savings made through streamlining processes. Its intuitive online service and trusted army of engineers mean customers can obtain competitive fixed prices and installation within 24 hours.
Unveiling a <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/home-cover" rel="follow">home cover</a> for existing customers in 2020, <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/boilers/boiler-repair" rel="follow">a boiler repair solution</a> in 2021, along with smart home packages via its partnership with Google, the business is on course to grow its customer base to over 300,000 households by 2025.
This latest investment round will also allow the business to continue to develop its globally leading technology platform and provide innovative, affordable and reliable home heating solutions.
Growing to over 70 employees since its inception in 2017, BOXT aims to double its workforce in the next 18 months; adding to their operations team at the headquarters in Leeds as well as the product &amp; development team based in London.
The digital heating disruptor has amassed a network of over 3,000 engineers, with a view to increasing this to 6,000 by 2023 to meet customer demand.
"The company has continually delivered double digit growth since 2017&rdquo; said BOXT founder and CEO, Andy Kerr
&lsquo;&rsquo;Bucking the trend of the traditional UK heating industry, we&rsquo;ve achieved over 50% underlying sales growth despite the challenging economic circumstances throughout the COVID 19 pandemic.
&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve invested significantly in technology that creates a smooth customer journey, reducing waste and additional journeys for both customers and engineers.
&ldquo;Nurturing partnerships with Bosch, Google, and EDF have also strengthened our proposition and momentum in the UK, whilst ensuring the business is at the forefront of innovation.&rdquo;
In a bid to lower&nbsp;<a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/449503/">UK carbon emissions</a>, government advisors have called for low carbon heating to replace gas in all new homes built after 2025. A BEIS survey found half of respondents had never heard of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/426221/">renewable heat</a>.
The UK is aiming to phase out gas boilers and replace them with low-carbon technologies, such as heat pumps and electric boilers, in order to reach&nbsp;<a href="https://netzeroclimate.org/what-is-net-zero/">net-zero</a> levels of CO₂ by 2050,&nbsp;BOXT is committed to supporting the new technologies, infrastructure and education needed to help households and businesses overcome barriers to low carbon choices.
&ldquo;Our vision is to be part of the solution to the carbon questions being asked of our industry, supporting our customers - especially the most vulnerable as the UK transitions its heating and energy supply to a more climate friendly future.&rdquo; continues Andy Kerr. 
&ldquo;Two thirds of the homes we will live in by 2050 have already been built, so we need to ensure that any new heating and power solutions can fit into existing homes in a more energy efficient and cost-effective way.
&ldquo;We are pledging to become a net zero carbon business by 2045, reducing our overall carbon emissions by 45% by 2035. 
&ldquo;The latest round of funding will enable us to continue to expand and provide our energy efficient and optimisation products like Google Nest as well as fuel saving technologies to our customers such as electric vehicle charging.
&ldquo;We are delighted to have Brookfield as our partner, as one of the largest energy and infrastructure investors in the world. We know they will bring a wealth of knowledge into the business and together, we see an incredibly ambitious future of growth for BOXT."
The European Residential Boiler Market size was valued over USD $5 billion in 2017 and annual installation is anticipated to exceed 6 Million Units by 2024, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/europe-residential-boiler-market">Global Market Insights</a>, with the UK residential boiler market anticipated to grow over 2% by 2024.
The Global residential <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/boilers" rel="follow">boiler</a> market size was also valued at $8.1 billion in 2019, and is expected to reach $12.3 billion by 2027, registering a CAGR of 5.8% from 2020 to 2027 (<a href="https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/residential-boiler-market-A11095">Allied Market Research</a>).
Brookfield Managing Partner, Sikander Rashid said, &ldquo;The U.K. home heating market is expected to experience accelerating change over the next few decades in response to progress in technology and regulation"
&ldquo;Having rapidly gained the trust of thousands of consumers, we believe BOXT is well positioned to continue to grow its market share, given the attractiveness of the online offer combined with the scalable and flexible business model.&rdquo;
DC Advisory have acted on behalf of BOXT as their corporate finance advisors with Pinsent Masons acting as legal advisors. Squire Patton Boggs have acted as the BOXT founders&rsquo; legal advisors.
Brookfield&rsquo;s advisory team included LEK as commercial advisors, EY as Software and IT advisors with Farrer &amp; CO acting as their legal advisors. KPMG have advised on Financing &amp; Accounting, with Grant Thornton acting as tax advisors and Marsh completing the team as their insurance advisors.&nbsp;
With fixed priced costs and reliable, trusted army of engineers BOXT has achieved almost 10,000 5* reviews on TrustPilot, ushering them to the top spots in the gas installation, boiler supplier and heating installation industry on the review site.

Turning up the heat on the UK heating market

We are delighted to have signed a shirt sleeve and shorts partnership agreement with Middlesbrough FC to become an Official Principal Partner, showcasing our recognisable ‘BOXT Life’ logo on the kit.

We are delighted to have signed a shirt sleeve and shorts partnership agreement with Middlesbrough FC to become an Official Principal Partner, showcasing our recognisable &lsquo;BOXT Life&rsquo; logo on the kit.
The disruptive <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/boilers/subscription" rel="follow">BOXT Life</a> product was launched in November 2022, offering homeowners an all-in-one subscription package that provides them with a brand-new A-rated boiler, smart thermostat controls, and includes all servicing and breakdown cover; with a fix-or-replace guarantee to give total peace of mind for customers when it comes to upgrading and maintaining their boiler.
Andy Kerr, BOXT CEO and Founder, said: &ldquo;We&rsquo;re really looking forward to partnering with an established football club with such loyal supporters and taking our place on the club's iconic red shirts.
"Middlesbrough is a widely respected club with strong community values and we&rsquo;re keen to engage with their fans as we work to bring transparent, fixed and fair pricing for home heating and home installation products across the country.&nbsp;
"We know that during the current economic climate, many people aren&rsquo;t in a position to make energy efficient savings by upgrading their boiler due to the barrier of finance or upfront costs. It has always been our ambition to bring cost-efficient options to our customers, helping them to save on their energy bills, and by taking away the bigger financial barriers with our no deposit, no interest monthly subscription BOXT Life product we think we&rsquo;ve done just that.&rdquo;
Liam McGuinness, Head of Partnerships, Middlesbrough FC, said: &ldquo;We&rsquo;re delighted to be joined by BOXT as official partners. They are fast-growing, ambitious in the market, and are known for their innovative approach.
"They are a great fit for us as a club and hopefully this will be the start of a long and successful partnership between us.&rdquo;
Our e-commerce and fulfilment platform is regarded as a leader in the UK heating and cooling market, enabling the purchase, installation, repair and servicing of boilers, as well as installation of solar panel and battery storage systems, air conditioning, electric vehicle charging points and smart home products.
We are proud to have more than 20,000 five-star reviews on Trustpilot, a network of over 10,000 Gas Safe registered engineers, as well as numerous industry awards and strong partnerships with major household name brands such as Google, EDF, &amp; B&amp;Q.

BOXT announced as shirt sleeve and shorts sponsor for Middlesbrough FC

We're delighted to announce an expanded partnership with Leeds United, as a principal partner of the club from the beginning of the 2023/24 Season.

Leeds United is delighted to announce an expanded partnership with BOXT, the award winning British smart home systems installer, who will become principal partner of the club from the beginning of the 2023/24 Season.
BOXT, the Leeds headquartered technology company, has been a loyal and valued partner of the club since their formation in 2017. Currently one of the fastest growing businesses in the UK, BOXT offer consumers an easy to use, Uber-style service for fitting boilers, solar panels, electric vehicle chargers and air conditioning units, as well as accompanying Google smart home devices such as thermostats, smoke alarms, home security cameras and speakers.

The new deal will see BOXT branding feature across the front of Leeds United men&rsquo;s and women&rsquo;s first team kits, along with all academy and replica shirts for both adults and juniors.
Working alongside BOXT, Leeds United will spearhead brand activity by the creation of innovative partnership activations, digital campaigns and exclusive fan offers.
Andy Kerr, chief executive &amp; founder of BOXT commented: &ldquo;This is a really exciting partnership for BOXT and one we are delighted to be continuing as principal partner. We have always felt closely aligned to Leeds United and the fans.&nbsp; As an innovative and ambitious brand, we look forward to a successful 12 months for both the club and ourselves, as we look to expand our product offering further into solar panels and battery storage solutions.&rdquo;
Mel Butler, executive chairman &amp; founder of BOXT continues: &ldquo;BOXT&rsquo;s concept was developed at Elland Road and it is incredibly special to see our logo on the front of the Leeds United shirt just six years later. We&rsquo;ve been on an impressive journey so far and we see this partnership as a real symbol of our ambition to drive the business forward internationally.&rdquo;
Paul Bell, executive director at Leeds United added: &ldquo;We are thrilled to expand our partnership with BOXT and look forward to seeing their branding feature across all of our playing and replica kit for the new season. It&rsquo;s the first time in over eight years we have been able to brand all of the replica shirts with the same partner.&nbsp; We pride ourselves on developing long term partnerships and we&rsquo;re excited to build on the special relationship we have nurtured with BOXT to help support them in accelerating their growth plans, to become the leader in the UK domestic heating market and their plans to expand internationally.&rdquo;

BOXT to become principal partner of Leeds United

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With the recent increases in energy prices, many people are turning to alternative and renewable energy sources such as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/solar">solar panels</a> to save money. Not only can these energy-efficient measures cut your yearly bills, but they can also increase the value of your house.
We wanted to explore the rise of renewable energy solutions in the UK, so looked at the areas where solar panels can increase your home value, and the areas where renewable installations are on the rise.&nbsp;
We also looked at the potential electricity bill savings from installing home solar panels in cities across the UK to reveal the areas where residents could save the most money.
&middot; Installing solar panels at home can increase your property value by 14% on average. If you live in London, that&rsquo;s an added &pound;90,000. Manchester residents can expect to increase their home value by &pound;29,300.
&middot; Residents living near England&rsquo;s south coast could save the most money by installing home solar panels.
&middot; Despite this, many areas in Scotland are leading the race when it comes to renewable installations. East Renfrewshire saw 31.1% more renewable energy installations in the most recent year
In addition to this, we wanted to find out just how much the cost of energy bills has increased in the UK, and how some areas are responding to the increases. Analysing the average cost of electricity and gas bills across the country, how much prices have risen over the last few years and the implementation of renewable energy sources.

Andrew Kerr, Founder at BOXT comments:
&ldquo;It is undeniable that installing renewable energy solutions at home is an effective way to save money on energy bills in the long term. While electricity and gas bills remain high across the country, many are turning to renewable sources of energy, including photovoltaic and biomass.
&ldquo;South Scotland was one of the worst-affected areas by electricity bill rises, experiencing a 53.72% increase in just one year. Unsurprisingly, East Renfrewshire is the UK area with the largest increase in renewable energy installations between 2020 and 2021.
&ldquo;We are seeing a steady increase in the interest and demand for renewable energy solutions which is no doubt as a result of the rise in energy costs.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/solar">Solar panels</a> are one of the most popular options and can be an excellent investment, not only helping you to save money on your energy bills, but also adding significant value to your home.&rdquo;

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We looked at government statistics on the number of renewable electricity installations by local authorities to reveal which areas have seen the most significant rise in installations between 2020 and 2021.
Out of the top ten locations, we found eight Scottish local authorities. This is unsurprising considering Scotland&rsquo;s target to generate 50% of Scotland's overall energy consumption from renewable sources by the fast-approaching date of 2030. While the UK produces 41.4% of its electricity from renewable sources, Scotland is clearly leading the charge. Scotland&rsquo;s focus on renewable energy has been steadily growing for the last 10 years, thanks to its abundance of natural resources which bolster the country&rsquo;s ability to produce more renewable energy.
Scottish residents are also adopting home renewable energy on a wide scale, thanks to the Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan scheme offered by the Scottish Government. The grants and loans help Scottish property owners receive funding for renewable energy installations. There is even a rural uplift, to help those in rural areas offset the increased costs of energy installations. The Scottish Government offers grant funding for energy efficiency improvements of up to 75% of the combined cost of the improvements, up to the maximum grant amount of &pound;7,500.

1 - East Renfrewshire, Scotland
YoY % difference: 31.1%
East Renfrewshire prioritises renewable energy installations more than any other area in the UK. This Scottish local authority saw renewable energy installations rise by 31.1% in 2021. In 2021 there were 1,301 green energy sources installed, which is 309 installations more than the previous year.

2 - Midlothian, Scotland
YoY % difference: 26.0%
Midlothian ranks in second place with a year-on-year difference of 26.0%. A total of 1,876 renewable energy installations took place in 2020, highlighting an increase of 26.0% by the end of 2021 which saw around 2,364 renewable energy sources installed.

3 - Conwy, Wales
YoY % difference: 24.9%
Following closely behind is Conwy, the Welsh local authority had a total of 2,259 renewable energy installations which was 24.9% more than the 1,809 installations the year before.

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When it comes to using green energy solutions on your property, solar panels are not only a great source of energy but they can also add significant value to your home.&nbsp;
Given the current house prices and energy costs in the UK, solar panels are an excellent investment for your home and can end up paying for themselves over time through energy bill savings. If you plan on living in your property for many years to come and want to future-proof your home, solar panels are an ideal option.

1 - London
Percentage increase in property value: 13%
Londoners could benefit the most from installing solar panels. With 13% added value, property prices could increase by &pound;90,000. This is due to the high property value of the city, where houses cost on average &pound;686,321.

2 - Bristol
Percentage increase in property value: 14%
Bristol residents considering installing solar panels on their property might want to consider the 14% added home value that the energy installation could bring. Known to be the most populated city in the South West of England, Bristol is a great place to invest in solar panels as on average they add &pound;45,142 to property values.

3 - Edinburgh
Percentage increase in property value: 14%
Edinburgh is not just a famous destination for sightseeing but it is also great for property investments. This is because by adding solar panels to your property, the average value could increase by around &pound;40,095.

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Consumers are looking to reduce their environmental impact and energy bills by installing renewable energy solutions at home. The demand for home renewable energy installations is growing, as shown by the increase in Google searches for renewable devices and appliances.
In the last year, searches for home renewable energy have increased by 16.75%. While searches for home heat pumps have dropped by 55.83%, searches for solar panels have multiplied.
The most significant jump in Google searches is for home biomass stoves, which has witnessed a 142.86% increase in Google searches in the UK. Biomass stoves run off waste products from timber, including wood chippings and pellets, and kiln-dried logs. They can be an effective heating and hot water solution to <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/boilers">a regular gas boiler</a>.
Searches for solar panel companies have increased by 89.23%, while home renewable energy systems have increased in popularity by 55.56%. Renewable energy systems for residential properties often incorporate solar energy and micro hydropower to generate electricity.

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1 - Brighton | Potential solar savings: &pound;322.09 per year&nbsp;
Brighton is the sunniest city on our list, and with an average electricity unit price of &pound;0.29/kWh, residents in the coastal city stand to make the most savings from installing solar panels. Those from Brighton could save &pound;322.09 a year on their electricity bill by installing home solar panels.

2 - Portsmouth | Potential solar savings: &pound;313.87 per year&nbsp;
Portsmouth is the second city on the south coast to appear in our top three for potential solar savings. The city is one of the sunniest on our list and has an average electricity unit price of &pound;0.29/kWh. Residents of Portsmouth could save an estimated &pound;313.87 by installing solar panels at home.

3 - Plymouth | Potential solar savings: &pound;307.91 per year&nbsp;
It&rsquo;s no surprise that the sunny south coastal city of Plymouth ranks in third place as one of the areas that could save the most from having solar panels. Plymouth receives plenty of sunlight and has an average electricity unit price of &pound;0.29/kWh. Residents of Plymouth could save an estimated &pound;307.91 a year on their electricity bill by installing solar panels.

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The growth in demand for residential renewable energy installations is undoubtedly fuelled by the huge increases in the cost of electricity and gas.&nbsp;
We found that the Office for National Statistics claims that the gas price has gone up by a staggering 129.4% in the 12 months to March 2023, whilst electricity prices have gone up by 66.7% in the same period.
According to the Government&rsquo;s most recent quarterly energy prices, the average energy bill in 2022 was estimated to be &pound;2,294 based on fixed energy consumption. This was a 72% increase and a price difference of &pound;961 when compared to the average energy domestic bill in 2021.
Not only did the average standard electricity bill rise by 51% in 2022, but the average gas bill soared by a whopping 101%, making the combined electricity and gas bills the highest on record.
In comparison to a decade ago, the cost of gas bills was &pound;632 whilst standard electricity was &pound;516 bringing the total average for domestic energy bills to &pound;1,148. This is approximately 100% higher in 2022 with gas bills increasing by &pound;502 and standard electricity increasing by &pound;644.

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1 - North West
YoY % difference: 54.77%
The North West has seen the highest change in electricity bills, with a year-on-year percentage difference of 54.77%.
In 2021, the overall cost of electricity bills was an average of &pound;753. By the end of 2022, electricity prices rose as high as &pound;1,165.

2 - South Scotland
YoY % difference: 53.72%
South Scotland follows behind with an increase of 53.72% in electricity bills just within one year. The overall cost of electricity bills was an average of &pound;762 in 2021. By the end of 2022 electricity bills soared to &pound;1,171, a difference of &pound;406.

3 - Eastern
YoY % difference: 53.05%
The East of England ranks in third place, with electricity bills in the area rising by more than &pound;400 over one year.
Electricity bills in the East were around &pound;772 on average in 2021 but the overall cost in 2022 reached &pound;1,181.

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1 - London
YoY % difference: 104.63%
London has experienced the highest increase in gas bills with a year-on-year difference of 104.63% in just one year. In 2021, the overall cost of gas was approximately &pound;583. This is considerably lower than the cost of gas bills in 2022 which was around &pound;1,193.
&nbsp;
2 - Yorkshire
YoY % difference: 104.57%
Yorkshire has seen a 104.57% increase in annual gas bills. This historical location saw an increase of 104.57% by the end of 2022 due to the cost of gas skyrocketing from &pound;547 to &pound;1,119 within the year.

3 - Merseyside &amp; North Wales
YoY % difference: 104.44%
Merseyside and North Wales complete the top three, with a year-on-year difference of 104.44% in gas bills. These regions soared by nearly &pound;600, with the overall cost of gas bills rising from &pound;563 in 2021 to &pound;1,151 by the end of 2022.
<h1>Methodology</h1>
We sourced the annual domestic electricity bills for UK regions (QEP 2.2.3) as well as the average annual domestic gas bills for GB regions (QEP 2.3.3) from 2021-2022 from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and Department for Business, Energy &amp; Industrial Strategy: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/annual-domestic-energy-price-statistics">Annual domestic energy bills</a>.
We sourced the most recent quarterly energy prices in the UK from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1146323/quarterly-energy-prices-march-2023.pdf">Quarterly Energy Prices</a>. This provided extra information on the annual domestic energy bill estimates.
We sourced information on the rise in energy prices across the country from the Office for National Statistics: <a href="https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/inflationandpriceindices/articles/costoflivinginsights/energy">Cost of living insights: Energy</a>. This information shows the latest data and trends in energy prices.
We sourced the local authorities with the most renewable energy installations, this information was scored from the Department for Business, Energy &amp; Industrial Strategy: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/regional-renewable-statistics">Regional Renewable Statistics</a> looking at renewable electricity by local authorities 2021-2022.
We sourced the cities with the most increase in property value as well as the added value of green energy sources such as solar panels from <a href="https://www.renewableenergymagazine.com/pv_solar/going-solar-increases-average-house-prices-in-20200819">Renewable Energy Magazine</a>.
Data collection for all the above sections was completed on 09/05/2023.
We sourced the number of Google searches for renewable energy installations at home by compiling a list of renewable energy search terms, sourced from <a href="https://ahrefs.com/">ahrefs</a>. We sourced the number of Google searches from <a href="https://ads.google.com/intl/en_uk/home/tools/keyword-planner/">Google Ads Keyword Planner</a>, looking at searches from the UK made between June 2022&nbsp; and May 2023. We compared this to the number of searches made between June 2021 and May 2022.
To estimate the potential energy bill savings from installing solar panels in the 30 biggest towns and cities in the UK, we multiplied the annual kWh of electricity produced by the average unit rate of electricity.
The electricity produced was sourced from the European Commission's <a href="https://re.jrc.ec.europa.eu/pvg_tools/en/tools.html">PV Performance Tool</a>, using the centre point of each town or city, based on a single building-integrated crystalline silicon system mounted at a 35&deg; angle.
Average variable unit prices for electricity were sourced from the Department for Business, Energy &amp; Industrial Strategy&rsquo;s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/annual-domestic-energy-price-statistics">average unit costs and fixed costs for electricity for UK regions</a> for standard electricity in 2022.

BOXT Energy Report

At BOXT we are honoured to have been shortlisted in two categories at this year’s UK Digital Growth Awards. 

At BOXT we are honoured to have been shortlisted in two categories at this year&rsquo;s <a href="https://ukdigitalgrowthawards.co.uk/2023/06/15/boxt-share-what-it-means-to-their-team-to-be-shortlisted-for-2-uk-digital-growth-awards/" rel="follow noopener" target="_blank">UK Digital Growth Awards</a>. Being nominated for both the Innovation Award and Best Use of Conversion Optimisation feels particularly felicitous, as they each represent areas that are a high priority for the business. These are both areas in which we continue to invest time and resources to ensure that our customers have a seamless and positive experience with BOXT, regardless of which stage of their journey they are at or which touchpoint they choose.
<a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/who-we-are">BOXT is a multi-award winning platform</a> created with the ambition of making it quicker, easier and cheaper for homeowners to upgrade their heating system. This has since been expanded to encompass a range of products and technology to help people improve their home.
Innovation Award
Our nomination for the Innovation Award for our work on the<a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/news/guides/introducing-boxts-new-customer-app"> BOXT customer app</a> is extremely exciting as this project is something we are especially proud of. As the first of its kind as a customer support app within the boiler installation industry, we have used the innovative and &ldquo;outside of the box&rdquo; thinking that the business was founded upon, to once again disrupt the market to make it easier and more transparent for customers.&nbsp;
Best use of Conversion Optimisation&nbsp;
Continual improvement to the customer journey and overall experience is something that is of the utmost importance to us here and BOXT, and something that we invest a lot of resource into. Being shortlisted for the &lsquo;Best use of conversion optimisation&rsquo; category for our<a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/find-a-boiler"> checkout</a> improvement project is testament to the work of our dedicated team using data-led insights into creating a smooth and seamless experience for all of our customers.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Using digital tools to bring the UK heating industry into the modern age has always been at the heart of what we do at BOXT, and we&rsquo;re delighted that our achievements are being recognised through these awards nominations. We have ongoing plans to continue innovating new ways of connecting with our customers, as well as offering new products through our simple, user-friendly platform, and this recognition of our work so far only spurs us on to achieve even more. &rdquo; Laura Kenny &ndash; VP of Marketing

BOXT shortlisted in two categories at the UK Digital Growth Awards

If you’re interested in learning more about how your local government supported residents via the Energy Bills Support Scheme, we’ll explore some of the most helpful local councils in the UK.

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When it comes to managing household finances, energy bills can be a significant expense. Alongside high energy costs and unpredictable weather conditions, keeping your home warm and comfortable can quickly become difficult.
As a response to anxiety around energy bills, last year the UK Government introduced the Energy Bills Support Scheme. Those who are eligible receive a &pound;400 discount to help with their energy bill. The Government also price capped energy bills at an average &pound;2,500 until July 2023, however, many are still struggling.
To combat this, many local governments across the country stepped up to provide support and relief to their residents in terms of <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/home-cover">home cover</a>, including the maintenance and replacement of <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/boilers">boilers</a>.
If you&rsquo;re interested in learning more about how your local government supported residents, we&rsquo;ll explore some of the most helpful local councils in the UK.
We&rsquo;ll also highlight the various schemes and programs they offered to support their resident&rsquo;s energy needs as well as valuable information and resources to help you save money and live sustainably.
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1 - Cornwall
County: South West
Payments delivered per 100,000 people: 225,451
Cornwall takes first place as the most helpful local authority having delivered a total of 225,451 payments per 100,000 people from October 2022 to February 2023 for the Energy Bills Support Scheme.
On its government site, Cornwall also lists several useful resources supporting rising energy costs. This includes additional information on extra financial help such as the warm home discount scheme offering a one-of payment of &pound;150.

2 - Dorset
County: South West
Payments delivered per 100,000 people: 212,666
Dorset follows behind with an estimated 212,666 payments delivered per 100,000 people. Those in receipt of the Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding received a payment of &pound;400. According to Dorset&rsquo;s Council, this includes residents living in park homes, houseboats or off the electricity grid among other factors.

3 - Brighton and Hove
County: South East
Payments delivered per 100,000 people: 211,802
Brighton and Hove&rsquo;s local authority completes the top three of the most helpful local governments with a total of 211,802 payments delivered per 100,000 people.
According to the local government&rsquo;s website, metered users and &lsquo;smart&rsquo; prepayment users received a discount of &pound;66/67 applied by their energy suppliers as part of the government's Energy Bills Support Scheme.
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1 - Westminster
Payments delivered per 100,000 people: 282,724
A well-known London borough and a government area close to Buckingham Palace,&nbsp; Westminster takes first place with the most number of payments delivered per 100,000 people.
Not only did Westminster deliver an estimated 282,724 payments as of February 2023 but the local authority provides additional information for households. This useful information highlights a &pound;400 financial assistance for residents on their gas and electricity bills.

2 - Kensington and Chelsea
Payments delivered per 100,000 people: 281,381
Kensington and Chelsea follow behind having delivered approximately 281,381 payments per 100,000 people.
The London borough has a lot of helpful information on its website about how residents can be supported with their energy bills amid the cost of living crisis. This includes eligibility for benefits such as &pound;300 for people on an eligible low-income benefit or in a pensioner household.

3 - Camden
Payments delivered per 100,000 people: 231,660
Camden makes it into the top three having delivered 231,660 payments per 100,000 people through the Energy Bills Support Scheme which ended last month. To add to this, the London borough also offers additional information on energy rebates which highlights a sum of &pound;150 which could be credited to each recipient&rsquo;s Council Tax account.
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Although direct debit, credit or debit card, and smart prepayment meters are among the most popular ways to pay for energy bills, UK households with a traditional prepayment meter receive the Government&rsquo;s Energy Bills Support as vouchers.
These vouchers can be redeemed at a PayPoint or Post Office, where your energy key will be topped up to the value of the voucher. In some cases you can redeem the cash value of the voucher, which must be paid towards your energy bill.

1 - Manchester
County: North West
Vouchers issued per 100,000 people: 24,156
A popular city in the North West of England, Manchester tops the list as the most helpful local government when it comes to the number of vouchers issued to households with a traditional prepayment meter. Just between October 2022 and February 2023, an estimated 24,156 vouchers were issued per 100,000 people, helping residents with their energy bills.

2 - Liverpool
County: North West
Vouchers issued per 100,000 people: 23,194
Next up is Liverpool with a total of 23,194 vouchers issued per 100,000 people. The vouchers were issued to those who pay their energy bill in an alternative way from the usual direct debit, credit or debit card, and smart prepayment meter. This maritime city also offers additional information on discounts and supports available to residents on their energy bills.&nbsp;
For instance, the local authority&rsquo;s site also provides information on the Warm Home Discount which could get eligible households a discount of up to &pound;140 on their electricity bill.

3 - Kingston upon Hull
County: North West
Vouchers issued per 100,000 people: 22,791
A port city in East Yorkshire, Kingston upon Hull completes the top three with a total of 22,791 vouchers issued per 100,000 people. These vouchers are issued to those households who have a traditional prepayment meter.
Like other local governments, Kingston upon Hull provides additional information on the support residents can receive through the Energy Bills Support Scheme on their site. This includes a one-off &pound;200 non-repayable payment to eligible households who use alternative fuels as their main form of heating.
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1 - Hackney
Vouchers issued per 100,000 people: 38,110&nbsp;
Hackney takes the top spot as the most helpful government when it comes to issuing the most vouchers. As of February 2023, approximately 38,110 vouchers had been issued per 100,000 people through the Energy Bills Support Scheme.
In addition to this, the local authority&rsquo;s site states that residents can also receive a payment of &pound;200 by applying for the Alternative Fuel Payment Alternative Fund. This grant is given to those who use alternative fuels for heating their home instead of gas such as biomass or heating oil.

2 - Southwark
Vouchers issued per 100,000 people: 36,599
Southwark takes second place having issued a total of 36,599 vouchers per 100,000 people as of February 2023.
Alongside offering extra help on energy bills through the Energy Bills Support Scheme, the local authority also offers additional information on extra grants and benefits. This includes home improvement funding which offers a grant of up to &pound;25,000 to help you improve your home but save on energy bills.

3 - Lambeth
Vouchers issued per 100,000 people: 31,043
Ranked in third place is Lambeth with a total of 31,043 vouchers issued per 100,000 people.&nbsp;
According to the local authority&rsquo;s website, the Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding requires no direct relationship to a domestic energy supplier to receive the one-off &pound;400 non-repayable discount on their fuel bills. However, residents must apply to receive this grant.
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1 - Heathrow
County: London
Estimated eligible recipients: 545,000
Ranking in first place is Heathrow with 545,000 estimated eligible recipients of cold weather payments. Due to the UK&rsquo;s unpredictable weather, the Cold Weather Payments scheme will start in November, offering support to residents whenever the average temperature is recorded or forecast to be at zero degrees Celsius or below for more than seven consecutive days.

2 - Coleshill
County: Warwickshire
Estimated eligible recipients: 294,000
Located in the region of Warwickshire, Coleshill comes in second place as one of the locations most likely to offer Cold Weather Payments to its residents, starting from November.
These payments will be issued to eligible residents who are on state benefits in the event of particularly cold weather in the winter. It is estimated that there are 294,000 eligible recipients for this payment in Coleshill.

3 - Rostherne
County: Cheshire
Estimated eligible recipients: 206,000
Rostherne follows behind with 206,000 estimated eligible recipients of cold weather payments. The Rostherne local government offers a lot of information on financial support to its residents to help heat their homes.
Alongside providing information on Cold Weather Payments, additional information on the Warm Home Discount Scheme and receiving help from your energy supplier is also provided to help residents with their electricity bills.
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1 - Heathrow
County: London
Estimated eligible recipients of Pension Credit: 180,000
Heathrow ranks in first place as the top location to receive cold weather payments for a pensioner. Heathrow had an estimated 180,000 recipients of the 2022-23 Cold Weather Payment who are eligible recipients of Pension Credit.

2 - Cardinham (Bodmin)
County: Cornwall
Estimated eligible recipients of Pension Credit: 95,000
Cardinham follows behind with an estimated 95,000 recipients of Pension Credit. Those eligible for Cold Weather Payments receive &pound;25 extra a week during the winter.
 
3 - Shawbury
County: Shropshire
Estimated eligible recipients of Pension Credit: 61,000
Shawbury ranks in third place with an estimated 61,000 eligible recipients of Pension Credit. In addition to this payment, the Winter Fuel Payment can also provide extra support to pensioners as it is a tax-free benefit to help pay for heating during winter.

<h1>Methodology&nbsp;</h1>
Using the population estimates for the UK, England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland from <a href="https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/datasets/populationestimatesforukenglandandwalesscotlandandnorthernireland">ONS</a>, we looked at the 50 most populated local authorities to find out which were the most helpful local governments in the UK.
All information regarding the number of payments delivered and vouchers issued by each local authority was taken from The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and Department for Business, Energy &amp; Industrial Strategy: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/energy-bills-support-scheme-payments-made-by-electricity-suppliers-to-customers">Energy Bills Support Scheme GB</a>: payments made by electricity suppliers to customers and figures are from October 2022 to February 2023.
This data was then calculated per 100,000 people using the estimates of the population from <a href="https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/datasets/populationestimatesforukenglandandwalesscotlandandnorthernireland">ONS</a> to normalise the figures.
Data for the Cold Weather Payments section were also taken from The Department for Work and Pensions: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/cold-weather-payment-estimates-2022-to-2023">Cold Weather Payment estimates: 2022 to 2023</a> and were based on 2022-2023.
Extra information on grants and schemes was taken from each local authority&rsquo;s government website.
Data collection was completed on 02/05/2023.

Most Helpful Local Govs

We have put together an interactive quiz that will determine which of your household habits are using the most energy. Based on your results, we will also provide you with some advice on how you can cut down on some of your costly household energy habits.

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<h2>Which household habits are costing you the most money?</h2>
Over &pound;4 billion is being wasted by Brits leaving their lights on every year, a clear indicator that we are all guilty of wasting money and energy in our homes!&nbsp;
With the UK&rsquo;s cost of living crisis meaning that more of us than ever are looking for ways to reduce our energy use within the home, we have put together an interactive quiz that will determine which of your household habits are using the most energy. Based on your results, we will also provide you with some advice on how you can cut down on some of your costly household energy habits.
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Whilst some bills, such as gas and water, are unavoidable, many household habits waste money and energy without us even knowing. By reducing your&nbsp; energy usage, you can save those all-important pennies at the same time as doing your bit to help the environment, as even the most eco-conscious <a href="https://www.boxt.co.uk/boilers">boilers</a> contribute to air pollution.

By doing something as simple as switching light bulbs, or adopting some more traditional methods of cleaning, you can drastically reduce the amount of electricity you use and this can have benefits both for your pocket and the environment.
How can you reduce the impact of bad energy habits?

1 - Charge your phone before going to bed
Although it is much more convenient to charge your phone all night and ensure that you have a full charge for the day ahead, this cost soon adds up. Instead of charging your phone all night, it would save energy and money to charge it for a couple of hours before bed instead. If you are worried about your phone losing power during the day, most smartphones have a &lsquo;battery saving mode&rsquo; which can prolong your battery life by up to two extra hours!
If you work from home then another alternative to charging your phone at night could be to plug your phone into your laptop whilst you work so that it is getting plenty of charge whilst you are busy with other tasks.&nbsp;

2 - Try air drying your clothes
If you are looking to cut down the cost of your energy bill, you should try and do anything you can to avoid using the tumble dryer because they are one of the most costly appliances in the house. Based on the average number of washes a person does per year, you could be paying upwards of &pound;113.49 on tumble drying alone! Because of these high costs, many people use alternative methods, including clothes airers.&nbsp;
You can buy heated or unheated clothes airers, with the heated versions being more energy and cost-efficient than a tumble dryer. In the warmer months, you could hang your clothes outside on a washing line which will completely cut the cost of using a tumble dryer.

3 - Set a sleep timer on your TV
So many people are guilty of leaving their TV on when they are in a different room or paying attention to something else - but most people don&rsquo;t realise how much energy is being wasted. To put it into context, having your TV on for 10hrs costs the same amount of money as having it on standby for a whole year!
If you use your TV to help you fall asleep, then you should try setting a sleep timer on your device before going to bed. Most modern televisions have a button on the remote, but you can also find it in the settings of most TVs. This feature gives you the option to set a timer for hours in advance, allowing you to watch a couple of episodes of your favourite show before bed without feeling guilty.&nbsp;

4 - Consider hand-washing your dishes
Whilst dishwashers are massive time savers and often do a good job of cleaning your pots and pans, they can cost a hefty sum of money to run regularly. If you are looking to cut the costs of some of your gas and electric bills then hand washing is a perfect alternative.&nbsp;
An average 2hr dishwasher cycle costs around 4.56p to run, meaning that you can save lots of pennies (and probably do a much better job) by using a good old-fashioned bowl and sponge!

5 - Fill the kettle with less water
If you are looking for an easy way to save on your energy prices then you could start in the kitchen. When making a cuppa just for you, there is no need to boil 2 litres of water as it will just be left sitting around in the kettle. As well as this, it costs almost double the price than it would if you were to fill the kettle halfway, so by only using the amount of water you need, you can save on time, energy, and money!

6 - Switch to LED light bulbs
As well as being better for the environment, LED light bulbs cost less than half the price of non-LED alternatives to run for an hour. If you are unsure about what type of light bulb you are currently using then you can usually tell by looking at the wattage as LED bulbs are generally 10W or less.&nbsp;
You could also consider reducing the amount of time you put the lights on by making sure to turn them off before going to bed or leaving the room.

7 - Tips for reducing your heating costs
It may sound obvious, but if you are looking to cut back on heating costs then you should only put your heating on when you need it. A lot of modern boilers have the option to set timers so that you can control when you want the heating to come on/off. By utilising this feature, you can save energy and money whilst still being able to come home to a warm house after a long day at work!

In addition to this, many people are guilty of heating rooms in their houses that aren&rsquo;t being used. Whilst it is much easier to just heat the whole house, this tends to waste a lot of energy and money, especially if you have a house with lots of bedrooms. By only heating the rooms that you need, you will be doing the environment and your bank a favour!
Even though we can all agree that the current cost of living is way too high, it is evident that there are some bad habits that we are guilty of which are contributing unnecessarily to our monthly bills. By doing something as simple as switching light bulbs, or adopting some more traditional methods of cleaning, you can drastically reduce the amount of electricity you use and this can have benefits both for your pocket and the environment.

Find a brand new, A-rated boiler that's perfect for your home in just 90 seconds

<h2>Methodology</h2>
We made a list of common household energy-based activities that use gas and electricity. We then used a range of online sources to find the amount of energy (kWh) and the cost (&pound;) of each activity per use or per hour depending on which was most suitable.
We used <a href="https://www.greenmatch.co.uk/blog/most-energy-consuming-appliances" rel="follow">Green Match</a> to make a list of household devices that you can have on standby, and how much energy they produce when on standby per year.
Found on the <a href="http://gov.uk/" rel="follow">GOV.UK</a> website, we took the most recent price of gas and electricity per kWh and multiplied this by each activity&rsquo;s energy use to calculate the cost of each household habit.
We used <a href="https://www.checkatrade.com/blog/cost-guides/cost-running-gas-central-heating/" rel="follow">Checkatrade</a> to find the cost of central heating for each main boiler source (Mains Gas, LPG, Oil Heating and Electric Heat). By multiplying the cost of heating per hour by the average boiler size, we were able to calculate how much energy and money it costs to heat a 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5-bedroom house.

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