Be energy wise in 2020

Welcome to the Energy Wise South East London newsletter. For a long time, South East London Community Energy (Selce) has  wanted to send out a quarterly newsletter with energy and money saving tips from our expert team of energy advisors.

You may have signed up to receive the newsletter at one of our energy cafés, workshops or home visits. However, we’ve been too busy giving advice to put the newsletter together. That is, until now. Welcome to the first edition. There’s a lot to tell you.

Free advice at our Energy Cafés

Selce’s award-winning Energy Cafés are back this winter. This year, we're providing more chances to come along and get friendly energy saving advice  - plus some tea and cake.

The cafes provide free, independent advice on how to stay warm and pay less. Our qualified energy advisors can help you to:

• reduce the cost of your electricity and gas

• apply for discounts and grants

• make your home more energy efficient

• avoid/get out of energy debt.

Drop in or make an appointment by calling 0808 169 1779 To help us give the best advice, please bring your most recent fuel bill

Energy Cafes can be found at:

Orpington/St Paul's Cray (Bromley)

Oak Community Church, 345 Chipperfield Road, St Paul's Cray, BR5 2LJ

Mon 10 - 2pm

Woolwich (Greenwich)

The Woolwich Centre Library, 35 Wellington St, Woolwich, London, SE18 6HQ

Tues  9 - 3pm

Deptford (Lewisham)

Deptford Lounge, 9 Giffin St, Deptford, London, SE8 4RJ

Wed  2 - 9pm

New Addington (Croydon) The Vine, Salcot Crescent, New Addington, CR0 0JJ

Wed 10 - 12.30         

Bromley Town Centre (Bromley)

United Reformed Church, (Next to Boots), Widmore Road, Bromley, BR1 1RY

Thurs 12 - 4pm

Downham (Lewisham)

Hope Centre, Malham Road, Forest Hill, London, SE23 1AN Thurs 7 - 9pm

Big Energy Saving Week

We all have the power to save energy, money and the environment. Simple changes like moving to a different energy company or tariff, getting discounts or grants and making your home more energy efficient can make a big difference.

This week  (20th Jan – 27th Jan)  is Big Energy Saving Week. This is an ideal opportunity to find out how you can benefit.

To celebrate the event we’re giving all energy café clients a bag of energy-saving goodies and an extra-special warm welcome with food and activities. If you would like to book an advice session during the week call: 0808 169 1779

Sign up for a free home visit

Do you live in a cold home that's expensive to heat and doesn’t stay warm?  Our team of advisors can give you lots of handy advice in the comfort of your own home.

We offer free energy advice home visits to anyone living in South London who:

• has a low income and high energy costs or

• is over 60 or

• has a long term health condition or disability.

To request a home visit call: 0808 169 1779

Our friendly team can: make your home warmer, save you money and improve your health. We’ll also install (free of charge) energy-saving devices like low energy light bulbs and draught proofing.

If you're a homeowner or private tenant you may be able to benefit from financial help towards the cost of home energy improvements such as:

• loft insulation

• wall insulation

• boiler replacement

• tirst-time central heating.

Funding for improvements comes from large energy suppliers, such as British Gas, that are legally obliged to help lower-income households.

Training for energy advisors

Ever thought about becoming an energy advisor yourself? We’re looking volunteers to join us at our Energy Cafés for one to four days a week until March 31st.

If you'd like to understand how the energy market works, are prepared to learn about heat loss and the fabric of homes, love problem solving and have a real empathy for people, please get in touch.

Selce also will support volunteers to complete a professional qualification in energy advice. For more details contact giovanna@selce.org.uk

Top money-saving tip for January

If you’re struggling to pay your energy bills, you could get £140 off your electricity through the Warm Home Discount. The government scheme offers financial help to people who struggle to pay their energy bills during the winter months.

Large energy companies have a certain number of discounts to give out. Once they’ve given them all out, they close their Warm Home Discount scheme until the next financial year. 

If you receive the Pension Credit Guarantee you should automatically receive the discount. If you're with one of the big energy providers like British Gas, and you’re on a lower income, it's worth calling to find out if you can apply. If you contact them fast, you could still get a discount on this winter's bill. Alternatively, come to an Energy Café and we’ll help you through the process.

Top energy saving tips for January

If you use a bowl to wash up rather than running a tap, reduce your washing machine use by one cycle a week and only fill the kettle with the water you need, you could save around £36 a year.