Energy meters help to cut bills

NORTH Norfolk's biggest social landlord is looking at how it can introduce energy-saving meters in its 4,700 homes, after a successful pilot scheme saw 90pc of people change their energy-use habits.

NORTH Norfolk's biggest social landlord is looking at how it can introduce energy-saving meters in its 4,700 homes, after a successful pilot scheme saw 90pc of people change their energy-use habits.

Victory Housing Trust, which provides housing for 10,000 people, provided 130 meters to residents during a trial which enabled householders to monitor their power consumption, how much running each appliance cost, and how to use electricity more efficiently.

Households noticed a reduction of up to �5 a week, or �260 a year, by simple measures such as switching off lights in unused rooms, not leaving appliances on standby, changing to low-energy light bulbs, turning down heating, reducing use of the tumble dryer, changing their cooking style and taking shorter showers.

Victory's community services manager Helen Burrows said: “This is something practical we can do to help people who may be struggling with rising energy costs. We can save them money and also have a positive effect on the environment.”

The trust was now looking at ways to make the meters available to any Victory residents who were interested in using them.