As a society, our energy output is excessive. Electricity and natural gas are the most-used energy sources within homes, and they create greenhouse gases and air pollutants that are extremely harmful to the environment. To combat this, energy efficiency is essential. It helps consumers to reduce their energy consumption, utility costs and the impact of the carbon footprint.

Energy efficiency should be practiced by all households - it is an integral part of building a cleaner future. The UK have committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% by 2050. By being energy efficient, there is a chance that we will be able to achieve this target.

Does Energy Efficiency Reduce Bills? 

Yes! By lowering and prioritising your energy use, you'll see a reduction in your monthly bills. There are energy-efficient products on the market which may initially cost more, but they will undoubtedly save you more money over time. 

Interestingly, according to the Department of Energy & Climate Change, small and medium sized businesses could reduce their energy bills by up to 25% by installing energy efficient measures and practicing behavioural change.

What is Energy Efficiency? 

Energy efficiency, in its simplest form, is using less energy to perform the same task, thus eliminating energy waste.

A good example of this would be energy-efficient LED light bulbs - they are able to produce the same amount of light as incandescent light bulbs, but they use up to 80% less electricity. 

How To Be Energy Efficient 

If you'd like to start implementing energy efficient practices, then these small changes from the Energy Saving Trust are a good place to start.

Install a smart meter 

Smart meters are able to give you real-time information on your energy use. This way, you'll be able to manage your usage better so you can save money and reduce harmful emissions

Draught-proof windows and doors

Naturally, your home will lose heat through draughts around entryways, gaps and windows. With the winter months creeping in, there's no doubt that homes will suddenly get a lot colder. 

To combat this, you could invest in professional draught-proofing. This can cost around £225 on average, but the long-term benefits outweigh the upfront cost. You could save up to £125 every year on energy bills if you take the plunge and draught-proof your property. 

Second guess your washing routine

By putting more thought into your weekly clothes wash, you could save yourself around £34 a year. Avoid using higher temperatures as this uses up more energy, and try to limit your clothes wash to once a week.

Lights out!

Start a habit of turning off a light when you leave an area within a home. We're all guilty of it, but you could save almost £20 a year!

If you want to go the extra mile, swap all of your bulbs for energy efficient LEDS along with integrated sensors and timers for lights to ensure they're only on when they need to be. 

What Are the Benefits of Energy Efficiency? 

There are no disadvantages to being energy efficient - so it's a win-win situation! 

• Reduce air pollution

Air pollution is one of the world's single biggest environmental risks to human health. Energy efficiency can reduce both indoor and outdoor concentrations of air pollutions. 

• Improve health and wellbeing

Energy efficiency supports good mental and physical health by creating a healthy living environment for society. Recent evidence from the World Health Organisation (WHO) shows that chronic thermal issues and fuel poverty also have negative mental health effects such as increased anxiety, stress and depression.

• Lower your own energy prices

By using less energy, your monthly energy bill will reduce. You can also lower energy prices in general by reducing the need to add expensive power generation through reducing the pressure on energy resources. 

• Improve energy access

Continuing from the point above, if you do this, energy will become a more accessible source due to the lack of pressurised demand. 

At Access Training, we train our Gas and Electric Engineers for a sustainable future

We believe in quality trade education that lasts, for the peace of mind of our students and any customers that they work for in the future. Take a look at our range of electric and gas courses and get in touch at 0800 345 7492 to contribute to a more energy-efficient future.

Gas Courses     Electrical Courses

The cost-of-living crisis is affecting many homes and families within the UK - inflation is at a high of 10.1%, and there is no denying that times are incredibly tough. Gas and electric bills in the UK have seen a huge increase, with most people paying around £1570 more per year to fuel their homes. With households majorly limiting their gas and electric usage, there's a possibility that best practices for safety surrounding these utilities could be put on the back burner. But why? 

The Gas Safe Register has released that a third of homes do not have yearly gas safety checks due to the cost-of-living crisis. According to Checkatrade.com, the average cost of a gas appliance check is around £80. For many, this is a huge expense that can seemingly be avoided. It's a difficult situation wherein people are attempting to scrape back costs by sacrificing safety. Clare Nasir, Meteorologist and TV weather presenter stated: 

'While planning to turn off your heating for the months ahead, it's imperative that homeowners are prioritising gas safety in their homes and ensuring they do not skip their annual gas safety checks. Although homeowners, understandably so, are concerned about the increased cost of living - there are real risks to health, wealth and safety linked to not servicing and safety checking their gas appliances and boilers.' 

When Should I Have My Boiler Serviced? 

Ideally, you should have your boiler serviced annually to ensure that it's working at peak efficiency, and to weed out any maintenance issues that could cause a risk to your safety. 

A gas engineer will check the condition of the boiler, along with the flue and chimney, as well as checking the pressure and temperature settings. Most importantly, a gas engineer will check for any leaks, blocked vents or signs of erosion or corrosion to identify any carbon monoxide risks.

Why Should I Have My Boiler Serviced?

A boiler service is an extremely important preventative measure - whilst it costs money upfront, you could easily incur the price of a service, and more, through repair issues down the line if you choose to not have it done. There are many benefits to having your boiler serviced, which make it worth the upfront cost:

1. It keeps your boiler working efficiently 
2. It will help you to avoid high costs of repairs in the future
3. It maintains the safety of your boiler
4. It ensures that your manufacturer's warranty remains valid

What Will Happen If I Don't Service My Boiler? 

By neglecting your boiler and failing to get it serviced, your home can become a very dangerous place extremely quickly. In the worst case scenario, a faulty boiler could cause a small explosion and reap damage to your property, alongside causing serious injury to any inhabitants.

In summer this year, a house in Birmingham had an explosion due to a gas leak from internal piping within the boiler, ending the life of one woman.

Not only that, but you could also be at high risk of carbon monoxide poisoning which is potentially fatal.

At Access Training, we train our Gas Engineers to the highest possible standard for your safety

We believe in quality trade education that lasts, for the peace of mind of our students and any customers that they work for in the future. For more resources regarding Gas Safety, take a look at our resources below. 

Gas Safety Tips    Why Do Gas Engineers Have to be Gas Safe Registered?

Here at Access Training, we are huge believers in the importance of learning - at any age! Our students enrol onto our electrical courses for adult learners for many reasons. This could be for a complete change of career, to learn a new trade, or to top up on existing trade skills. No matter what your goal is, we have a range of electrician courses for adult learners to help you get there. 

Access Training is a trusted UK course provider, and we have electrical training centres dotted all over the country! Gain your electrical qualification with us, and benefit from our industry expertise and ongoing career support.

Start Today! - Our Electrical Courses

Am I too old to retrain as an electrician? 

You're never too old to learn a new trade or retrain as an electrician. There is no time limit on learning - that's why we do what we do! Our comprehensive electrician courses for adult learners are open to all ages and backgrounds. You don't need any experience either - our skilled trainers have that all in hand and are more than happy to spend 1-to-1 time with students.

We'll help you to learn the electrical trade, get qualified and start your new career as an electrician - and every goal in between!

The autonomy that comes from learning a trade can be relieving. Gaining electrical qualifications not only opens up career opportunities with established companies, but it also creates a clear route to self-employment. Being your own boss is always an option with Access Training. 

By 2023, the UK will need between 7,500-10,000 electricians. No matter your age, you could be one of them by enrolling onto our electrician courses for adult learners.

How long does it take to become a qualified electrician? 

Electrician apprenticeships generally take three years to complete. After completion, it is up to the student whether they decide to continue onto higher education courses or other electrical training.

At Access Training, we're a bit different - we speed the process up without sacrificing quality education.

Students at Access Training can achieve the very highest level in the electrical trade and earn industry-recognised qualifications in a matter of weeks. These include highly-recognised PAT Testing courses and 18th Edition qualifications!

What makes Access Training better than other electrical training centres? 

We understand that adult learning can seem daunting at first. That's why we provide fast-track training from trusted UK training course providers. We never put our students through more than they need to - with us, there's no need to spend three years doing an apprenticeship. We'll get you exactly where you need to be.

Our flexible electrician courses for adult learners enable you to learn your trade and start work, or self-employment, within a far shorter timeframe than traditional routes.

Not only that, but our unique course packages include unlimited online learning, intensive practical training, and ongoing career support for up to 3 years after enrolment. 

Are you ready to take the next step?

For more information on our electrician courses for adult learners, click the buttons below and kickstart your new career today. 

Our Electrical Training Courses      Get In Touch

Learn your trade. Get qualified. Make it happen. 

Read More:

• Becoming an Electrician at 40

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It is well-known that the construction workforce is ageing, and the number of younger skilled workers taking its place is not quite enough to satisfy the significant demands of an industry which is as crucial as it has ever been. 

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