With sunny weather in many places recently, a much-overdue summer of beaches and barbecues may help to obliterate memories of the recent harsh winter. But in the longer run, many will be aware of the pressures on incomes of fuel bills, particularly at a time of continuing economic weakness.
There are four ways that fuel bills may be cut. One is to find a cheaper supplier, one is for fuel prices to drop across the board, while a third is better insulation.
A fourth method is by using a bit of green technology, such as solar panels or ground source heat pumps.
Affording such a device is one issue and director of housing division at Geothermal International Stewart Purchase noted that heat pumps cost twice as much as a conventional boiler.
He added: "Part of the package that will make heat pumps successful is down to government funding and in the past there have been some grant programmes which have just been cancelled this week because of the [new] government policies."
However, he added, there are some new initiatives in the pipeline, such as the renewable heat initiative grant, to help pay for such an innovation.
At present, Mr Purchase noted, such a device will pay for itself in six or seven years, but suggested that will change as the technology improves and the cost of buying such pumps falls, with the result that many more people will have them.
He remarked: "Costs are coming down, knowledge is going up, installers are getting knowledgeable about what to do and how to install it, so it is still seen to grow very strongly in the future."
All of this may prompt some to consider taking out a loan to help fund such a purpose with a view to making long-term savings on fuel bills.
The Low Carbon Building Programme was closed to new applicants as part of the £6 billion public spending cuts package announced by the new government this month.
It had helped provide 11,000 grants for geothermal devices since its inception.
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