I’ve cut my energy bills to nothing and set to earn £600 this year – a little-known scheme could help you do it too

SAVVY homeowners can save thousands of pounds on energy bills without cutting down on usage, thanks to a clever scheme.

Judith Leary-Joyce, 75, not only saves but actually makes money through this home improvement and green energy initiative.

SuppliedJudith Leary-Joyce has cut her energy bills to almost zero[/caption] SuppliedJudith’s end of terrace home now has solar panels[/caption]

She had a ‘deep retrofit’ on the Victorian end-of-terrace in St Albans, Hertfordshire she has shared with husband John, for more than 47 years.

As part of the makeover to improve the property’s energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions, the couple had two sets of solar panels installed.

This has saved more than £1,000 a year on their annual energy bill, plus ‘earns’ them cash by exporting surplus electricity generated.

It comes after the average energy bill jumped up to £1,849 a year last month.

Judith, author of Beginner’s Guide to Eco Renovation and blog EcoRenovationHome.com, told The Sun: “Solar panels may cost a lot upfront, but over time, you will recoup the cost.”

The couple got their first eight panels installed in September 2021 at a cost of around £6,000.

A few years later, in October 2024, they got a further 10 panels installed for £14,300 – and this included a battery.

With a battery storage system, energy from the solar panels is stored to provide power irrespective of the weather or the time of day.

“The decision to get solar panels was primarily down to me really caring about the planet,” said Judith.

“But at the same time, I like the idea of saving a shedload of money, too.”

Finding an installer was relatively straightforward, according to the energy-saving whizz, though she recommends speaking to friends for recommendations.

She also suggests getting three or four quotes.

“Our house faces east-west, so we decided to put as many panels on the roof as we could fit in the space,” said Judith.

“In the first installation, we got five on the front of the roof and three on the back.”

The couple then got an additional 10 panels installed a few years later after building a large garden room extension with a south-facing roof.

Thanks to this – and the retrofit – Judith and John have been able to get rid of gas altogether, considerably lowering their energy bills.

In addition to this, it’s possible to ‘earn’ money from having solar panels by selling or exporting energy back to the National Grid.

Judith said: “It was only in October last year that we went onto the tariff that pays us for exporting electricity generated.

“The amount we earn will, of course, vary, according to the time of year.”

In March this year, the household used 550 kWh (kilowatt hours) of energy – and generated 501 kWh, according to Judith.

“As a result, we paid just £22.72 to Octopus Energy, our energy supplier, that month,” said Judith.

As the days have become longer and sunnier, the couple have made more energy than they have used meaning they have been able to export £300 worth back to the National Grid.

On summer days, Judith reckons her solar panels will mean she has to pay ‘next to nothing.’

She added: “I anticipate we will be pretty much self-sufficient over the coming months.”

With big savings up for grabs, the solar panels are a win for Judith and John.

“According to Octopus, our annual energy consumption as a household is around £1,700,” said Judith.

“However, thanks to the ‘export’, we will make a very healthy £2,300 worth of energy over the year.

This means we’ll be ‘quids in’ – earning around £600 more than we’re paying out for the year.”

Actual savings will depend on what happens to energy prices and the specific earnings will depend on the weather.

How much do solar panels cost?

You need to be aware that the initial outlay for solar panels is high. If you are thinking about getting panels installed, you need to view this as a long-term investment.

Solar panels are usually fitted on to the roof to absorb the sun’s rays and turning them into electricity to power your home.

The position and size of your property determines how many panels you can get – and the overall cost.

However, the average home can expect around ten solar panels which is a typical investment of around £5,000-£6,000, according to energy firm Ovo.

Surplus energy produced can be sold back to the grid.

If you want to store extra energy, you’ll need to invest in a battery, costing another £5,000 on average.

The amount you sell energy, depends on your provider. 

As a guide, you may be able to recoup the cost of installation in as little as five to seven years – though in some cases it will take longer.

Judith says her solar is due to be paid back through savings in six years 

Earlier this month, we reported how thousands of homes could qualify for free solar panel grants.

Judith said: “For me, there’s no two ways about it, I love my solar panels – not least because I know we’re making energy from the sun.

“When it’s sunny, I love looking at my smart meter and thinking that we can essentially use the washing machine – and other appliances – more or less for free.”

The rate of solar panels installations on UK homes was up 40.7% in March, from the same period last year, according to analysis from Coventry building society. 

More than 17,000 solar panels were installed on UK homes in March, a jump from the 12,168 installations during March 2024. 

To get an idea on how much you could potentially save by getting panels installed, check out the free calculator from the Energy Saving Trust.

Other ways to save money on bills

Solar panels are just one of a wide range of energy-efficient measures that Judith has put in place.

“We got a lot of ‘green’ improvements done during Covid in 2020,” she said.

“John and I spent many months living in a cramped corner of an extremely dusty room.”

The couple added more insulation to the loft and external walls.

They also installed insulation under the suspended floors themselves – before calling in the experts to put in under-floor heating.

At the same time, the pair have taken a number of steps to cut out draughts.

Some of the more costly measures the couple have invested in include triple glazing and an air source heat pump.

“All the windows on the extension are triple glazed,” said Judith.

“We also paid around £13,000 four years ago for a heat pump – though we did take advantage of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme to bring the cost down to £5,500.”

This scheme provides homeowners with up to £7,500 to install heat pumps and other green technologies.

Judith said: “I love the fact that making my home warmer and comfortable not only means it’s cheaper to run – it’s also having a big impact on carbon emissions.”

She also estimates the house is now worth at least £90,000 more than its equivalent house without a retrofit – making all the energy efficient investments financially worthwhile too.