Investing in improving the energy efficiency of your home can save hundreds of pounds on your energy bills in the years to come. There are also many things you can do to save energy that don't cost a penny:
Switch it Off!
- Don't 'stand by' and waste energy - 8% of household energy is used by equipment left on standby, so take care to switch off TVs, stereos, video/DVD, chargers and PCs when you are not using them.
Heating
- Turn down the heat - reducing your room temperature by 1°C could cut your heating bills by up to 10%, saving around £50 per year.
- Keep furniture and curtains away from radiators.
- Fit Thermostatic Radiator Valves (TRVs), allowing you to set different temperatures in different rooms and switch off radiators in unused rooms to reduce bills further.
Hot Water
- Stop your boiler burning money – if your boiler is over 15 years old it will probably be worth replacing it with a high efficiency condensing boiler – saving you up to 40% on your heating bills. Contact the Energy Saving Trust advice centre on 0800 512 012 for information about grants available.
- Ensure pipes and hot water tanks are adequately insulated.
- Only heat water when you need it. The use of a timer will allow you to control how much energy you use.
Lighting
- Be a bright spark - always turn off lights if you are leaving a room for more than a couple of minutes - each 60W light bulb left on for 4 hours a day can waste £9 a year.
- Fit low energy light bulbs - especially in areas where they're left on for long periods. They use a quarter of the energy, last 12 times longer and each one can save up to £108 over its lifetime. There are now low energy alternatives for most types of lighting, including dimmer switches.
Insulation
- Stop your heating bills going through the roof - insulating your loft to the recommended depth of 270mm (10in) can reduce your heating bills by up to a third. Contact the Energy Saving Trust advice centre on 0800 512 012 for information about grants available.
- Warmer walls - cavity wall insulation can reduce heat losses through the walls by up to 60% and save you up to £160 pa on your fuel bill. Contact the Energy Saving Trust advice centre on 0800 512 012 for information about grants available.
- Install double-glazing – this can reduce your heating bills by up to £100 pa.
- Reduce heat losses by fitting a hot water tank jacket, insulating hot water pipes and draught-proofing your home.
In the kitchen
- Use a plug when washing hands, dishes or food to reduce the use of hot water.
- When cooking, choose the right pan size for the food and the cooker.
- Put lids on pans as the food will cook a lot quicker, using less energy.
Appliances
- Try not to overfill the kettle when making drinks - boiling one cup of water instead of a full kettle five times a day can save you £30 a year.
- Watch out for the energy guzzlers - tumble driers are one of the biggest energy users in the home, so dry clothes outside whenever possible. Also washing clothes at 30oC can use around 40% less electricity than at higher temperatures.
- Consider replacing old appliances – new ones can use half the energy, saving you money in the long run. Choose those that are rated A+ and A++ or look for the Energy Saving Recommended logo to ensure you buy the most efficient. A database of energy saving appliances is available at Energy Saving Trust
Green Electricity
- Buy 'green' electricity – buying electricity produced from a renewable source reduces pollution and encourages electricity companies to invest in renewable energy technologies. Visit Green Electricity to obtain a list of domestic green tariffs available in the UK.
Smart Meters
If you would like to borrow a smart meter to help you monitor and identify ways of reducing your home electricity consumption please see: Smart monitor loan service
