Saving Energy

There are many ways everone can do their bit to conserve energy. Not only does it save some of our planets valuable resources but it may well save you a bit of cash too, which is always good.

A lot of heat energy is lost up the chimney flume, so if you are not using your fireplace, block up the chimney using newspaper or cardboard to save energy.

Turning your central heating thermostat down by just 1°C can save up to 10% on your fuel bills.

Insulate your home to save energy and reduce your bills. Insulating your loft can save £180 a year. You may also be able to get an energy saving grants to help with the cost.

Switch off all electrical appliances at the plug instead of using the 'standby' function. Appliances are still using electricity when on 'standby', and account for a massive 6% of all electricity usage in the home.

Letter boxes and key holes can let in draughts. Fit a nylon brush seal or a spring flap and put a cover over a key hole to keep the heat in.

The biggest long-term savings come from changing your energy habits and being more energy efficient around the home.

Start using these no-cost energy saving ideas around your home and measure the reduction in your next few energy bills. The more you apply the more you'll save.

Heating Tips

Time your heating to go off 30 minutes before you leave the house, and come on again 30 minutes before you are due to return.
Turn the room thermostat down by 1?C. This can save around £30 a year.
Make sure curtains or furniture are not in front of a radiator.
Draw the curtains at dusk to keep heat in rooms.

Using Electrical Appliances

Switch off appliances such as microwaves, TVs, videos, stereos, and computers, as they use energy when they are left on standby. A staggering 85% of the energy used by the DVD player is consumed when it is not actually in use.
Unplug equipment e.g. mobile phones, shavers and electric toothbrushes—once they are fully charged, otherwise they will keep drawing electricity.

Refrigeration

Avoid leaving the fridge door open. Avoid putting hot or warm food straight into the fridge; allow it to cool first.
Defrost your fridge regularly to keep it running efficiently and cheaply. If it seems to frost up quickly, check the door seal. It makes sense to avoid putting your fridge next to an oven or boiler. If possible, keep the freezer in a cool room or garage.

Washing machine and dishwashers

Only wash full loads or use a half-load or economy programme. Always use a low temperature programme as modern washing powders will be just as effective.
Modern dishwashers use less energy and water than washing up by hand.

Cooking

Match the size of the ring to the size of the saucepan or you will be paying to heat the air. Gas flames should only heat the bottom of the pan (not the sides)
Use a lid on saucepans, so the contents heat more quickly and you use less energy.
Pressure cookers, steamers and microwaves save energy.

Tumble dryers

In summer dry your clothes outside when possible.
If you are drying your clothes indoors, don’t put them over over a radiator. This stops the heat from reaching the rest of the room. Try putting up a clothes rail in an unheated room, opening the window slightly to allow damp escape and shutting the door to stop heat being drawn into that room.

Hot water

Only boil as much water in the kettle as you need.
In hard water areas, you need to deal with limescale to keep your kettle working efficiently for longer. At least twice a year, soak the element overnight in vinegar.
When washing up or running a bath turn the thermostat on your hot water tank down to 60c. This is a comfortable temperature for most people.
An ordinary shower uses just two fifths of the water for a bath. In contrast, power showers use as much water as a bath and sometimes more.

Cheap ways to save energy at home

Some of the most effective energy efficient improvements you can make to your home are either free or cheap to apply and will have an immediate impact on your energy bills.

The hardest part is becoming more aware of your energy habits and changing the way you use gas and electricity every day. Until recently, most of us have taken cheap energy for granted and expected a never ending supply on demand.

But as winter approaches many UK households face the prospect of even higher fuel bills as a combination of recent price rises and poorly insulated homes take their toll on the cost of living.

You can combat this by making a few simple changes to your energy habits and a small investment in insulation products. As 50% of the heat in your home is lost through the roof, walls and doors, this can have a dramatic effect on your heating bills this winter and beyond.

Start applying these measures to see your energy bills reduce. But before you do, check with your energy supplier and local authority as you maight qualify for an energy saving grant to help you with any costs.

1.LOOK FOR THE LOGO

When you replace your existing appliances, look for products that display the energy saving recommended logo. These products have to meet strict efficiency criteria, don't necessarily cost any more than less efficient models and can save you £50 per year.

2.CHANGE YOUR LIGHT BULBS

Lighting accounts for 15% of our electric bills and research by the Dept of Environment has shown that £1 out of every £3 spent on lighting and heating a home is wasted.

Normal light bulbs cost less than energy efficient bulbs, but they don't really save you money. An energy saving light bulb will cost you around £3.50 compared to 50p for a normal one, but it will save you around £9 on your annual electric bill and up to £100 over its lifetime!

3.INSULATE YOUR HOT WATER TANK

Insulating your hot water tank will reduce heat loss by up to 70% and you can fit them yourself for £10.

It costs you money to heat your water, so to minimise the heat lost from the tank fit a water tank jacket thats at least 75mm thick. It will only cost a few pounds and save £15-£20 per year.

4.STOP DRAUGHTS

A typical home loses 20% of its heat through draughty doors, windows and ventilation ducts.

Fit draught proofing products to your doors, windows and keyholes. You can buy them from DIY stores but check that they comply with standard BS7386 for maximum efficiency and durability.

5.INSULATE YOUR LOFT

Insulating your loft is one of the most cost effective ways to reduce your heating bills and you can do-it-yourself.

By laying down loft insulation to the recommended thickness of 270mm you could knock up to £200 off your annual heating bill. Make sure you use protective gloves and goggles if you install the insulation yourself.

How will your home rate?

An added benefit of making your home more energy efficient is that it may be easier to sell.

From June 2007, all homes being sold in th UK will have to declare an energy efficient rating to potential buyers as part of a Home Information Pack. This rating will compare the efficiency of your home to others of the same type and may become an important buying feature as the cost of running a home continues to increase.

The UK's carbon footprint is over 500* million tonnes of CO₂ per year. Individuals account for 45% of this. Find out how you can reduce your footprint.

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