Energy Efficiency Tips

Is your home a bit of an energy guzzler? It's easier than you might think to cut down on the amount of energy you use - and you'll collect some welcome savings along the way. With just a little effort the average household could reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 2 tonnes each year - and save around £300 on energy bills!

To help combat climate change we need to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide (CO²) we produce.

Cars, industry and flying are all big CO² producers, but experts also say that nearly a third of our CO² emissions come from the energy we use in our homes.

Keeping the heat in
One of the most straightforward ways to save energy is to stop heat escaping from your home. Fitting loft, cavity wall, cylinder and pipe insulation will keep your home warmer and your heating bills lower.

And did you know that your home could be losing up to 20% of its heat through single glazed and poorly insulated window frames?

Double glazing can cut these losses by over a half. Use of heavy curtains in winter can also help.

Boilers can also be inefficient - if yours is over 15 years old, consider replacing it with a high-efficiency condensing type.

This can help you save up to a third on your heating bills.

10 quick energy savers

• Turn your heating down by 1°C. You could cut your heating bills by up to 10%
• Check your hot water cylinder - it should be no more than 60°C/140°F. Is it properly insulated?
• Hang up thick curtains so heat does not escape through your windows.
• Turn off lights, TV, CD player etc when you leave a room.
• Don't leave appliances on standby or leave battery chargers connected when not needed. If the charger is hot it is using electricity.
• Wash clothes at 30°C - you'll reduce the energy used by nearly half. Many washing detergents are now formulated to work best at 30°C. (You will need one hot wash occasionally to keep the drain pipes clear of soap)
• Run your washing machine, tumble dryer or dishwasher with a full load or use the half-load or economy programme.
• Only boil as much water as you need in kettles and saucepans, and use the right sized pan for the job, with lids on if possible.
• Fix leaking taps and turn them off fully.
• Fit energy saving light bulbs. Just one can save you £100 over the lifetime of the bulb - and they last up to 12 times longer than ordinary light bulbs.

If you want to check how much energy you can save go to

• Energy Saving Trust - Check how much energy you can save Opens in a new window