Hints & tips
Save energy in the home
We thought we'd give you a few simple tips on how to save energy in the home, and so help cut down on carbon emissions.
- Switch to energy efficient light bulbs. Although they may seem more expensive, they can last up to twelve times longer than standard light bulbs. So you save on the energy you use, and the amount of light bulbs you have to replace over the years.
- Insulate your loft, with a good insulation material. If you install the recommended depth of 270mm, you could save between £180 and £200 per year on your heating bills, and reduce your CO2 emissions by around 1.5 tonnes per year. (Source: Energy Saving Trust.)
- Turn off the lights when no-one is using the room or hallway. Even if you are using a room, an unlit living room is very cosy while watching TV.
- Don't leave your TV or hi-fi on standby when not in use. This can use around 40% of the electricity it uses on power.
- Boilers usually need replacing around every fifteen years. By law, all new gas boilers fitted in England and Wales must (with a few exceptions) be condensing ones. Make sure your installer is CORGI registered and ask about condensing boilers that are suitable for your home.
- Around 33% of the heat in an uninsulated house is lost through the walls. You could save up to £160 on energy bills each year by insulating your wall cavities. It also creates an even temperature in your home. If every household in the country filled their wall cavities, we'd save over £960 million of energy a year. (Source: Energy Saving Trust.)
- Ensure your hot water tank is insulated with a jacket at least 75mm (3") thick and you could save around £20 a year.
- Correctly fitted double glazing can save up to 50% of the heat lost through single glazed windows.
There is still time to reduce the impact we are having on climate change if we act now. We can all make a difference if we make an effort. But if we don't, the unpredictable weather variations we are already experiencing will become more severe.
