| You’ll probably be surprised at how easy it is | | | | £130million a year. Keeping curtains closed can also |
| to cut down on your energy consumption without | | | | help to exclude draughts. |
| compromising your comfort. | | | | Double-glaze |
| For more information on how to save energy, go to | | | | Double-glazing your window helps to reduce energy |
| For information on how much energy and money you | | | | bills by trapping air between two panes of glass, thus |
| can save, do an online Home Energy Check with the | | | | creating an insulating buffer. This job needs to be |
| Energy Savings Trust at this address: | | | | done professionally, but it can save £80-£100 a |
| It will take you a few minutes to fill in a | | | | year on heating bills. If you are installing new |
| questionnaire, but you’ll then be provided with | | | | windows, check that the windows are made from |
| a detailed report that analyses your energy | | | | energy saving material. |
| consumption pattern in the home. | | | | Check your thermostats |
| Before you take the test, however, here are some | | | | Check that the thermostat for your hot water |
| tips to help you get started: | | | | cylinder is set no higher than 60°C/140°F. There |
| Insulate | | | | should be no need for it to be any warmer than this. |
| This alone can save you hundreds of pounds. | | | | And if you turn down your heating thermostat by |
| Because heat is lost through the roof, by insulating | | | | 1ºC, you can reduce your heating bill by nearly 10 |
| your roof space you can save around £110 on your | | | | per cent a year. |
| energy bill. It will also reduce the amount of carbon | | | | Turn off |
| dioxide emissions emitted through your | | | | Replace your light bulbs with energy saving bulbs and |
| home’s energy consumption. | | | | turn them off when they are not needed. It’s |
| Also consider insulating any wall cavities, especially in | | | | estimated that energy saving bulbs can save £60 |
| homes built after the 1920s. | | | | over its lifetime. |
| Dress your hot water cylinder | | | | Don’t leave electrical goods on standby or |
| Lag your hot water tank to help keep the water at | | | | plugged in if they are not needed. Televisions, phone |
| the correct temperature. This is a cheap and easy | | | | chargers, or any type of charger — if |
| change to make; you could probably do it yourself | | | | it’s not in use, unplug it. A recent government |
| for around £20. | | | | study shows that the CO2 emissions from electrical |
| Limit draughts | | | | equipment on standby are the equivalent to 1.4 million |
| Around 20 per cent of heat loss occurs due to poor | | | | long-haul flights. |
| ventilation and draughts. Seal any spaces that allow | | | | Think before you wash |
| the cold air to enter your home and thus reduce the | | | | Do not put on a load for washing unless it’s |
| need to keep the heating on. Seal areas around | | | | full. Wash in cold water as much as possible or |
| skirting boards by using a sealant, another job that | | | | reduce the water temperature to 30ºC |
| can be done without expert help. If everyone in the | | | | Don’t fill the kettle |
| UK made simple changes like this, it’s | | | | If you are only making one or two cups of tea, only |
| estimated that the savings would be around | | | | boil the water you will need. |