Save Money By Saving Energy

There is no better place to start reducing the carbon footprint, and your domestic bills, than in the home. A few simple, cost effective changes can drastically reduce the amount of energy you use heating your home and water.

Making your home as energy efficient as possible could save you over £300 a year. This can be done by insulating your home, using energy saving light bulbs and swiching lights off.

Most homes do not have the recommended amount of insulation, and by insulating your home to the correct recommendation could save you £180 a year on your heating bill. Also, cutting down the energy your home wastes will help tackle climate changes at the same time, because home energy use is responsible for over a quarter of all CO2 emissions.

Hot Water Tank Jacket

Fitting a really think hot water tank jacket could save you around £30 a year. With all the heat the jacket traps, it pays for itself within six months of buying it. The recommended thickness of a jacket is 3".

Loft Insulation

Almost half the heat lost in a home escapes through the walls and roof. Even if you already have loft insulation, check the thickness. The recommended thickness is 270mm, so if you have to add another layer it will save both energy and money being wasted.

Cavity Wall Insulation

Almost a third of heat lost in a home without insulation is through the walls. If you insulate the wall cavities you could save up to £120 a year. Cavity wall insulation can be done internally or externally.

Draughtproofing

You can eliminate draughts and heat loss by installing a cheap, easy to fix bruch or PVC seal on your doors and windows. Letterboxes and keyholes should also be covered. Draughts can also get in through gaps in floorboards and skirting boards, and you can stop this waste by filling the gaps with beading or sealant.

Energy Saving Lightbulbs

An energy efficient lightbulb produces less CO2 and can save you up to £60 in electricity over its lifetime. The bulbs work in standard light fittings and are widely available, including supermarkets.

Remember to switch off any lights in your home that you are not using.and turn off any unused electrical items at the mains,  leaving them on standby is still using power.