Energy
Saving Tips
Simple energy saving tips at
home:
Burning fossil fuels to heat our homes or produce
electricity
releases carbon emissions, which cause climate change. The energy you
use at home is likely to be your biggest contribution to climate
change. 80 per cent of it goes on heating and hot water, so this is a
good place to look for savings.
Turn down your thermostat
Turning
your heating thermostat down by one degree
could reduce carbon emissions and cut your fuel bills by up to 10 per
cent. 21 degrees is recommended in your living room, and use a timer to
ensure your not heating your room unnecessarily (e.g. when you are
sleeping or at work).
Make sure your hot
water is not too hot, if you have a hot water cylinder set
the water temperature thermostat to no higher than 60 degrees centigrade
Look for the labels
When
buying products that use energy – anything from light bulbs
to
fridge-freezers – look for the Energy Saving Recommended
label or
European energy label rating of A or higher. The European energy label
also tells you how much water appliances use, so you can choose a more
efficient model.
Improve your insulation
More
than half the heat lost in your home escapes through the walls and
roof. Cavity wall insulation costs about £260, can take a
couple of
hours to install, and could save you £160 a year on fuel
bills. You will most likely be entitled to grants (contact your energy
supplier).
Turn
off lights
when not needed and do not leave appliances on standby. Remember not to
leave chargers (e.g. mobile phones) turned on when you are not using
them.
Fit energy
saving lightbulbs or low voltage spotlights.
Higher cost energy saving tips at home:
Fit a band A condensing
boiler
(all new boilers must be condensing), which is capable of much higher
efficiencies than other boilers. Most appropriate when boiler needs
repair/replacement. This measure alone could typically save you well
over £300 per year.
Double glazing
cuts heat lost through windows by half and can save £80
- £100 a year on your heating bills. Double glazing works by trapping
air between two panes of glass creating an insulating barrier that
reduces heat loss, noise and condensation.
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