More information on how to be Energy Efficient in your home and save money!

Information for you and your household:

Each home in the UK creates about five and half tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO²) every year, which constitutes more than twice the average car emissions.

Heat is lost from homes by a variety of routes. In a typical house this is made up as follows:

INSULATION:

Cavity Wall, loft insulation, internal and external wall cladding in homes with solid walls all saves energy and reduces CO² emissions, as it reduces the amount of energy needed to heat the home. Although most homes have some loft insulation, many do not have the correct levels to keep the heat from escaping. The recommended level is 270mm.

Double glazing, excluding drafts around doors, windows and letterboxesas well as closing curtains, all help to prevent the loss of heat from homes.

HEATING AND HOT WATER:

An ‘A’ Rated condensing boilers and proper heating controls can    reduce your heating bills if you have an old boiler in your home. Turn your thermostat down. Reducing your room temperature by 1°C could cut your heating bills by up to 10 percent and typically saves around £55 per year. If you have a programmer, set your heating and hot water to come on only when required rather than all the time.

Is your water too hot? Your cylinder thermostat should be set at 60°C/140°F.

Fit an insulation jacket to your hot water tank. They are inexpensive and save money heating the water.Lag exposed pipes with proprietary materials available from DIY stores.

APPLIANCES:

Buy the most energy efficient appliance that you are able to afford.    Most white goods and common kitchen appliances have an energy-efficiency rating, through a scheme organised by the EU. The most efficient laundry appliances and dishwashers are A rated.

Use energy saving light bulbs. They last up to 10 times longer than ordinary bulbs, and using one can save you around £45 over the    lifetime of the bulb.

IN YOUR HOME:

• Always turn off the lights when you leave a room.

• Don't leave appliances on standby and remember not to leave laptops and mobile phones on charge unnecessarily.

• Close your curtains at dusk to stop heat escaping through the windows and check for draughts around windows and doors.

• Perhaps put on an extra jumper before turning up the heating.

KITCHEN:

Only boil as much water as you need (but remember to cover the element if you're using an electric kettle) When cooking use the correct sized pan and lid as well as choosing the correct hob for the job.

Defrost food overnight in the fridge, rather than use the microwave. Cook large batches of food in the cooker and freeze the spare product.

Try washing clothes at 30°C instead of a high temperature. It uses 40% less electricity.

BEDROOM:

• Match your duvet to the seasons – lower tog rating in summer and higher in winter, reduces unnecessary heating

• Wear socks in bed to keep feet warm

• Set your heating to go off just before you go to bed avoiding unnecessary heating.

• Set your heating to come on long enough before you get up to heat the house and turn it off 30 mins before you expect to leave.

The house will cool slowly, so you are saving on fuel costs.