According to the Energy Saving Trust, being more energy efficient in your home could save up to £250 a year on your energy bills, as well as helping to combat climate change.
Follow UpMyStreet's top energy saving tips to start making savings.
1. Switch off
Leaving items plugged in or on standby wastes enough energy to power 2.7 million homes for a year. Turn lights and appliances off when you're not using them, and get into the habit of unplugging them too.
2. Draught-proof your home
Seal up draughts in doors and windows using draught excluders, available from DIY stores, or make your own using old fabric or clothing. Try insulating tape or sealant on smaller draughts.
3. Turn it down
Turn your thermostat down by one degree. You probaby won't notice the difference in temperature, but you will see the financial savings. The Energy Saving Trust estimate your heating bills could be reduced by up to 10% - saving you around £40 a year.
4. Buy Energy Saving Recommended products
When buying new white goods or other household items, look for the Energy Saving Recommended logo. This guarantees that the product is the most energy efficient option on the market and will cost less to run.
5. Switch to a green energy supplier
All the main energy suppliers have green electricity tariffs which shouldn't cost you more than your regular bill. Depending on the tariff, your electricity will be from renewable energy sources, or your company will donate money to renewable energy development projects.
6. Choose energy saving light bulbs
Energy saving light bulbs will save you £9 a year for every bulb you switch - they last longer and use 20% of the power to light a room than a regular light bulb.
7. Insulate your home
Homes lose up to 33% of their heat through the walls or roof. According to the Energy Saving Trust, you can save:
- £90 a year and one tonne of CO2 with cavity wall insulation
- £200 a year and two tonnes of CO2 with solid wall insulation
- £150 a year and one-and-a-half tonnes of CO2 with loft insulation
8. Install double glazing
Double-glazed windows can save up to £100 a year on your heating bills, as well as reducing the impact of outside noise and adding security. Leave it to professional window fitters to install the glass.
9. Update your boiler
If your boiler is 15 years old or more, it won't be performing at its best. Replacing with a high-efficiency condensing boiler will save you a third on your bills. Fit an insulating jacket around your boiler to save a further £20 a year.
10. Adjust your washing machine
Washing your clothes at 30o can cut your washing energy costs by up to 40%, and will still give you the same cleaning results. Select an economy cycle for smaller loads, or wait until you have a full load before washing.
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If every UK household...
- Filled in their wall cavities, it would save £720 million in energy bills a year
- Fitted a hot water pipe jacket, it would save over £89 million of energy a year
- Increased loft insulation to 270mm, £380 million would be saved each year - enough to pay the annual fuel bills of over 400,000 families
- Draught proofed their homes, it would save around £130 million in energy bills a year
- Fitted double glazing, the CO2 generated by 800,000 households would be saved
Source: Energy Saving Trust
Green tips for the home
Got a green tip? Do your bit and share your ideas...
Energy Saving Recommended products
Look for the Energy Saving Recommended logo when buying:
- Boilers
- Washing machines
- Dishwashers
- TVs
- Light bulbs
- Insulation
- Double glazing
- Fridges
- Freezers
Your comments (12)
Helen (Camden), on 18/03/2008 at 13:04
Point 9. Don't wrap up your boiler, it is dangerous, This should read wrap your hot water tank. For small households consider changing to a gas combi boiler and don't have a hot water tank
K Morgan (North Wiltshire), on 09/02/2008 at 11:42
We live on a park home, and are tied to the electricity and gas supplier the park owner signs up with. we cannot change. We have no electricity meter in our homes, and if by chance we want to check the meter to see just how much electricity we have used, the meter is some way from our property.
But would not change this for all the tea in China
K Morgan (North Wiltshire), on 09/02/2008 at 11:41
We live on a park home, and are tied to the electricity and gas supplier the park owner signs up with. we cannot change. We have no electricity meter in our homes, and if by chance we want to check the meter to see just how much electricity we have used, the meter is some way from our property.
But would not change this for all the tea in China
Paz (Kingston upon Thames), on 04/12/2007 at 18:37
Clare wrote:
We had our home insulated loft and cavity through affordable energy, it only cost £229 for the cavity wall insulation, its great all the outside walls stay toasty warm. Apparently so the installer was saying if you claim a benefit you can have it done for nothing!!!!! www.affordableenergy.co.uk
From personal experience with a client I know that even if they are claiming benefit they may not get a grant for their loft insulation for example if the insulation needs to be laid anything but flat. So in cases where a couple have had a loft extension done many years ago they will not get any funding!! But of course if they had been able to afford to add a whole new storey to their small one bedroom bungalow then of course they would have had the money to do this. It seems a little unfair to me that they are penalised because they were not rich enough!!
Clare (Maldon), on 05/11/2007 at 16:01
We had our home insulated loft and cavity through affordable energy, it only cost £229 for the cavity wall insulation, its great all the outside walls stay toasty warm. Apparently so the installer was saying if you claim a benefit you can have it done for nothing!!!!! www.affordableenergy.co.uk
Skip to comments | Add a comment
J W West Yorks (Bradford), on 05/11/2007 at 00:03
Alma wrote:
I have had my existing washer for abot 18 years but it still works perfectly well. Would it be sensible to buy amore modern one which had a 30 wash cycle?This old one only goes down to 40.
Alma Gardner
I have a new a new machine that goes down to 30c. I find the soap powder does not always dissolve and I must do the job twice. Now I stick to 40c. For 'once worn' I use 30min wash. everything else gets 60mins. whites on 40c or 50c. I never use the long wash cycles. I wish they could market a machine without the 2 1/2 hour programme then everyone would save on money, water, heat and probably wear and tear of the clothes.
D K Hughes (Rossendale), on 28/10/2007 at 08:25
We rate all sorts of electrical appliances with an A to E rating but what rating has our house ? how effective is our energy savings measures. We run an all electric house with underfloor central heating which was installed in 1970. I still have bills weekly bills of £50 per week during the winter months. What more measures can I take, all the usual energy saving measures are in place. Being retired does not help as we are at home now during working hours any way you cannot turn off electric central heating. As we have a mid day boost we cannot change utility suppliers as our tarriff is not offered by alternative suppliers.
Alma (Spelthorne), on 26/10/2007 at 17:50
I have had my existing washer for abot 18 years but it still works perfectly well. Would it be sensible to buy amore modern one which had a 30 wash cycle?This old one only goes down to 40.
Alma Gardner
Rebob (Barnsley), on 16/10/2007 at 15:32
Some grants for cavity wall insulation, new boilers etc are available even to people in rented housing. Just check with the landlord to wether they will allow the work done.
One easy way to keep your home warm is to close the curtains before it gets dark which is an easy one.
Jennifer (Leeds), on 25/09/2007 at 15:08
we are in a rented house, so cant do most of the things on this list! we are even tied into our energy suppliers for the term of our contract on the house. more ideas that are doable for residents and not owners would be useful!
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