Simple Steps That Make a Difference
We understand that the reduction of carbon emissions is not high on the list of priorities for everyone. However saving money is.
Here are a few tips that can help save you some money whilst also helping the environment.
Turn your thermostat down. Reducing your room temperature by 1oC 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 to come on only when required rather than all the time.
Is your water too hot? Your cylinder thermostat should be set at 60oC / 140oF.
Close your curtains at dusk to stop heat escaping through the windows and check for draughts around windows and doors.
Always turn off lights when you leave a room.
Don't leave appliances on standby and remember not to leave laptops and mobile phones on charge unnecessarily.
If possible, fill up the washing machine, tumble dryer or dishwasher: one full load uses less energy than two half loads.
Only boil as much water as you need (but remember to cover the elements if you're using an electric kettle).
A dripping hot tap wastes energy and in one week wastes enough hot water to fill half a bath, so fix leaking taps and make sure they are fully turned off!
Use energy saving lightbulbs. They last up to 10 times longer than ordinary bulbs, and using one can save you around £40 over the lifetime of the bulb. This saving could be around £65 over its lifetime if yuo're replacing a high wattage incandescent bulb, or one used for more than a few hours a day.
For more tips to save you money visit the Energy Saving Trust website, www.energytrust.org.uk.
