There are lots of easy actions you can take at home to cut your carbon and energy use and also save money, as illustrated below.
Heating - turn the thermostat down slightly and look at other ways to keep your house warm such as reducing heat loss by closing curtains at dusk, closing windows and wearing warmer clothes in the house.
Lighting - low energy light bulbs can make big savings. Replace one normal 100 watt lightbulb with an energy-saving one and you can save up to £10 a year. Energy saving light bulbs cost around £1-£15 and last for up to eight times as long as old style bulbs (check that the bulb you buy states that it will last for at least 8,000 hours). Also switch lights off in empty rooms.
Fridges and freezers - keep your fridge/freezer at the right temperature (2-3° C for a fridge and -15° C for a freezer), and make sure the door seal works properly. Allow air to circulate behind your fridge, clean 'fuzz' off the piping at the back and defrost your freezer regularly.
Electrical appliances - videos, stereos, televisions and other electrical items all use up electricity when on standby so switch them off at the plug each night. Run the washing machine with full loads on lower temperatures where possible and let clothes dry naturally rather than using a tumble dryer. In the kitchen only fill the kettle with the amount of water that you will actually use and cook with the lids on pans.
Water - lagging your hot water pipes should enable you to turn the water heat down a little. You can buy pre-formed foam tubing from a DIY store. Putting a jacket on your hot water tank means it doesn't have to use as much energy to keep your water hot. Ideally use an 80mm (3") thick insulation jacket from your DIY store that meets British Standards. It could cut your heat loss by 75% and pay for itself in a few months.
Insulation - insulating your home may cost a bit at first, but you will start to feel the financial savings after a few months. In an uninsulated home the heat loss consists of:
Your loft insulation should be at least 200mm thick - if it is not then top it up. Draught-proof your outside doors with a brush type hinged flap seal. The type of seal needed for windows will depend on the style of windows you have. A lot of heat is lost through walls, and if you have cavity walls then these can be filled and save you up to £90 a year on your heating bills. Contact your local Energy Efficiency Advice Centre (call 0800 512 012) to find a qualified specialist contractor.
If your home was built after 1930, it was probably constructed with cavity walls - this means they have a small air gap in the middle. An easy way to check is by looking at your brickwork if it is visible. If all the bricks in a wall are lengthways, as in picture a, the wall should have a cavity. If some of the bricks are widthways, as the black ones are in picture b, the wall is probably double thickness with no cavity.
Boiler replacement - if you need to replace your boiler then modern, energy-efficient boilers are good value. Condensing boilers are the most efficient and only lose about 11% of the heat up the flue, whereas a conventional boiler loses up to 30%. They are expensive, typically costing between £800 - £1,200; however, you should get your investment back in just three or four years. Next best is a high-efficiency, fan-assisted boiler. Both types of boilers are available as conventional or combination types. They cost £250 - £400 more than an ordinary boiler, but should save you £100 - £130 a year.
Energy efficient appliances - all new electrical goods should display an energy label explaining how much energy the appliance uses. Efficient appliances are often good value as they offer future savings. Appliances graded A (most efficient) use less than half the energy of similar models graded G (least efficient).
Green tariffs - one of the easiest ways to cut your carbon emissions is through a green tariff. When you sign up, all or some of your home's electricity will come from renewable sources, like wind power. For information go to the Green Electricity Marketplace website at www.greenelectricity.org.
Energy savings – the table below illustrates the average cost and payback time of various energy savings you can make around the home.
Grants and financial supportGrants are sometimes available from energy companies and the government to help you make your homes more energy efficient. The best place to start is the Energy Saving Trust.
Grants are available from the government for a number of renewable energy technologies including solar water heating, wind power, micro-hydro, heat-pumps and wood burning stoves and boilers. Check www.clear-skies.org or call the Clear Skies hotline on 0870 2430930.
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