Energy Efficiency: Top Tips

With the environment hot on the political agenda, have you considered ways in which you can make your property as energy efficient as possible? Although some forms of saving energy can be quite expensive, there are also many smaller things you can do to make your home as environmentally friendly as possible that won’t involve you turning from green to blue…

•    Buy energy efficient light bulbs to help cut energy waste by up to 75 per cent. Although they cost more than normal bulbs, they last up to twelve times longer.

•    Stop draughts coming through to the house by ensuring gaps in doors and windows are blocked as effectively as possible

•    Ensure anything that can be insulated is, so heat can be retained as effectively as possible. It will improve your homes energy efficiency and save you money over time. Get an insulating jacket for your hot water tank as this will help to reduce heat loss by up to 75% and is relatively cheap to get at a price of roughly £10.

•    Think about how much water you really need before making a brew. Did you know that if we used only the required amount of water when we boil the kettle for a quick cup of tea that enough energy would be saved to power two thirds of street lighting in the UK?

•    Turn off the lights! Do you really need to have them all on? Every time you leave a room, switch the lights off to save energy and money.

•    Don’t be afraid of the calculator. It is estimated that the average household could save up to £300 per year simply by being more energy efficient. If you weigh up the initial costs of making your home energy efficient against the amount of money you will save in the long term on energy bills, you will have a better idea of what to aim for to make your home as energy efficient as possible without leaving you out of pocket.