Top Low Cost Measures
The biggest energy savings can be achieved by making a little investment. Some will pay for themselves almost instantly, while others take a little longer, but will lead to more significant energy savings.
Below are our top ten tips to suit all budgets.
- Install loft insulation
Around 25 percent of heating energy disappears through the roof in an un-insulated house, making insulating your loft one of the most cost-effective ways to save energy in the home. Laying down the recommended depth of 270mm of insulation could save £1501 on your heating bill and save an average of around a tonne1 of CO2 per year! If you have some insulation already, topping it up can still save on average £601 a year and 300kg1 CO2. - Draft proof gaps
If you have poorly sealed windows and doors you may be losing 15-20% of heat through the gaps. Draught proofing is a simple inexpensive DIY measure that could save around 150kg1 of CO2 a year. You can also seal unused chimneys with newspaper or a purpose-made chimney balloon which inflates to block up the chimney, fill the gaps of wooden floorboards with an acrylic sealant, and sew a heavy lining into thinning curtains to stop heat escaping out of the window. - Reduce your clothing carbon emissions
The clothes we purchase are responsible for CO2 emissions of around 1 tonne a year, which amounts to roughly the same as a small diesel car. Reduce your clothing carbon footprint by investing in quality pieces that will last longer than a single season and making use of your local charity shop. - Install energy saving light bulbs
The government has begun phasing out the sale of traditional incandescent light bulbs by 2011, in favour of more energy efficient options. Despite being slightly more expensive than traditional bulbs, energy efficient bulbs use around 20 per cent of the electricity of ordinary bulbs, can last over 10 times as long and save many times its value over the lifetime of the bulb. - Install cavity wall insulation
About a third of heat escapes from the home through its walls, so minimising this loss is one of the most effective ways to save energy. Maximise heat retention by having cavity wall insulation fitted and save up to 15 per cent on heating bills and a whopping 800kg of CO2 into the bargain! The insulation material is normally injected into the cavity from the outside through small holes drilled in the wall by approved installers. - Put a jacket on your hot water tank
Insulating the hot water cylinder will keep water hotter for longer by reducing the amount of heat that escapes. A boiler jacket costs around £10, but can save around 200kg of CO2 a year as well as making sure that your hot water is always hot. - Replace your appliances with energy efficient models
A ten year old fridge-freezer or washing machine may be using up to 50 per cent more energy than a modern energy efficient model. When shopping for new appliances, look out for a label with the energy rating in order to select the most energy efficient model. Most appliances are graded from A to G, with A being the most efficient. - Use public transport
Taking public transport (or even walking) will greatly reduce your carbon footprint. Not only will you save money on fuel, it will help towards the recommended 30 minutes of daily exercise to help keep your heart healthy too. - Replace your boiler
Modern condensing boilers are much more efficient than traditional boiler models (converting around 90 per cent of energy into heat, compared to around 78 per cent for non-condensing models), so can save homeowners around a third on energy bills. In addition, boilers account for around 60 per cent of all household carbon dioxide emissions, so replacing an out-of-date boiler will significantly reduce a home’s carbon footprint. - Install double glazing
Double glazing traps air between two panes of glass to create a barrier to heat loss by approximately half. The resulting reduction in energy bills is accompanied by a typical saving of around 720kg of CO2 a year. - Grow your own vegetables
Producing your own food will reduce food bills and drastically cut down the ‘food miles’ that your meal must travel to arrive on your plate, reducing carbon emissions too. If you don’t have a garden, plant a few patio pots or grow some herbs in a window box for a tasty way to save energy. - Insulate your garden!
Cold weather – particularly frost – can damage cells, leaving plants limp, distorted or discoloured. Frozen soil can also prevent the plant taking up water, so protecting the ground directly around the plant is also important. Fragile plants can be safeguarded by wrapping their bases in fleece, straw, old leaves or mulch to prevent them from freezing. Wall climbers can benefit from some overnight protection – a simple fleece-covered frame or a sandwich of a layer of leaves or straw between two pieces of chicken wire will insulate them against the cold.
