Energy efficiency in the home

Finally, after six years of price hikes, fuel prices have begun to drop. But the average household still spends a huge amount on essential electricity, gas and water. So if you want to push your bills even lower and help the environment by cutting down your carbon emissions, then read on.Have a showerSwapping long soaks in the tub for quick refreshing showers uses 40 per cent less water, so if you have a water meter this will make a significant difference to your bills and help you to do your bit for water conservation, especially in the dry summer months. If you don’t already have a water meter fitted at your home, get one installed so that you only pay for the water that you actually use. This will encourage you to keep an eye on the amount that you waste too.Choose the right bulbsThe Government wants to start phasing out traditional light bulbs because of the amount of energy they waste. Using energy efficient ones not only saves on your electricity bill, they also last much longer so you won’t have to replace them as often.Don’t just standbyLeaving appliances on standby rather than turning them off at the wall wastes so much electricity. Appliances can continue to use up to 70 per cent of their active energy while on standby, so think of the difference that you could make by just turning them off properly.Leaving chargers on but unused is also a huge waste. You could be paying £10 a year for each charger you leave in, and when you add up your laptop, mobile phone, iPod and handheld home phone chargers, it really begins to add up.Blow out the pilotIf you have an electric shower and cooker at home, you could turn off your gas pilot light once the weather is warm enough. Because while the pilot light is burning, your gas supply is constantly leaking away, even when your heating is off.Cool itTurning down you thermostat by just one degree centigrade can reduce your annual energy bill by 10 per cent. This is a difference that you’ll barely notice – until your bill comes in up to £49 a year cheaper. Bleed your radiatorsTrapped air inside your radiators makes them less efficient but bleeding them (releasing the air) is easy and makes them perform much better.Wrap up warmInsulating your home will save you loads on heating bills and will be an investment that will continue to save you money year after year. You can insulate your wall cavities, roof and windows and lag your boiler. All this can be a bit pricy but even simple things like hanging thick curtains and laying draft excluders at doors will make a difference. Go A-gradeWhenever you need to buy a new fridge, freezer or boiler, always opt for an “A” rated one. These will save you money on you electricity bills as they’re cheaper to run and are also so much better for the environment.Get technicalThere are now a whole host of gadgets available to save the planet and your pocket at the same time. These range from washing powder replacements to gadgets that stop your fridge from over-working and wasting electricity. You can even get wind-up radios, water powered clocks and solar powered lights.Switch your supplierBy moving to a new supplier you can save money on your bills by taking advantage of new-customer-only deals and sign up to a “green tariff” at the same time. Almost all providers now offer environmentally friendly deals so you could end up cutting your bills and investing in renewable energy sources at the same time.

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