What you can do
There's lots of simple things you can do to reduce your carbon footprint - and many of them save you money too - so it's a win - win situation!
Some easy ways to cut carbon and your bills
- Turn your central heating thermostat down by 1 degree - it could save you up to £50 a year
- Close your curtains at dusk so heat in the room stays in the room and doesn't escape through your windows
- Turn off lights when there is no-one in a room
- Only boil as much water as you need in a kettle - don't fill it up every time
- Fix leaky taps - water is becoming a more precious resource and if you have a leaking hot tap, you could be wasting energy as well as water.
- Use energy saving light bulbs - as they use less power and tend to last longer than the old type of bulbs, each one you replace could save up to £40 over the lifetime of the bulb.
- Make sure you fill up your washing machine - one full load uses less energy and water than two half loads. And try washing at a lower temperature - there are more and more washing powders/liquids designed to wash at low temperatures.
The above are all simple things you can do that don't really cost you anything. If you've taken all the steps above but want to increase your energy efficiency at home even further, what about:
- Making sure that you have at least the recommended 270mm of insulation in your loft - it could save you up to £150 a year in heating bills
- Getting cavity wall insulation fitted
- Fitting draught excluders to your doors
- Having a new energy efficient boiler fitted - this could save you up to £200 a year in energy costs
- Double-glazing your home
Whilst these improvements to your home can cost quite a bit of money, there may be grants available to pay for some or all of the work, depending on your personal circumstances. To find out more, visit the Energy Saving Trust's www.energysavingtrust.org.uk website or call them on 0800 512 012.