| Did you know that about a third of your home's | | | | 1°C can save you 30 pounds. Turn down your |
| energy is being wasted? By insulating your home | | | | thermostat by 1°C and save yourself 30 pounds |
| properly and changing little habits you can stop | | | | annually. Trap more heat by drawing your curtains at |
| wasting energy and start saving money. The initial | | | | dusk and don't block your radiators. By turning down |
| costs may be steep but if you work out the savings | | | | your hot water boiler to 60°C or 140°F you'll also |
| you'll make in the long run, they are worth the | | | | save an extra 10 pounds annually. |
| investment. | | | | Replace your old boiler now before winter. Boilers |
| Are you eligible for a grant? | | | | over 15 years old are no longer efficient and drain |
| Government agencies are giving away money to help | | | | your energy and your cash. New boilers can be |
| you create a more efficient home. The truth is it's | | | | expensive but by saving 190-240 pounds annually on |
| impractical for us to continue spending the way we | | | | heating bills, you'll recover the cost within 3-5 |
| do at the moment, for economic and environmental | | | | years. There are also government grants that will |
| reasons. | | | | offer you money or cover the cost of purchase and |
| There are loads of grants out there - the best way | | | | installation. Make sure to have the correct heating |
| to get started is to visit the Energy Saving Trust for | | | | controls, and shave another 40% off your |
| a guide to grant applications. This website allows you | | | | bills!Contact your local Energy Efficiency Advice |
| to calculate how much money you could save by | | | | Centre for more details on energy efficient boilers |
| insulating your home. It also provides information on | | | | and for grant information. |
| how much insulation will cost you and also tells you | | | | Buy your boiler a new jacket. By adding an insulation |
| what grants you are eligible for. | | | | jacket 75mm thick to your hot water cylinder you |
| Using the Energy Saving Trust's amazing calculating | | | | will be preventing heat loss and therefore saving |
| checklist gets you a detailed listing of your current | | | | yourself 15-20 pounds annually. They are easy to fit |
| carbon emission imprint, but it also lists the measures | | | | yourself and should cost you about 10 pounds or less |
| and associated costs with making any efficiency | | | | at your local DIY store. |
| switches so you can see how much it will cost initially | | | | Switch off. Always remember to switch off your |
| to make long term savings. | | | | appliances when you're not using them. Microwaves, |
| Types of grant | | | | TVs, videos, stereos, and computers eat up loads of |
| Energy efficiency schemes are available throughout | | | | energy when they are left on standby. In fact 85% |
| the UK under different names. In England the scheme | | | | of the energy consumed by your DVD player is done |
| is known as 'Warm Front'; in Northern Ireland as | | | | when it is not actually in use. |
| 'Warm Homes' and the 'Home Energy Efficiency | | | | Unplug your appliances. Don't leave your mobile |
| Scheme' in Wales. Look out for either the 'Warm | | | | charger, shavers or electric toothbrushes plugged in |
| Deal' or the 'Central Heating Programme' in Scotland. | | | | because they drain electricity unnecessarily. |
| | | | | Overcharging electrical equipment also causes the |
| If you aren't over 65 or do not claim any benefits | | | | battery trauma and it won't last as long. |
| you may not find many grants available for you. | | | | Energy efficient appliances save money. By replacing |
| However, there are still loads of subsidised prices | | | | a 10 year old fridge-freezer with a modern, energy |
| aimed at helping with the upfront costs of making | | | | efficient A-rated appliance you can save 45 pounds a |
| your home more efficient, which can still save you | | | | year. The government has put aside millions of |
| money on the initial cost of work and in the long | | | | pounds to help home owners switch to A-rated |
| term through efficiency savings. | | | | energy efficient appliances. Some grants offer as |
| Energy Supplier grants | | | | much as 2,700 pounds of free money to help you |
| The Government's new Carbon Emission Reduction | | | | make the switch! |
| Target initiative means that energy suppliers have to | | | | Stop washing your dishes by hand. Modern |
| offer ways of cutting costs to clients who are | | | | dishwashers use less energy and water than washing |
| looking to employ energy efficient measures. Contact | | | | up by hand. Remember to only wash full loads of |
| British Gas, EDF Energy, or Affordable Energy for | | | | dishes, turn down that hot water temperature and |
| information. | | | | skip the drying cycle. Leave the door ajar instead and |
| Local Authority grants | | | | let your dishes air dry. |
| For a list of local councils offering grants visit the | | | | Don't forget about the loft. By insulating your loft |
| government website DirectGov. Most councils offer | | | | you could save up to 200 pounds off your annual |
| grants and subsidies for residents looking to make | | | | heating bill. As it's an annual saving, the work pays for |
| energy efficiency improvements - if you think you | | | | itself after a couple of years, leaving you to enjoy |
| qualify it's definitely worth investigating. | | | | more money in your pocket. Contact your local |
| Small changes that still mean big savings | | | | council to see if you can get a grant towards the |
| Switch those bulbs. Using energy-saving bulbs will | | | | cost. |
| save you about 9 pounds on your annual electricity | | | | Skip the dry cycle. Giving your tumbler a miss and |
| bill and up to 100 pounds over the bulb's lifetime, as | | | | drying your clothes indoors is a great way to save |
| they last up to 15 times longer than ordinary light | | | | money. Use clothes rails rather than lying clothes over |
| bulbs. | | | | radiators as this prevents heat from circulating the |
| Shop around for new energy supplier. Since 2003, | | | | room. |
| electricity prices have increased by 30% and gas | | | | Shower more and bath less. Taking a shower uses |
| prices by 40%! With customers shopping around for | | | | two-fifths of the water used for a bath: |
| good deals, energy suppliers are desperate to grab | | | | unfortunately this doesn't apply to power showers, |
| you which means bargains are out there to be had. | | | | which use just as much water as a full bath! |
| You can save as much as 100 pounds per year! | | | | |