We lose in excess of 40% of heat in our homes through the roof and walls. The amount of heat lost in homes in this way is enough to heat three million homes for a year.

 

If every house in the UK had cavity wall insulation, emissions of CO2 would be reduced by nine million tones- a significant decrease in our annual output of the gas. In cash terms we would save £650 million a year.

 

250millimetres of loft insulation can save up to 25% of your heating costs

 

Due to energy efficiency funding from the Government and most utility companies, reduced price cavity wall and loft insulation is available.  For those on certain benefits, insulation is available for free.  For more information contact the Environment Centre (a local independent charity) on 0800 512 012.  They will have the latest news and offers available to householders.

 

 

The older your boiler the more inefficient it will be. If it is 15 years old or more it should really be replaced.  Condensing boilers are the most energy efficient boilers available and will use up to 30% less energy.

 

If everyone in the UK with gas central heating installed a condensing boiler, we would cut CO2 emissions by 18.6 million tonnes. This is enough energy to power four million homes for a year.  All new boilers must be B rated or above- so most new boilers will be condensing boilers.

 

 

 

CO2 emissions would be cut by 0.45 million tonnes if everyone in the UK put a jacket on their hot water tank.   The good news is the savings you make on your fuel bill will pay for the cost of the tank jacket in just six months.

 

Put a minimum 75millimetres insulating jacket on your hot water tank to keep water hotter for longer and check your thermostat is set no higher than 60 degrees °C

 

 

 

The EU Energy Rating measures energy efficiency on a seven point scale from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient).  The rating covers a variety of household appliances including fridges, freezers and fridge-freezers, washing machines, electric tumble driers, combined washer-driers, lamps, electric ovens and air conditioners.  By law, all retailers in the EU must display an energy efficiency rating on these products.  A product with an A rating will have passed a rigorous, impartial testing procedure, so you can be sure of its high energy efficiency.

 

 

 

 

Energy efficient appliances use less energy than inefficient ones, while performing to the same standards.  This means efficient appliances cost less to run, so they save you money every time you use them.

 

Nine in 10 homes in the UK have a washing machine, 35 per cent have a tumble dryer and one in four have a dishwasher. We use £800 million worth of electricity by using these machines. This produces five million tonnes of carbon dioxide each year.  An energy efficient washing machine uses two thirds less electricity than an inefficient one. 

 

If everyone in the UK upgraded their old refrigeration appliance to an A-rated, energy efficient product, energy wastage would be cut by over two-thirds. Buying an energy efficient fridge freezer to replace your inefficient model could cut carbon dioxide emissions by up to 296Kilos a year.

 

And an energy efficient fridge-freezer can save you £35 a year compared to an inefficient one; over the lifetime of the appliance this represents a saving of £350! 

 

Furthermore, the cost difference between an efficient appliance and a low rated (B or below) appliance is much less than it used to be.

 

 

 

In most homes, lighting accounts for 10 to15 % of the electricity bill. In fact, UK households use £1.2 billion worth of electricity every year on lighting.

 

 If every UK household installed 3 CFLs (energy efficient light bulbs) this would save enough energy in a year to supply all street lighting in the country.

 

By using an energy efficient bulb rather an inefficient one, you will have cut carbon dioxide emissions over its lifetime by almost 50 kilogrammes.  That may not seem like much, with every household in the UK making those savings, a dramatic impact on our CO2 output can be achieved.

 

Double-glazing is expensive but does reduce heat loss through windows by 50% as well as reducing noise and condensation problems.

 

Upgrading heating controls will improve the efficiency of any central heating system

 

 

Another cost effective way to save energy is to install heating controls and thermostats to our heating systems.

 

Fit thermostats to radiators to control the temperature in each room. Another tip is to place shelves above radiators ensures that heat is deflected into your rooms