Energy Saving Tips

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Here are some practical ideas to help you be more energy efficient and save money

No Cost Measures

Cooking - Choose the right size pan for the job. Keep the lids on pans to stop heat from escaping and this will also help to cut down the amount of steam which can cause problems with condensation, damp and mould. Don't over fill pans with water.

TV's, Videos and Stereos - Cut down on wasted energy by not leaving appliances on standby. Digital set top boxes will soon have energy efficiency labels. Go for the best one you can. It will save you money in the long run.

Curtains - Close your curtains at dusk and tuck them behind radiators to stop cold draughts from windows and keep the heat in. This could save you £15 a year on your fuel bills.

Central Heating - Turn the thermostat down by 1 degree. It could save you 10% on your heating bills. Its better to put a jumper on than keep turning the temperature up.

Lights - Always turn off lights when you leave the room, adjust blinds and curtains to let as much light in as possible. Count the number of light bulbs you have in lights around the home. Think about how many of these you leave on for more than 3 hours at a time. These are the best to change to Low Energy Light bulbs. However, you could change all of your bulbs and save even more energy.

Washing Machines and Dishwashers - Always wash a full load or use the half load or economy setting if the machine has one. Modern powders, liquids and tablets work just as well at lower water temperatures.

Fridges - Don't leave fridge doors open and avoid putting warm food in the fridge. It increases the energy it uses.

Kettles - Only boil the amount of water you need, but make sure the element is covered. Also think about how many times you boil the kettle some times, just to make one drink. If you get distracted you may have to boil the kettle again.

Taps - Turn taps off properly and get a dripping tap fixed promptly. It wastes energy and 15 litres of water per day. Think about the energy used to make the water that comes out of the taps. The treatment of water is quite energy intensive and pumping the water through the water main uses, energy as well. You can get a water efficiency pack from Wessex Water by calling 0845 600 4 600. For leaks that happen outside of your home call the Wessex Water Leakstoppers hotline on 0800 214 651. Some of these leaks can waste up to 14,000 litres of water per day!

Showers - They use less water than a bath and less energy.

Low Cost Measures

Energy Saving Light bulbs - They save £10 a year each on your electricity bill and last 12 times longer than a normal bulb. Fit them where you leave the light on for a long time. They are very good for lights you may leave on for security when you go out.

Draught Proof Exterior doors, letterboxes and keyholes - Fit PVC seals to door or a nylon brush. The brushes can also be fitted to letterboxes. Keyholes can also be draught proofed by fitting a cover or flap over the keyhole.

Insulate hot water tanks and pipes - A hot water tank jacket will prevent the heat escaping from your hot water. A jacket costs just a few pounds and will pay for itself in few months. Insulating hot water pipes with lagging will also save energy and money.

Radiator Panels - These can be fitted behind radiators to reflect the warmth back into the room instead of being absorbed by the walls. These are cheap and can be fitted by yourself.

Higher Cost Measures

Insulate your loft and your walls - 250mm (10 inches) of loft insulation can save up to 25% of your heating costs. Cavity wall insulation could save you even more money and will pay for itself in a year or two.

Replace your old boiler - Replacing a 15 year old boiler could save you over 20% on your fuel bills or 32% if you install a super-efficient condensing boiler.

Buy energy efficient appliances - If it's time to replace some of the white goods in your home, make sure energy efficiency is high on your shopping list. If everyone in the UK upgraded their old fridge to an A-rated, energy efficient product, energy wastage would be cut by over two-thirds. That's the equivalent of over 47 million hot air balloons of CO2 and over £1 billion on bills.

Windows - You don't have to double glaze your windows to make them energy efficient. Secondary glazing is just as effective and will sometimes reduce noise even more than double glazing. Secondary glazing is also very good if you want to retain original windows as a feature of your home. Secondary glazing can be made in any size shape and will open by sliding horizontally or vertically or on hinges.