Simple things make a difference

• Turning down your thermostat by 1ºC could cut heating bills by 10% per year, saving up to £40
• Turn lights off when out of the room, even for short times
• Replace light bulbs with energy efficient ones.
• Only boil as much water as you need in the kettle – but make sure to cover the heating elements.
• Open curtains and blinds as much as possible to let in natural light
• Close curtains at dusk to stop heat escaping through the windows
• Do not leave appliances on standby
• When charging batteries or mobile phones, unplug the charger when finished
• Unplug appliances when going on holiday; they may still be using energy
• When not using your computer, turn off the monitor. The monitor alone uses 60% of the energy needed for your computer.
• Unplug appliances that are not used often, they may still draw energy when turned off.
• Ensure you’re washing a full load in the washing machine, and if not, use the half-load or economy setting
• Using just a rinse cycle does not need warm water, using cold is just as effective.
• Tumble dryers are not necessary, a clothes horse inside or a clothes line outside in the summer will do the job just as effectively – saving you up to £40 per year
• Using a dishwasher, make sure it’s a full load and use a low temperature.
• Do not pre-rinse dishes, just scrape off food and put them in the dishwasher.
• Avoid putting warm food straight in the fridge, instead let it cool down first to save energy.
• An overfull fridge blocks air circulation and is less effective; conversely, a full freezer performs better than an empty one.
• A dripping hot water tap wastes 95 litres of water per month, costing 7kWh in one month.

A little effort makes a lot of difference

• Defrost your freezer regularly to keep it running efficiently.
• Turn down the thermostat at night or when away; it isn’t required during those times.
• Buy a laptop instead of a desktop computer, they run off a lower wattage so save more energy
• Using a shower rather than a bath saves two-thirds the energy and water
• Draught-proofing windows can save up to £20 per year
  

Bigger steps reap even bigger rewards

• Purchase ‘Energy Saving’ appliances – from lightbulbs to dishwashers to loft insulation and draught proofing
• Uninsulated homes lose 26% energy through the roof; insulating the roof can save up to £160 and 1 tonne of CO 2 per year
• Insulating wall cavities can save up to £120 and 1 tonne of CO 2 per year
• A condensing boiler will save around a third on your heating bill

On the move

• Drive less - where possible walk, cycle, take public transport or lift share.
• Tune Up - properly inflated tyres can save 3% of your fuel consumption
• Limit your speed - fuel consumption goes up rapidly whenever you drive over 60mph and is dreadful over 80mph. Reducing your motorway cruising speed by 5 mph will make a big difference.
• When you replace your car check the fuel consumption of different models. Gas guzzlers are set to be taxed to the hilt over the next few years. Buying a more economical car could easily save you thousands of pounds in road duty and fuel costs over the next few years.
• The cars of the future are now here. Hybrid cars (part electric, part petrol) are now convenient, efficient and more affordable. Because they contain a standard petrol engine, you don't need to worry about the battery running out or a lack of power. The car will run electrically at lower speeds and then the petrol engine will kick in when you need to go faster or if the battery needs charging.