Top ten tips
Here are some simple ways you can stop wasting energy and money now.
| Turn your thermostat down. Reducing your room temperature by 1°C could cut your heating bills by up to 10 percent and typically saves around £60 per year. If you have a programmer, set your heating and hot water to come on only when required rather than all the time. |
| Is your water too hot? Your cylinder thermostat should be set at 60°C/140°F. |
| Close your curtains at dusk to stop heat escaping through the windows and check for draughts around windows and doors. |
| Always turn off the lights when you leave a room. |
| Don't leave appliances on standby and remember not to leave laptops and mobile phones on charge unnecessarily. |
| If possible, fill up the washing machine, tumble dryer or dishwasher: one full load uses less energy than two half loads. |
| Only boil as much water as you need (but remember to cover the elements if you're using an electric kettle). |
| A dripping hot water tap wastes energy and in one week wastes enough hot water to fill half a bath, so fix leaking taps and make sure they're fully turned off! |
| Use energy saving lightbulbs. They last up to 10 times longer than ordinary bulbs, and using one can save you around £55 over the lifetime of the bulb.This saving could be around £120 over its lifetime if you're replacing a high wattage incandescent bulb, or one used for more than a few hours a day. |
| Do a home energy check. Just answer some simple questions about your home and we'll give you a free, impartial report telling you how you can save up to £280 a year on your household energy bills. |
