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Newspaper offers tips to cut electricity and gas bills

29 April 2008

Consumers who want to reduce their energy bills and reduce their carbon footprint this winter have been urged to take action now, rather than wait until the summer is over.

The Times advises householders to replace all their incandescent lightbulbs with energy efficient ones and to cover their hot water cylinder with a jacket.

It notes that an 80mm-thick covering for a water cylinder costs in the region of £12 and will pay for itself in less than a year, saving around £20 in fuel costs and 160kg in carbon emissions.

"Set your heating correctly," the paper advises.

"Your boiler thermostat, time programmer and thermostatic radiator valves should only heat the rooms that you use at the times that you use them."

Homeowners are also urged to bleed their radiators to release trapped air, using a cloth to catch any drips.

Earlier this year, an article in the Manchester Evening News extolled the virtues of good insulation, an efficient boiler and the use of a chimney balloon if a home has a working fireplace that is not in use.

Find out how the Energy Saving Trust can help you