Eden Project

10 tips for saving energy at home

Being energy efficient can cut several hundred pounds off your annual energy bill and reduce your household's carbon dioxide emissions by around two tonnes. Here are 10 ways to get started:

Brush up on energy saving. Eliminate draughts and wasted heat by installing a cheap, easy-to-fix brush or PVC seal on your exterior doors.
Draught dodgers. Draughts also get in through gaps in floorboards and skirting boards, which provides another way for heat to escape in winter.
Use energy-saving light bulbs. They last around 10 times longer than ordinary light bulbs, and each bulb you fit could save you around £40 over its lifetime.
Jazz up your tank with a jacket. Insulate your hot water tank with a jacket – it only costs a few pounds and, with all the heat it traps in, it pays for itself within months. Fit one that's at least 75mm (3") thick and you could save around £30 a year.
Lofty ambitions. Insulating your loft is one of the simplest ways to save energy – you can even install it yourself. Insulate your loft today and in a year you could save around £155.
Insulate wall cavities. Around 33% of the heat lost in an uninsulated house is through the walls. You could save around £120 on energy bills each year by insulating your wall cavities. It also creates an even temperature in your home.
Switch to high-efficiency boilers. If your boiler is over 15 years old it's probably time to replace it. A high-efficiency boiler can help you save up to a quarter on your heating bills and even more if you upgrade to modern controls as well.
Look for the logo. When purchasing new appliances, always look for the Energy Saving Trust Recommended logo.
Keep twice as warm with double glazing. Double glazing cuts heat loss through windows by 50% and could cut your heating bill by around £110 a year.
Contact the experts. Do the Energy Savings Trust online home energy check, call your local advice centre on 0800 512 012 or visit the Energy Saving Trust website for free, impartial advice on saving energy in your home.