Energy Saving tips at home

Buy "A" rated appliances where possible. 'A' rated appliances cost less to run and will save money on your electricity bill
Use Compact Fluorescet Lamps (CFLs) instead of traditional light bulbs. CFLs use 80% less energy and last up to 15 times longer
Only use your dishwasher when full. Running a half full dishwasher uses the same energy as a full one
Similarly, a full load of washing is more energy efficient than a half load
Switch off all lights when you leave a room. Energy and electricity is wasted
Switch off all appliances at night
Don't overfill your kettle - only boil the amount of water you need
Avoid using unnecessary electricity between 5pm and 7pm
Unplug your phone charger when it is not in use. Equipment on standby uses up to 20% of the energy it would use when fully on.

Heating tips

Reduce your heating to 20 degrees celsius. Lowering your thermostat by 1 degrees celsius will reduce your heating bill by 10%
Turn your heating off when you are not there
If using a timer, set the heating to switch off 30 minutes before bedtime and 30 minutes before you get up in the morning
Installing a thermostatic radiator valve on your radiators will allow the heat output to be varied with demand
Where possible try to keep external windows and doors closed in order to keep in more heat.

Limit the amount of times you open the oven door as 20% of the heat escapes
Where possible cook on the top shelf of the oven as it is the hottest and food cooks quicker
Where possible, cover saucepans with lids and ensure that pots cover all the ring of your hob
Toast bread in a toaster instead of under the grill
If heating water for cooking, use the kettle instead of heating water in the saucepan
Energy efficient cooking appliances include:
- A pressure cooker
- An insulated deep fat fryer
- A microwave oven
- A slow casserole

Try to use showers instead of baths. A typical shower uses only one fifth of the energy required to produce a full bath
Never leave water running unnecessarily
A timer on your immersion heater means you will only heat water when needed
Think of using a thermostatic mixing valve on your shower. This will set the water at the same temperature every time you use the shower
A lagging jacket on your hot water cylinder will keep water hotter for longer
If your water is heated using a central heating boiler, consider fitting a cylinder thermostat that will help maintain hot water at the temperature you selected and will avoid any unnecessary wastage of energy.

Consider using lower lighting levels in the bedroom and use Compact Flourescent Lamps (CFLs) just before you get into bed
Remember to switch off electric blankets no more than half an hour before you go to bed and switch off just before you get into bed
Make sure to keep the curtains closed at night. To save more energy, reduce the heat to less than 18 degrees celsius.

Unplug or switch off the TV when you are not using it as the TV uses energy even when in stand-by mode
If you have heat coming from an open fire, switch off or turn down heater controls
Thermostatic radiator valves (TRV) also help to keep the room at a constant temperature
Keep curtains closed at night
Consider using dimmer switches and CFLs.

Attics
- If your attic insulation is less than 250mm, you should consider adding further layers (for example mineral wool, rock wool, sheeps wool cellulose fibre, polystryrene and multi-layered foil)
- Check the attic door for draughts.
Doors and Windows
- Check all windows and doors for draughts and draught proof if necessary
- Use heavy or lined curtains to help hold back cold air
- When replacing windows, consider using double-glazed windows. Those filled with Argon fill and low-emissivity glass are particularly efficient
- Alternatively, you could just double glaze the windows in rooms you use most regularly.
Walls
- The most regularly used wall insulations include:
  - Insulated dry lining
  - Blown mineral
  - Cellulose fibre
  - Polystyrene
  - Rigid external insulation
- Check for draughts in floorboards and skirting boards. Filling them with beading or sealant will reduce your heating costs.