By reducing the amount of wasted energy from your home, you are not only 'doing your bit' for the environment, but you'll also start to see significant improvements in the warmth and comfort of your property, as well as lower fuel bills.

Two of the most popular ways to dramatically reduce heat loss are cavity wall and loft insulation. And the good news is that thanks to various Government and Utility initiatives the cost of having the work carried out won't burn a hole in your pocket! You may even qualify for a grant (see Grants & Discounts).

There are also many simple 'no cost' things that you can do around the home to save energy and reduce your annual fuel bills by 10-15%.

Energy Tips

Your Heating - Turning down room thermostats by 1°C could save 10% on your fuel bill! (remember to be sensible - don't risk the health of the old or vulnerable). Only switch on heating and water when needed. By fitting a timer programmer you can pre-set your heating and water to come on and go off to suit your needs.
Fit aluminium foil or reflective panels behind radiators to reflect heat back into the room. Reflective radiator panels are available from the Environment Centre (See Products & Prices).
Shelves above radiators direct heat into the centre of a room.

Your Door - 25% of all heat can be lost through draughty, ill-fitting doors and windows. Fixing draught strips to exterior doors will save both heat and money (See under Products & Prices and Grants & Discounts). To stop unwanted draughts through the letterbox fit a nylon brush seal or spring flap.

Your Windows - Up to 10% of all heat lost from your home is through the windows. Fitting double-glazing can reduce this dramatically.
Reduce draughts through old windows by fitting secondary double-glazing, something as simple as cling film will stop draughts.

Your Lighting - Using just one low energy light bulb could save you up to £50 on bills over its lifetime. Plus you save on not having to replace ordinary bulbs (See Products & Prices).

Your Water - Don't waste heat and money. Keep the hot water thermostat set at 60°C.
When washing hands or dishes put the plug in!
Never leaving taps running.
Take a shower instead of a bath, it only uses two-fifths of the amount of hot water.
Fix leaky taps.
An insulating jacket for your hot water cylinder only cost a few pounds and could save you around £10 per year.

Your Kitchen - Don't leave the door of your fridge or freezer open or ajar as the cold air escapes and it costs more to get back to the right temperature.
Never put warm or hot food straight into the fridge or freezer.
Regular defrosting keeps fridges/freezers running well, reducing running costs. Don't site fridges/freezers next to cooker or boilers.
When cooking, choose the right size pan and use lids that retain heat and reduce condensation.
Cut food up into smaller pieces - it cooks quicker and loses less energy.
Don't keep opening the oven door when cooking.
Try and use a pressure cooker to speed up cooking time.
When boiling the kettle, only use the amount of water that you need, but be sure to cover the elements.

In General - Close curtains at dusk to prevent heat escaping through windows.
Don't let your curtains drape in front of radiators.
Reduce draughts through floorboards by filling gaps with newspaper, papier-mache, mastic or plastic wood.
Us the 40°C programme on your washer and always fill it with a full load.
When ironing, sort your laundry first so that you iron delicates on a low setting first, and work your way through to fabrics that need the highest setting, such as linen.
Only use heat and light appliances when you really need them - don't leave TV's or videos on standby. Also switch off your PC screen when it's not being used!

"We all know that running a home can be costly so great savings are essential
and helpful to a balanced home life".

HSBC Home Ins | MORE THAN Home Insurance | TESCO | Liverpool Victoria | Natwest | Norwich Union