Energy Efficiency

There are many ways to save energy in your home every day, without it costing you a penny - in fact, it could save you money on your household bills!

• Defrost your fridge and freezer regularly
• Make sure your fridge and freezer are not next to a heater or oven, as this will make them work harder to keep cold and use more electricity
• Use the right sized pan for the food you are cooking and the burner on the hob, and keep the lid on the saucepan while you are cooking
• Get into the habit of turning the lights off when you leave a room, and save the electricity!
• Replace old light bulbs with new low energy light bulbs, and save money every time you turn on the light!
• Don't leave devices such as TVs, DVD players and phone chargers on standby. Turn them off completely when you are not using them - you'll use up to 20% less energy and save money!
• Close your curtains at night, even in rooms you don't use, to keep the warmth in. Make sure they don't hang over your radiators though, or all your heat will just go up behind them, and out of the window!
• Dry laundry outdoors whenever possible instead of using a tumble drier
• Never dry clothes on your radiators. This prevents heat from circulating in the room and means your boiler will have to work even harder to heat your home
• Close the door on rooms you don't use. You can set the room thermostat to the lowest setting (if you have one), but there's no need to heat empty rooms
• Make sure your loft is properly insulated to prevent heat escaping through the roof. Loft insulation is not expensive and you may be entitled to a grant to help with the cost
• Make sure any electrical appliances you buy for the home are 'A' rated, so you can be sure they are the most energy efficient you can buy