Further information

No cost actions

• When boiling a kettle only fill the kettle with as much water as you need;
• Use lids on your saucepans whilst cooking, this can save 90% of energy;
• Unplug your mobile phone charger when it has finished charging - 95% of energy used by mobile phone chargers is wasted by leaving them plugged in when the phone is not attached;
• Do not leave your appliances on standby;
• Turn your thermostat down by 1^oC – this will save you 10% on your energy bills;
• Wash your clothes at 40^oC – this uses a third of the energy compared to washing at 60^oC;
• Close your curtains at dusk to stop heat escaping through the windows;
• Always turn off the lights when you leave a room.

Low-cost actions

• Put foil behind your radiators to reflect the heat back into your room and reduce heat loss through your walls;
• Replace your lightbulbs with energy efficient lightbulbs, this can save you £9 a year per bulb and they last around 10 times longer than ordinary lightbulbs;
• Draught-proof your windows and doors;
• Close your curtains at night and during the winter;
• Insulate your hot water tank.

Larger projects

• When you replace electrical appliances such as a fridge/ freezer, dishwasher or washing machine consider buying an A-rated energy efficient appliance;
• Insulating your loft could save just under half a tonne of carbon emissions and cut 20% off your annual energy bill;
• Cavity wall insulation can save you up to £100 per year on your energy bills and is cheaper and more effective than double glazing.

Grants are available for loft and cavity wall insulation. See our energy efficiency pages for further advice and information.

Related pages on this website

• Energy efficiency
• Climate change & your carbon 'footprint'