| Concern over energy consumption has grown | | | | indistinguishable in terms of the light they emit. |
| greatly in recent years. Gas and electricity prices | | | | Plus they last up to 10 times longer. So as well as |
| have been at record highs, hitting homeowners in | | | | cutting your electricity bills, you don’t have to |
| their pockets. Plus there is a growing realisation | | | | get the ladder out so often to replace bulbs that |
| amongst the general public that our energy | | | | have blown. Now that these bulbs have come |
| consumption is causing global warming, which is | | | | down in price, they can payback their extra cost |
| leading to growing problems with our climate. In a | | | | in a very short time (only a couple of months) in |
| recent Henley Centre survey, over 62% of | | | | terms of lower electricity bills. |
| respondents said that climate change is the | | | | 4.Install energy efficient home appliances. |
| biggest single problem facing the world today. | | | | Replacing your old fridge with the most energy |
| We use a great deal of energy in our homes. Our | | | | efficient models can save you a small fortune on |
| homes account for over a quarter of greenhouse | | | | your electricity bills. In fact with the most energy |
| gas emissions in northern countries like the UK. | | | | efficient models, the savings can actually add up |
| However, reducing your home’s energy | | | | to cover the entire cost of the new fridge! Plus |
| consumption is in most cases quite easy. It can | | | | you can also buy other energy efficient |
| also be very lucrative: some of the major actions | | | | appliances, such as washing machines and |
| you can take to reduce your home’s energy | | | | dishwashers. In the EU all appliances carry an |
| consumption pay back very quickly, and so you | | | | energy efficiency rating, so it is easy to spot the |
| soon start saving a small fortune. There are 4 or | | | | most efficient. |
| 5 simple measures that almost every householder | | | | 5.Install a solar hot water system. This is the |
| should focus on. | | | | most expensive of the measures mentioned in |
| 1.Insulate your home. By keeping more of the | | | | this article, but still worth doing, even in northern |
| warmth in your home in winter, you will save a | | | | climates. A solar system can provide up to 70% |
| small fortune on your heating bills. The most | | | | of your hot water needs in a year, saving on |
| common types on insulation to install are in the | | | | your gas bills. Using solar panels mounted on the |
| loft and also in the gap between your external | | | | roof, solar hot water systems can be installed in |
| walls (called ‘cavity wall insulation’). You | | | | most houses. This is a tried and tested |
| can also insulate your floors and walls. Not only will | | | | technology, and you may qualify for a |
| this save you money, but your home will be | | | | government grant to help with the cost of |
| more comfortable in winter and cooler in summer. | | | | installation. |
| Plus in the UK, because the government | | | | By taking these 5 measures, the average |
| subsidises insulation, the investment needed will | | | | householder can save hundreds of pounds a year |
| normally payback in under 2 years. Moreover, on | | | | off their energy bills, and prevent several tonnes |
| average you will be preventing 1 to 2.5 tonnes of | | | | of carbon dioxide being emitted into the |
| carbon dioxide being emitted each year. | | | | atmosphere. Even taking one or two of these |
| 2.Upgrade to a super-efficient condensing boiler. | | | | steps has a big impact. |
| Your boiler is the main energy user in the house. | | | | Plus for those who want to make an even bigger |
| Modern condensing boilers are far more efficient | | | | reduction in their home’s energy use, there |
| than some models made even 5 years ago. They | | | | are also more advanced measures to be |
| use far less gas, and can save you up to 40% | | | | considered such as solar electricity and ground |
| off your heating bills as a result. They last for | | | | source heat pumps. These generally cost more, |
| around 15 years so the savings really add up over | | | | but can allow your home to lower even further |
| time. Plus by doing this you are saving an | | | | its impact on Climate Change. |
| estimated 1.25 tonnes of carbon dioxide each | | | | With energy prices set to stay high, and time |
| year. | | | | running out to prevent harmful changes in the |
| 3.Replace your light bulbs with low energy bulbs. | | | | earth’s climate, it really does make sense to |
| These use up to 80% less electricity used by | | | | improve our homes as soon as possible to include |
| traditional incandescent bulbs, and are now | | | | these measures. |