Norfolk
Saving Energy in the Home
Note: A typical new build home in the UK uses 3 times more energy than one in Denmark or Germany
Doors: To eliminate draughts and wasted heat use an easy-to-fix brush or PVC seal on your exterior doors.
Windows: At night, pull the curtains to stop heat being lost through the windows. Take care not to drape curtains over radiators as this will funnel heat straight out of the windows. Make sure your windows are draught proofed. A low cost, short-term alternative to double-glazing would be to tape polythene across window frames.
Heating: Turning your thermostat down by 1°C could cut your heating bills by up to 10%. And if you're going away for winter, leave the thermostat on a low setting to provide protection from freezing at minimum cost. You can also save on running costs by heating your home for an hour less each day. If your boiler is over 15 years old, it's probably time you replaced it with a new energy efficient one. High efficiency condensing boilers are the most energy efficient and will save you around a third on your heating bills straight away, and even more if you upgrade to modern controls. Put foil behind your radiators to reflect more heat into the room.
Hot water: Of course it should be hot, but it doesn't need to be scalding. For most people, setting the cylinder thermostat at 60°C/140°F is fine for bathing and washing. Use a shower if you have one and you'll save time, money and water. Remember to put the plug in your basin or sink - leaving hot water taps running is both wasteful and expensive .If you have a dripping tap ensure it is repaired quickly. In just one day, you could waste enough hot water to fill a bath
Lights: Always turn them off when you leave a room and adjust your curtains or blinds to let in as much light as possible during the day. When the days are shorter you'll be relying on your lights more. Trade up your ordinary light bulbs for energy saving ones which use 20% of the energy of an ordinary bulb. Priced from just £5, energy efficient light bulbs last 12 times longer and for each bulb you fit, you can save up to £7 on your annual electricity bill. If every UK household installed just one bulb we'd save over £80 million per year!
Domestic appliances (general):Choose energy efficient domestic appliances. New European rules mean that all new domestic appliances have to display an energy rating, graded from A(best) to G (worst).
Televisions, videos, stereos, computers, and cordless phones: Switch off your TV, video and Hi-Fi at the set. Standby can use as much as 10%-60% of the electricity that would be used by the device if it was switched on.
Fridges: Don't leave the door open for longer than necessary, cold air escapes. Avoid putting hot or warm food straight into the fridge by allowing it to cool down first. Defrost your freezer regularly to keep it running efficiently and cheaply. If it tends to frost up quickly, check the door seal. And if you have your fridge next to a cooker or boiler, leave a good gap between them. Clean the back of your fridge, the dust there could increase the energy consumption of the fridge by as much as 30%
Washing machines and tumble dryers: Always wash a full load and if you can't use a half-load or economy programme. Always use the low temperature programme bearing in mind that modern washing powders will be just as effective at lower temperatures. Wring out or spin-drying really wet clothes before putting them into a tumble dryer will save you money, and they dry faster. Get yourself a washing line - tumble dryers take up large amounts of energy.
Dishwashers: Try and use the low temperature programme, and ensure you wash a full load.
Cooking:
Loft insulation: If you are prepared to invest more in making your home energy efficient, lost insulation can help you reduce your fuel bills significantly. Up to 25% of heat loss occurs through lofts which are not insulated! So although this is not a low cost option, it will soon pay for itself in lower energy bills, therefore it makes economic sense. A minimum thickness of 250mm glass fibre or mineral wool is recommended.
Cavity wall insulation Insulation can be put into cavity walls and can save up to 35% of heat loss through walls.
