Turning your home Green

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By this we don't mean painting the exterior of your house a shocking colour!

There are many, many things you can do in your home to use less energy, which in turn will not only save you money on your bills but also help save the planet. Some of these things are free (or very nearly) to implement and some changes may cost you now, but will save you money in the long term and provide bigger benefits to the environment too.

(Nearly) Free Changes...

Switch to energy efficient lightbulbs. These require up to 80% less electricity than a standard bulb. They are currently on offer in many shops (Sainsburys were doing 5 for £1) or if you call your energy supplier they may send you some free of charge too.
Turn down your thermostat by 1 degree. Even this small alteration can save you up to £30 a year in energy costs.
Line your curtains. In colder months, just closing well-lined curtains could be enough to prevent the majority of heat from escaping, and thereby reducing the need to use your central heating or enabling you to turn the thermostat down!
Check you have the recommended amount of loft insulation. Heat rises, so if its not sufficiently insulated you will be losing lots of heat from the roof of your house. The UK Government funds schemes providing up to £2,700 to households on certain benefits to improve their heating and energy efficiency - it's worth checking to see if you are entitled to a grant on the Energy Saving Trust website.
Don't use the standby button! If its not in use - turn it off at the plug. When your electrical appliances are on standby they are still using electricity. Products like bye bye standby are designed so you can switch off whatever you want at the touch of a button.
Compost your own food waste. For further details please check out our Composting article.

Bigger changes...

Install a solar panel on your roof - these are becoming very popular and can be used in one of two ways, depending on what you want. *Remember to check if you're entitled to a grant to install renewable energy in your home.
- To heat your water and reduce your carbon emissions by roughly half a ton a year.
- To power your home. Did you know that if there is a surplus stored, you can always SELL some electricity back to the national grid.
Switch to energy efficient plans for whatever you use - many companies now offer carbon neutral or greener plans for phones, insurance, even energy supplies - but check them out properly to see how they substantiate their claims!
Invest in an energy monitor. Some energy companies supply them as part of a greener tarrif. If not you can buy them online for around £30-£40. These devices can help save hundreds of pounds off your electricity bill by providing up to the second information on the exact amount of electricity you are using in pounds and pence

Whatever you do, DO something!

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