There are lots of things we can do to help the environment. Here are some tips on how to make your home and lifestyle more eco-friendly. Please visit this page again as we regularly add new ones and we would love to hear from you if you have some tips of your own.
Switch to direct debits and paperless billing
The cheapest way to pay your energy bills is by monthly direct debit. Many energy companies offer discounts to customers who agree to pay this way. Speak to your energy company to see if they provide such discounts.
Another way to cut down on your costs is with paperless billing. Again, many suppliers offer discounts if you agree to this. Instead of receiving bills in the post, you’ll get emails from your energy supplier and can manage your account and submit meter readings online.
This type of billing also has wider energy saving implications, cutting the paper needed to send out and pay bills by post.
Stay alert!—take regular meter readings
If your gas and electricity meters aren’t read regularly, bills based on estimated readings mean you could end up paying for much more gas or electricity than you actually use. Reading your meter regularly and updating your energy supplier also enables you to keep track of what you’re using and cut back if necessary.
Compare suppliers
Energy suppliers are all competing with each other, so switching suppliers can be a great way to cut your energy bills. According to gas and electricity regulator Ofgem, customers who switch both gas and electricity suppliers could stand to save up to £100 a year – but do your research before you make changes.
There are a number of comparison sites on the internet where you can find the suppliers offering the best prices and service. You can also compare green tariffs which allow customers to buy through schemes that use or invest in renewable energy sources.
It may also pay to look into dual fuel deals, where you get your gas and electricity from the same supplier. These often offer discounts and can work out cheaper.
Make some energy-saving some home improvements
Switching to Energy Saving Trust Recommended products such as Energy Saving Trust Recommended lighting is a quick way to stop wasting energy and money. Making bigger changes to your home like installing insulation or buying a new boiler can give you even more significant savings. There are also grants and offers available for people who want to make their homes more energy efficient.
Insulating cavity walls, lofts, tanks and pipes can give you significant savings on your heating bills as well as reducing carbon dioxide emissions. Even simple draught proofing to fill the gaps around your windows can help
Fit energy-efficient glazing – it can save you around £165 per year in heating costs, as well as 680 kilograms of CO2.
Consider a condensing boiler. These boilers are the most energy efficient on the market and upgrading to a condensing boiler and full heating controls could save up to £300 per year.
Stop wasting water
Did you know that water companies have to use energy to supply mains water to our homes? We then use more energy heating it up for baths, showers and washing up.
If we all made some simple and quick changes in our homes, we could save loads of water. Read some of our top tips to help you stop wasting water today.
Generate your own energy
If you’ve done everything above, why not consider renewable energy? Renewable energy technologies such as solar panels, wind turbines and wood-fuelled heaters are becoming increasingly popular. These are effective alternatives to fossil fuels and will help you to meet your own energy requirements and reduce your home’s carbon dioxide emissions.
