How can I save more energy at home?

There are so many ways to save energy in your home, some are small, quick wins, others require a bit more work, but the energy savings you will see longer term make them worth it.

Energy saving top tips:

Appliances:
- Laptops typically use 85% less electricity over the course of a year than desktop PCs.
- The size of your TV screen makes a huge difference to its running costs. An A-rated 22″ LCD TV could cost as little as £4 to run over the course of a year. A 60″ TV will could cost up to £30.
- Each TV or computer left on standby is estimated to cost you 2p per hour.
- A fridge freezer can account for 5% of a household’s annual electricity bill. Defrosting it regularly will reduce how hard it has to work and can save £100 a year.
- Eco kettles (which only boil as much as you need) can use 20% less energy than a conventional electric kettle.

Around the home:
- Heavy curtains can reduce heat loss through windows by 40%.
- A lot of heat released from the back of a radiator can be lost through an uninsulated solid wall. Radiator reflectors can reflect up to 95% of this ‘wasted heat’ back into the room.
- Lighting makes up 10% of the average household’s electricity bill. Switching to LED bulbs uses 90% less energy than halogen bulbs.
- Just switching off lights when you leave the room could save upwards of £50 a year.
- Turning your thermostat down one degree can save nearly £100 per year.
- DIY draught-proofing of windows, doors and floorboards can save £25-35 a year on energy bills.

Saving water and energy:
- Washing up under a running tap could cost you up to £30 extra a year on your energy bills compared to filling a sink or bowl.
- A 40°c wash uses a third less energy than a 60°c cycle and will usually wash just as effectively.
- A water saving shower head can save a household of four £67 a year on gas and £100 on water bills if they have a water meter.
- Insulating your hot water cylinder could save approximately £150 a year. If your tank is already lined with factory foam, savings could amount to £20-30 a year. It will pay back in a year or less!

Investing in your home:
- A new gas boiler is about 25% more efficient than a 20 year old boiler – you could save up to £270 a year on bills by replacing it.
- Cavity wall insulation could save £150 on heating bills per year.
- Installing external wall insulation can prevent up to 40% of heat loss from your home.
- It has been calculated that we lose 4% of household heat through a chimney that's not properly insulated.

If you have any other great ways to save energy, get sharing below.