Twenty-eight per cent of greenhouse emissions come from homes - from heating, lighting, hot water and appliances. Each home is responsible for approximately six tonnes of carbon dioxide, equivalent to the size of six double-decker buses. Humans are directly responsible for 6.8 billion tonnes; that adds up to a lot of double-decker buses!
By following some simple advice and tips, not only can you save money but, more importantly, you can help save the planet - our home.
- DO... replace old light bulbs with energy saving bulbs, which are also known as compact flourescent lamps (CFLs). CFLs last 12 times longer than a normal bulb and you could reduce your electricity bill by £7 a year.
- DO… look for the Energy Efficiency logo when you buy new household appliances. The higher the appliance rating ('A' being the best) the greater the amount of money and energy is saved. An A-rated fridge could save you £35 a year.
- DO… make sure the freezer is full and use boxes to fill the gaps.
- DO… only use a full load in the dishwasher or tumble dryer or use the economy cycle option.
- DO… SWITCH IT OFF. Each year £150 million of electricity is consumed by videos, televisions and other electrical devices left on standby.
- DO…. turn off the lights if they are not required or if no-one is in the room. Go to Blackpool if you want to see the illuminations!
- DO... turn your thermostat down by 1ºC and cut the heating bills by up to 10 per cent, saving you around £30 a year. (The recommended room temperature is 21ºC for a living room, 16ºC for hallways).
- DO… close curtains at dusk to stop heat escaping through windows.
- DO NOT… leave fridge and freezer doors open longer than necessary.
- DO NOT… leave unwanted lights on.
- DO NOT… open windows if the air conditioning is on. Either change the air conditioning temperature or switch it off.
- DO NOT… leave a hot water tap dripping. This wastes energy and in one week wastes enough hot water to fill half a bath. Please fix leaking taps and make sure they are fully turned off.
Energy Saving Measurers: