Make sure your cylinder thermostat is never above 60°C/140°F. If your boiler is 15 years or older, replace it as soon as you can afford to do so Have solar panels installed on your house. Current UK government initiatives pay up to 50 per cent of the cost of installation. Buy energy saving light bulbs - they are slightly more expensive but last up to 12 times longer than inefficient counterparts.
When buying new electrical appliances always look for the distinctive orange and blue Energy Efficiency Recommended logo.. There are many things wrong with the basic financial theory that is taught in most universities and business schools, but one thing it has unquestionably helped to do is to focus investors' minds on the importance of building sensible, well-constructed portfolios - that is to say, to encourage us to spend a little time thinking carefully about the balance of individual funds or shares that we own. However, Andrew says saving money was not the couple's prime motivation in making the improvements."Reducing the amount of carbon dioxide for which we are responsible is more important to me than saving money."Andrew believes that anyone can make some small changes that will save both energy and cash. Always avoid leaving appliances on standby - turn them off completely. It also offers details on home improvement grants available in your area.Andrew Finnis: 'We cut CO2 and saved cash'Andrew Finnis, 58, an electrical engineer, has always had an interest in how electricity is made - as well as wasted - which culminated three years ago in him fitting photovoltaic (PV) solar panels to the roof of his house.This year, he and his wife Wendy consolidated their commitment to energy saving by installing a wind turbine in a field near their home near Dover, Kent.The couple received a grant of £15,000 to install solar power-generating technology at a total cost of £28,000, and a grant of £5,000 to put towards the cost of the turbine, which was £20,000 in total.The combined effort means the Finnises now take three-quarters of their total energy requirements from the wind and sun, saving about £600 a year.
It publishes a range of leaflets.Go to the EST's website www.est .uk/my home, answer some simple questions about your home and you can request a free, impartial report telling you how you can save up to £250 a year on your household energy bills.Alternatively, you can contact your local Energy Efficiency Advice Centre (call the freephone number 0800 915 7722) for free advice on making your home more energy-efficient. The ideal location would be a smooth hilltop with a flat, clear exposure, free from obstructions such as large trees, houses or other buildings.However, small-scale wind turbines can be suitable for urban areas, and one able to supply energy to a typical UK home costs between £4,000 and about £20,000.As with smaller home improvements, there are grants available for both solar panels and personal wind turbines, but costly building projects are not the only way to exploit renewable energy sources.For example, simply pegging out your washing to dry in the sun when weather permits harnesses renewable solar energy, and could save hundreds of pounds in the long term.Anyone interested in reducing their energy consumption and bills by measures big and small can contact the EST for free guidance and advice. "Even what might seem like big jobs, such as insulating your walls, will only take a few hours. Also, the energy companies are obliged by the Government to help homes save energy, so many offer good deals on insulation."Energy companies, local authorities and the Government also offer grants to help certain types of consumer to meet the cost of energy-efficient measures. In addition, individuals might be entitled to help with the cost of installing energy-efficient domestic appliances or getting adequate insulation.Anyone can search the Energy Saving Trust's grants database to see what's on offer, and grants are available to people in all sorts of circumstances; they are not restricted to the elderly or those on a low income or benefits.Your eligibility for assistance will depend on a number of factors, including where in the country you live, the measures you are interested in implementing, your energy supplier, whether you own your own home, whether you are aged over 60, and whether you are in receipt of certain State benefits.