Actions which only take a minute:
- When leaving a room always remember to switch the lights off.
- Turn the thermostat down by 1°C.
- Draw at dusk...close your curtains. As the days get chillier, closing your curtains at dusk will stop heat escaping through windows.
- Switch appliances off standby when you have finished using them.
- Reuse where you can: Over 13 billion plastic bags are distributed in the UK every year. That's around 215 per person for the population of the UK. Reuse your plastic bags as often as you can or buy a stronger canvas or reusable shopping bag.
Actions which only take 5 minutes:
- When using the kettle only boil as much water as you need.
- Control individual room temperatures with thermostatic radiator valves to prevent heating rooms not in use unnecessarily.
- Replace all the inefficient light bulbs in your home with Energy Saving Recommended ones and save around £45 a year.
- Putting a water displacement device in your toilet cistern is a simple way to save water.
- A bath can use over 100 litres of water, while a shower only uses a third of that amount. Try and stick to a 4 minute shower with the help of a shower timer.
Actions which only take 15 minutes:
- Remember to recycle the waste from all the bins in your house - not just the kitchen.
- Complete a Home Energy Check at www.energysavingtrust.org.uk or call free on 0800 512 012 to see where else you can make changes to your home to save energy.
- Stop those drips: Mending your dripping tap washer could prevent the waste of up to 5,500 litres of water and, if you're on a water meter, it could save you over £18 a year.
- Look out for the energy saving recommended logo when you're buying new electrical appliances. Replacing an old, energy inefficient fridge-freezer with a new energy saving recommended one could save you up to £34 every year. Visit www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/
check.
Actions which only take 30 minutes:
- Treat your hot water tank... give it a jacket. An insulating jacket for hot water tanks only costs a few pounds and pays for itself within months. Fit one that's at least 75mm (3") thick and you could save around £30 a year.
- Invest in a water butt and use the collected water on your garden or to wash the car.
- By composting at home you can save as much carbon as your kettle produces annually. The key to good compost is to get a good mix of wet and sappy materials with dry and fibrous ones. This will ensure your bin has all the moisture and air it needs to compost successfully.
Actions which only take 45 minutes:
- When preparing a meal try and reuse leftovers. If everyone in the UK eliminated their food waste, the carbon dioxide saving would be the same as taking one in five cars off the road (WRAP).
- Making sure your hot water tank and pipes have adequate insulation could save you £5-10 a year.
- Save around £25 a year by installing draught proofing to doors, windows and letter boxes.
Actions which only take an hour:
- Turn your wash temperature down to a 30°C cycle and you could save up to 40% of electricity.
- take an eco-driving course and learn how to save money on your petrol bills, whilst reducing the amount of Co2 you are emitting.
