Energy saving advice

Heating & insulation

Boilers account for around 84% of the energy in the home and 68% of the CO2 emissions. If your current boiler is old, and especially if it has a permanent pilot flame, its efficiency may be as low as 55%, meaning that for every £1 spent on fuel (gas or oil) only 55p is being used to heat your home effectively. A new condensing boiler can achieve an efficiency of around 90%. Condensing boilers recover far more heat energy from the flue gases, which are then discharged to the outside at a lower temperature. This can sometimes be seen as a visible vapour plume.

Condensing boilers are otherwise similar to non-condensing boilers, though it is not normally practicable to replace a traditional back boiler (installed in a fireplace) by a condensing boiler in the same position.

Since April 2005 it has been a requirement of the Building Regulations that new gas boilers should be condensing, whether installed in new heating systems or as replacements, unless there are exceptional circumstances. Since April 2007 there has been a similar requirement for oil boilers. Over 98% of gas boilers sold in Britain are now condensing boilers.

Condensing boilers should not be confused with combination (or 'combi') boilers. Combi boilers provide hot water heated on demand directly from the boiler, rather than through a separate hot water storage cylinder. Combi boilers may be either condensing or non-condensing.

To make the whole heating system run as economically as possible it is also important to install controls and set them properly. The purpose of controls is to prevent wasteful heating by limiting room temperatures and ensuring the building is only heated at specific times. This can be achieved by a room thermostat and programmer (or a combined programmable room thermostat), thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) on individual radiators, and a cylinder thermostat if you have a hot water storage cylinder. The room thermostat should be set to the lowest temperature at which the building feels comfortable, and the programmer should be used to switch off the heating and hot water automatically at times when they are not wanted. Some trial and error is required to set thermostats and TRVs correctly, but once done they should not need regular adjustment.

With room heaters and warm air systems, the system controls can help you to operate it in the most efficient way possible. However, your running costs and carbon footprint could be significantly reduced by installing a more efficient system such as a condensing boiler.

If you use coal, oil or LPG to heat your home, it could cost you about the same or even less to heat your home using biomass, which will also help to reduce your carbon footprint.

It can cost substantially more to heat your home using electricity than other fuels. You could save money by switching your fuel supplier, or your method of payment. By choosing a 'Green Tariff' option from your fuel supplier, an agreed amount or all of your energy supplies can come from renewable energy sources. Contact your energy supplier to find out more.

For more information about any of the above, and about possible grants in your area, please call the Energy Saving Trust's freephone advice line on 0800 512 012 or visit www.energysavingtrust.org.uk

Lighting

Energy saving light bulbs, often referred to as CFLs (compact fluorescent lamps), use only a fraction of the energy compared with standard bulbs. They also last up to ten times longer, so not only do they save you money on running costs, they also save on replacement costs.

A wide variety of designs and fittings are now available and the cost of energy saving light bulbs has reduced substantially in the past year.

Some energy suppliers offer discounted packs of CFLs to their customers.

To find out more, call the Energy Saving Trust's freephone advice line on 0800 512 012 or visit www.energysavingtrust.org.uk

Electrical and white goods

Fridges and fridge/freezers

An energy efficient 'A-rated' fridge/freezer could save you as much as £45 per year compared to a less efficient model.

If you are about to replace an old appliance, it could be worth buying an energy efficient model even if it costs a little bit more. As the running costs are lower, the overall cost will be less over its lifetime.

Appliances over 12 years old tend to be much less efficient than others on offer and could be costing you more to operate.

Cookers

You can save energy by always using the small ring, or a low gas flame, for small pots and ensure that all pots have lids on.

Use an electric kettle to heat water rather than a pan or kettle on an electric hob, and only heat the amount of water that you need.

Always set your oven temperature to what you need – higher settings do not heat the oven quicker.

If you are considering buying a new cooker, remember that a gas main oven costs around 5p an hour to run, compared to an electric main oven, which costs about 17p per hour. If you have to choose electric, a fan assisted oven may help to save you energy as they use approximately 20% less electricity than conventional ovens.

Some microwaves use up to 90% less energy than conventional ovens, helping to save you money and reducing your carbon emissions.

Dishwashers

If you use a dishwasher, save energy by ensuring you always have a full load before you switch on. Try where possible to use the economy switch and always remember to turn your appliance off rather than leave it on standby. Older appliances (i.e. over five years) tend to be much less efficient and could be costing you up to 40% more to operate.

If you are considering buying a new appliance, consider choosing an 'Energy Saving Recommended' model even if it costs a little more – as the running costs can be as much as 40% less than inefficient models, the overall cost will be much less over its lifetime.

Washing machines

Most of the energy used by a washing machine is for heating the water. You can cut your costs and help the environment by washing at a lower temperature and ensuring you always have a full load.

Washing clothes at 30°C instead of a higher temperature can use around 40% less electricity. Modern washing powders and detergents work just as effectively at lower temperatures. With most machines running an average of 274 cycles a year, you could soon be on track to saving money and carbon!

If you are considering purchasing a new washing machine, be sure to look out for the 'Energy Saving recommended' logo. An 'A-rated' washing machine could save you as much as £15 per year on running costs!

Tumble driers, washer/driers

Most of the energy used in tumble drying is used to dry the material in the load - spinning doesn't use much energy by comparison. In fine weather hang your clothes outside to dry or consider installing a pulley in your kitchen. If you have to use a tumble dryer, try to reduce the dampness of the clothes before doing so, by using the spin option on your washing machine.

Television

Televisions waste energy and money when left on standby. Always switch TV sets off at the wall. Some sets can consume up to 90% of their normal power requirement on standby. £76 million is wasted in the UK every year by people not doing this.

When purchasing a new TV you could save energy by considering an 'Energy Saving Recommended' TV with integrated digital, There is no need for a separate digital box, and you could save up to £5 per year on running costs and around 20 kilograms of CO2.

Satellite / digital TV receivers

Always switch satellite or digital receivers off at the wall, and when replacing equipment consider TV sets with integrated digital.

If you are considering purchasing a satellite or digital receiver, remember that with the digital switchover taking place between 2008 and 2012, it's a good time to think of purchasing an 'Energy Saving Recommended' TV. There is no need for a separate digital box, and you could save up to £5 per year on running costs and around 20 kilograms of CO2.

Power Adaptors

Power supply plugs, mobile phone chargers etc, still consume energy if they are left switched but not connected to an appliance. This is a waste of both energy and money. Ensure power supply plugs that are not in use are switched off at the wall.

Personal computers, printers

Always shut down your personal computer properly instead of leaving it on standby.

Save energy and money by printing in black and white, and save paper by printing double-sided if your printer has this facility. Always switch off your printer when it is not in use – leaving it on standby wastes energy.

Transport

Road

The average car driver clocks up around 10,000 miles every year. Many of these miles are for short journeys, where the car engine does not have sufficient time to heat up and as a result the fuel consumption is not very efficient.

Consider improving your health, the environment and your pocket by choosing to walk or cycle instead.

The higher your miles-per-gallon figure, the more efficiently you are driving your car. Try to monitor this on a monthly basis. For tips on how to become an eco-driver, visit www.energysavingtrust.org.uk 

An environmental rating is now displayed on all new cars in showrooms across the country. This grades each car from A (the cleanest rating) to G (the most polluting rating). The Vehicle Certification Agency has a database that you can reference to assess a car’s fuel economy and CO2 emissions before purchasing. 

Air

Many short-flight journeys could be made by train, considerably reducing the level of carbon emissions for the same journey. This can often be a more comfortable and more enjoyable experience. Calculate the amount of carbon added to your carbon footprint from a single or return flight.

If your journey is last minute, you could always fly one way and travel on public transport on your return.

Many short haul flights are made by those of us travelling to and from holiday destinations. You could consider changing your usual mode of travel and make use of cycles and public transport to explore and enjoy some of the scenery and towns on the way to your final destination.

Long-haul flights can impact heavily on your personal carbon footprint. You could choose an airline that is committed to reducing its own carbon footprint, e.g. through the development and use of cleaner fuels and technologies, or carbon offsetting.

Renewable energy technologies for domestic buildings

Renewable energy technologies like solar panels, wind turbines, and biomass 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.

For tips on which renewable energy technologies to consider visit the Energy Saving Trust's website: www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Generate-your-own-energy

National average footprint

References to the national average footprint use data provided by Defra, included in their Data, Methodology and Assumptions paper for their Act on CO2 calculator. Please refer to section V of the paper for further details.