Here are some easy starters for using less energy and cutting carbon emissions, which will also save you cash:
- Install energy-efficient lightbulbs (called ‘CFL’ or compact fluorescent lightbulbs). You can buy them now for as little as £1, and they come in different shapes and sizes. They use 1/5 of the energy of old fashioned bulbs and last up to ten times longer.
- Wash your clothes on 30 or 40 degrees. They’ll be just as clean and will stay brighter for longer. Washing at 60 degrees uses 30% more energy than at 40 degrees.
- Don’t leave electrical items on stand-by. It is estimated that 5 to 15% of household electricity consumption worldwide is wasted on stand-by mode.
- Use a lid when you’re cooking with saucepans. This will avoid condensation in your kitchen, and reduce heat and energy loss.
- Draw your curtains at dusk. Windows leak a lot of heat (even double-glazed ones!).