Energy efficiency

Save money and the planet

15% of the UK's greenhouse gas emissions come from heating our homes.

Luckily there are plenty of ways to make your home more energy efficient - saving you money and helping the planet at the same time.

Quick wins

Draught-proof doors and windows

Draught-proofing around windows and doors could save you around £20 per year by stopping heat from leaking from your home. Follow the Energy Saving Trust's helpful guide.

Turn off

Turning off lights in rooms you’re not using and switching off appliances at the wall (rather than leaving them on standby) could save you around £44 a year!

Switch to LED light bulbs

Changing to energy efficient light bulbs could save you up to 10% of your electricity bill.

Keep heating low

Turning your thermostat down by just one degree will save around £80 on the energy bill of a typical, gas-heated three-bedroom semi. Health professionals recommend 18°C as the minimum temperature for people over 65 and those with a medical condition.

There are plenty of other quick tips to save you money and help the planet from the Energy Saving Trust.

Invest to save

Insulate your home

A quarter of heat is lost through the roof in an uninsulated home. Loft insulation is cheap and simple to install. Fit it to a depth of 270 mm and it will pay for itself within a year through lower energy bills.

Glaze windows

Double and triple glazed windows to keep heat in and unwanted external noise out. They could save you up to £120 a year on your energy bills.

Get smart

Thermostatic valves and smart controls can make sure you’re not heating rooms that don’t need it or the house when you’re not in it.

Move to Lower Carbon Heating

With more renewables coming online and advances in heat pump technology, it is worth considering moving towards electric heating - particularly if you combine this with a 100% renewable tariff!

Both air source and ground source heat pumps are available, which are greener alternatives to a fossil fuel boiler.

Upgrade your Boiler

If you are unable to install a heat pump at home, it is still worth considering upgrading your gas central heating. While changing your boiler might be expensive, modern boilers are far more efficient (and less likely to breakdown) than older ones, saving you money in the long run.

Go solar

Solar panels might present a significant upfront cost but they will probably pay for themselves within 10 years and they’ll keep generating heat or electricity for decades. During that time, you’ll be receiving free, clean electricity and/or hot water. Use the solar energy calculator to estimate your yearly savings.

Switch your supplier

Did you know around a third of the National Grid’s electricity supply now comes from renewable energy sources like wind and solar? That’s more than from nuclear, oil and coal combined and second only to gas (38%)!

There are a number of energy providers who supply 100% renewable energy, such as Good Energy and Ecotricity. Switching is easy and each household that signals demand for more renewable energy from energy companies, driving the green economy forward.