Energy efficiency - Option 10

The simplest thing we can do towards energy security is to stop wasting energy. There are lots of ways to do this:

  1. Use only energy efficient light bulbs. Energy efficient bulbs use up to 67% less energy than traditional light bulbs and put out the same amount of light. This is because in a traditional light bulb, 90% of the energy it uses is lost as heat. Each bulb you replace will save you about £7 a year on your electricity bill, so it will pay for itself in less than a month! (source: http://www.banthebulb.org/)
  2. Switch things off when you're not using them. Switch off lights when you leave a room. Don't use standby on your TV or hifi - switch it off properly. Devices in standby mode account for about 10% of electricity used in homes and offices, so switching them off will save you money and help reduce climate change. (source: http://energyefficiency.jrc.cec.eu.int/html/standby_initiative.htm)
  3. Get better insulation. Make sure that your house is well-insulated. Close the curtains when it gets dark to stop heat escaping through the windows. Draught strips should be fitted round external doors, and double glazing will also help insulate the house. Your loft insulation should be at least 200mm (8in) thick - 270mm is recommended. (source: http://www.est.org.uk/myhome/insulation/loft/)
  4. Turn the heating down. Turning the thermostat down by 1°C can reduce your heating bills by 10% and save about £30 a year. Domestic hot water should not be higher than 60°C. Not only will you be wasting energy by having it higher, in hard water areas, it will make the pipes and the heating element fur up more quickly, making the system less efficient. Of course, water that is too hot could scald you - 40°C is the right temperature for a shower.
  5. Don't use the car if you don't have to. Cars are least efficient on short journeys because they have to warm up, which uses more energy, so walk or cycle instead. If you can use the bus or train, do so.
  6. Make sure that your car is fuel efficient. When buying a new car, choose the most economical model. Don't get a bigger car than you need. Consider getting a hybrid petrol/electric or LPG car, which will reduce CO2 emmissions and cost less in fuel. Don't carry unnecessary weight - take the roof rack off when you're not using it and don't leave things you don't need with you in the boot. Making sure that your car is serviced regularly and that the tyres are inflated to the correct pressures will also make it more efficient.
  7. Make sure that your taps don't leak. A dripping tap wastes enough water in a day to fill a bath, so make sure that they are all turned off.
  8. Only boil as much water as you need. Don't put more water in the kettle than you're going to use, but if it's an electric kettle, the element must be covered. If you misjudge it, put the excess water in a Thermos flask to keep it hot until you need it.
  9. Have a shower, not a bath. A five-minute shower will use less than half the water you would use taking a bath.
  10. Buy energy efficiently. Buy local produce - it will save on energy used to transport the goods and help the local economy. Don't buy new just because you can - the manufacturing process uses lots of energy, so keeping the same mobile phone (for example) for longer will save energy because fewer new ones will need to be made. Also, if you do need to buy an item, consider buying second-hand. You get it cheaper and no extra energy will have been used to make it.