Eco homes: The beginner’s guide to saving energy

Believe it or not, there are many simple things you can do at home that’ll not only save energy but will reduce your carbon footprint and protect the environment. Limiting your energy consumption will also lower your monthly bills and help you live a greener, more economical lifestyle, so check out the following tips and avoid unnecessary waste in your home.

1. Save water where possible

Running water is a privilege, but because of its availability on demand in many parts of the world it can be easy to take it for granted. The fact is it takes a lot of energy to get water flowing through your taps, so whether you’re doing the dishes, washing the car or watering trees (from the likes of ashridge nurseries), be mindful of how much water you’re actually using. Every drop saved will lower your energy bill, making this a great incentive to only put the dishwasher/washing machine on when needed, to run shallower baths and to not leave the tap running when brushing your teeth.

In fact, according to the Energy Saving Trust spending one minute less in the shower every day will save £10 off your energy bills each year, per person. With a water metre this will save a further £15 off annual water and sewerage bills, so if everyone in a four-person household did this you could save a whopping £100 a year.

2. Turn your electrical goods off standby

While you should always turn electrical goods off when they’re not in use it can be all too easy to put gadgets like DVD players, TVs and games consoles on standby. This, however, still uses a considerable amount of energy, so by turning gadgets off at the plug you could save yourself an impressive £30 a year. This might not sound like big money, but start adding the total cost of wasted energy up and you’ve got yourself a significant sum. What’s more, if someone gave you £30 in cash, there’s no way you would just throw it down the drain – but that’s effectively what you are doing if you leave items on standby mode.

3. Take control of your heating

It’s no secret that the UK is notoriously cold. Many families are forced to turn their heating on regularly throughout the year, but there are ways to save money and still keep your house toasty. Ensuring your home is well insulated is the first thing you should consider, as poor loft or wall insulation will mean warm air is allowed to easily seep through into a cooler environment. What’s more, you should also take other steps to draught proof your home such as sealing doors and windows, filling cracks in the floorboards and investing in adequate draught excluders.

It’s easier than you might think to make your home more economical, so give the above tips a go in a bid to save money and do your bit for the world around you.