How to achieve your energy pledges
I pledge to push the off button and not leave electrical appliances on standby
Why pledge? According to the Energy Saving Trust the average home has 12 electrical appliances on standby or charging. By pushing the off button you can help tackle climate change and save money.
Top tips
 Is it more efficient to leave electrical appliances on standby than turning them off? According to the Energy Saving Trust this is an urban myth. In the majority of cases it is always better to turn off your electrical appliances. For example, it is worth switching your TV and computer off if you're not using them for 15 minutes or more.
Keep forgetting to turn electrical appliances off standby? Try using a timer – these plug into your mains socket, allowing you to set how long you will be using an appliance before energy supply is restricted.
Devices are also available to measure how much electricity appliances use. These can help you identify which appliance is most important to turn off.
The next time an old appliance reaches the end of its life replace it with an energy saving recommended appliance.
I pledge to sign up for a home energy check
Why pledge? Find out your weaknesses and change! The Energy Saving Trust's home energy check takes a few minutes to complete and provides you with a personalised report showing how you can make your home more energy efficient. The average home can save about £300 per year on fuel bills and two tonnes of CO2.
- Information about grants and offers available for insulation and other home energy improvements
- A free personalised home energy report, describing the best energy saving measures for your home www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/check
- Contact details for local professional installers
How to source energy efficient appliances and low energy lighting
- How to decrease waste contributions to landfill and save money
- Information on micro-generation technologies
- How to green your personal transport and save money
Freephone: 0800 512 012 (Mon-Fri 9am to 5pm)
Email: advice@est-london.org.uk
Website: www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/london
Top tips
Complete a home energy check online at www.saveyour20percent.co.uk or call free on 0800 512012.
Encourage your friends and neighbours to do the check and talk about what you are already doing. How about hosting a home energy evening for your friends and neighbours? Visit Shared Energy at http://www.sharedenergy.org.uk/Activities/ for some inspiration.
You can also calculate your own carbon footprint, using the personal carbon calculator on Defra's website: www.direct.gov.uk/en/environmentandgreenerliving/actonco2/DG_067197
I pledge to leave washing to dry in the open air instead of using the tumble dryer
Why pledge?
Sales of washing lines and rotary dryers are up by 147 per cent. Join the trend - drying clothes outside rather than in a tum ble drier can reduce CO2 and save a fortune – sunshine and wind are free! The Environment Agency estimates that £88m is spent on powering tumble dryers alone in the UK every year.
Top tips
Hang your brightly coloured clothes inside out to stop the colours fading
To stop clothes losing their shape hang clothes you wear on your top half from the bottom of the garment and clothes you wear on your bottom half from the top
Hang items that might stretch losely
When it's raining, always spin dry clothes before using the tumble dryer
Try using dryer balls in your tumble dryer. This clever invention lifts and separates laundry allowing hot air to flow more efficiently – reducing drying time by up to 25 per cent.
Buy an energy efficient tumble dryer, it can cut energy wastage by almost a third.
Turn down the temperature on your washing machine from 40 to 30.
Drying inside can also be effective but don't dry clothes over a radiator. Try putting up a clothes drying rack in an unheated room, opening the window slightly to allow damp to escape and shutting the door to stop heat being drawn into that room.
I pledge to replace all light bulbs in my home with energy saving bulbs
Why pledge? According to the Energy Saving Trust energy saving light bulbs last up to 12 times longer than normal light bulbs. Replacing one light bulb with an energy efficiency one saves around £100 over its whole lifetime and 38 kilograms of CO2.
Top tips
Energy saving light bulbs come in many shapes and sizes including florescent and Tungsten Halogen bulbs which are ideal for spotlights.
Always look for the energy saving recommended logo when buying energy saving light bulbs.
Start by replacing bulbs that are in areas of your home where you have the lights on for the longest time.
Ryness Electrical stock a wide range of energy saving lightbulbs and they have a store on Putney High Street.
If you are on a low income look out for 'warm deal' or 'warm front' grants.
Remember to turn off lights when you leave a room.
I pledge to sign up to a renewable/low carbon energy provider
Why pledge? Switching to green energy is an easy and quick way to reduce your carbon footprint. The big UK power companies produce a third of all carbon pollution, so let them know its time to invest in clean technology. If you switch to renewable energy it is likely to be coming from Wind Power, or Hydroelectric Power. Other sources include Solar Power and Wave and Tidal Energy.
When you use electricity on a green energy tariff, the supplying company will put energy from renewable sources back into the National Grid. Green energy currently costs more to produce but some suppliers do not charge a premium and the more people who sign up to green energy the cheaper it will become!
Top tips
It's quick and easy to change online and your new green energy company will even let the old supplier know.
The Green Electricity Marketplace lists energy providers that provide a green tariff. Visit www.greenelectricity.org to find a supplier in the local area.
I pledge to insulate my home effectively
Why pledge? Insulating your home properly can save you money on your fuel bill and help fight climate change. Just look below at how much you could save!
Top tips
Start with:
Putting a reflective surface behind your radiator.
Lining your curtains
Draft excluders for floorboards and skirting boards will save about £20 a year in fuel bills and 140Kg of CO2.
A jacket to insulate your hot water tank will save about £20 a year in fuel bills and 150Kg of CO2.
Remember to turn down your thermostat down by just 1 C and you could save 10% on your fuel bill. In an average winter this will save you £30 and 250Kg in CO2. Ideally your thermostat should be set at 18-21 C.
Or put on a jumper instead of the heating!
Move on to:
Loft insulation will save between £180 - £200 a year in fuel bills and 1.5 tonnes of CO2 a year.
Wall cavity insulation will save around £130 - £160 a year on fuel bills and 1 tonne of CO2.
Double-glazing will save around £80 - £100 a year on fuel bills and 680 Kg of CO2.
Visit the www.energysavingtrust.org.uk for information on how to implement the above measures.
There may also be grants and offers available to help you properly insulated your home. You can also get free impartial advice from the Creative Environmental Network (CEN) by calling free on 0800 512 012.
The Tree House in Clapham is a new zero carbon house, built around a tree. Visit www.treehouseclapham.org.uk for some ideas.
For a thorough energy assessment of all aspects of your home, hire out an expert from the Green Homes Concierge Service to investigate where energy is being lost in your home. For a reasonable fee you are provided with unlimited access to the concierge service for one year. They will make recommendations and help you select the best products and suppliers to meet your individual requirements - to help you save time, money...and energy. |
