Our mission: saving energy

The great news is it’s getting easier.

For example, LED bulbs are now a good alternative. If you still have halogen bulbs, it is really worth switching over. The energy savings are dramatic, and LEDs are just as bright and last longer to boot.

More and more appliances have charging or standby modes that are always on, even when switched off overnight or when you are out of the house. The Energy Saving Trust estimates that this extra usage costs most homes around £80 a year. Switching these off at the socket is both a saving and a safety measure.

Anything that heats water up is energy hungry, so if you can avoid using the immersion heater for anything other than emergencies, this will be a big saving.

Waiting until the dishwasher or washing machine is full before running it makes a real difference. And only filling the kettle with the amount of water that you are actually going to use.

If you are looking at bigger projects, keeping heat in the house via good loft insulation, cavity wall insulation and double glazing are all energy savers.

For more helpful tips and calculators for your home, visit the Energy Saving Trust website.