Top Tips to Help Save Energy

Use energy saving devices such as low energy lamps. These last up to ten times longer than ordinary bulbs and use far less electricity. Remember to turn off lights when you leave a room for long periods.

Use a kettle to boil water for cooking - they're more efficient at getting up to temperature. Avoid over-filling the kettle, but be sure to cover the element.

Where you need to use saucepans - use the lid! Less energy is lost that way.

Use a toaster rather than the grill to make toast.

Make sure your hot water tank and hot water pipes are fully lagged, this can pay for itself in a few months and go on saving you money for years to come.

Put draught strips around windows and exterior doors. If possible fit a flap across the letter-box.

Where possible wait until you have a full load before using your washing machine.

Use water saving equipment in the bathroom, such as cistern displacement devices that are placed in your toilet cistern and can save up to three litres of water per flush, or flushing systems that allow you to control the duration of the flush, and flow restrictors that are fitted into existing basins and showers, which can reduce water wastage by up to 70% whilst still enabling you to have the normal full flow.

If you use a dishwasher select the low-temperature programme unless you have very soiled dishes.

Fix dripping taps - they can waste as much as 90 litres of water a day!

Switch off your TV, video and Hi-Fi at the set. Standby can use between 10%-60% of the power used by the device if it was switched on.

Defrost fridges and freezers regularly to keep them running efficiently.

Have a shower instead of a bath - they use a third of the water it takes to have a bath (*this excludes power showers, which use the same amount of water as a bath)

At night, pull all curtains to stop heat loss through the windows. Take care not to close curtains over radiators as this will funnel heat straight out of the windows.

Don't set your water thermostat too high; 60°C/140°F is usually adequate for bathing and washing.

Reducing your room temperature by just 1°C can cut as much as 10% off your heating bills.

Don't let the tap run while brushing your teeth - you will save almost five litres of water a minute.

Before buying a new water appliance, like a dishwasher or washing machine, check for its water efficiency rating.

Avoid using hoses and sprinklers which can use up to 1,000 litres of water per hour - instead, collect rainwater in water butts and buckets for use in the garden.