Tips to save the planet...and your money!

Energy

Appliances

• Try placing foil behind radiators. Household foil should work, although it is possible to buy foil for this purpose from DIY stores.
• Lagging pipes can save £5 to £10 from heating bills.
• If possible, buy the most energy efficient products possible. Ask retailers and manufacturers for information, and look out for the Energy Efficiency Recommended Logo.

Heating

• Heavy curtains keep out draughts, especially if they have a thick lining, reach the floor or window sill and have a number of folds. Don’t hang curtains in front of radiators!
• Turning your heat thermostat down by 1 per cent can save as much as 10 per cent from fuel bills.

Fridge/Freezers

• Keep your fridge temperature at 2 to 3 celsius and your freezer at -15 Celsius. Make sure neither are near a cooker or any other heat sources or any other heat sources.
• Ensure doors are properly sealed. The door must be able to grip a piece of paper tightly.
• Defrost your fridge and freezer regularly.
• It’s a good idea to fill gaps in your freezer, with old newspaper as this will improve efficiency.

Washing

• Consider using low temperature washes whenever possible.
• Try to dry clothes naturally.

Cooking

• Ensure pan lids are well-fitted.
• Only heat the amount of water you need.
• Use boiled water immediately to avoid the necessity to re-boil.
• Keep heat on the base of the saucepan, rather than the sides of the pan.

Water

• Regularly check for any dripping taps.
• Have a shower instead of a bath when possible
• Flushing the toilet can use around 15 litres of water. Placing a brick in the cistern or using a hippo from the water company can lead to considerable savings. Toilet cisterns manufactured after 1993 usually use less water per flush.
• Turn off taps whenever possible, for example, there are usually many opportunities when brushing your teeth.
• A washing machine can use as much as 95 litres of water. Using a full load uses less energy and water, and costs less than washing half loads. This can also be applied to dishwashers.
• Think of ways to re-use water, for example, from cooking or fish tanks. This water can also be used for garden and house plants.
• Monitor the amount of bleach and household cleaner is flushed down the toilet as the chemicals do affect the water course.
• Keeping cool water in the fridge will mean you won’t need to run the tap for any length of time to get chilled water.

Waste

• Each UK household produces around one tonne of rubbish per year, resulting to around 27 million tonnes for the UK per year. Much of this could be reused, recycled or composted.
• Recycling saves energy. Recycling aluminium cans saves 95% of the energy required to extract natural resources as well as make a new can.
• Recycling saves the earth’s resources. Every tonne of recycled glass saves over a tonne of raw materials.
• Recycling helps conserve the environment as it reduces the need to mine raw materials, limiting the impacts of mineral extraction on the landscape.
• Remember the 3R’s and apply them to your own waste before disposing of it; Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
• Where possible, visit recycling sites, preferably on route to other destinations.
• Take your own re-usable bag with you to the supermarket.
• Buy goods in refillable containers.
• Avoid disposable goods where not necessary.
• Reduce unwanted junk mail by joining the Mailing Preference Service
• Plan your shopping. Surplus food is often thrown away; think whether you really need everything you buy.
• Avoid buying products that are over-packaged.
• As much as 20 per cent of what is thrown away could be compostable. Have you got a composter or can someone help you compost?  
• Donate unwanted items to charity shops or jumble sales.
• Can it be repaired? Think before you bin.
• For detailed information about how to reduce, reuse and recycle waste, the web site www.recycling-guide.org.uk contains a range of useful suggestions. The guide also contains articles about how different items are recycled.

Transport

• Consider using public transport, walking, or cycling to your destination.
• When using a car, turn off the engine in the event of a traffic jam or if you are stationary for more than two minutes.
• Ensure tyres are incorrectly inflated.
• Don’t drive too fast as exhaust emissions rise dramatically in cars travelling over 55 mph.
• Drive with consideration for cyclists and pedestrians.
• Wherever possible, arrange a car share journey.

• Try to avoid putting furniture in front of radiators, and if possible, fit shelves above them as this deflects heat into the middle of the room.
• Turn off your home computer when it is not in use.
• Always turn televisions and other appliances off at the mains. Leaving appliances on standby still uses energy.
• Energy efficient light bulbs are more expensive than standard bulbs but they will last up to 10 times longer which conserves significant energy. They are most effective when used for lights that are left switched on for long periods of time.
• Consider further draught proofing of windows and doors.
• Investigate cavity wall insulation, condensing boilers and loft insulation, all of which could save energy and money.