energy efficiency tips

Natural gas is not only the cleanest fossil fuel, it is one of the most efficient ways to heat your home. Here are a few ways you can make a difference to the environment and the amount of energy you use:

• Close your curtains at dusk to reduce the amount of heat escaping through your windows.
• Set your thermostat at the lowest comfortable temperature – typically between 18°C and 21°C. Lowering your thermostat by just 1°C could save you around £55 a year by cutting your heating bills by up to 10%*.
• Programme when your heating and hot water comes on and off, and adjust seasonally.
• Set thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) at lower temperatures in rooms you use
  less often.
• Take a shower, rather than a bath. A bath typically uses around 80 litres of water, while
  a short shower can use as little as a 1/3 of that amount.
• Put a date in your calendar to make sure you have your boiler serviced every year.
• This will check that it is running safely and efficiently.

*The easy way to stop wasting energy and money, Energy Saving Trust, December 2009.

Living room

• It may seem silly but by putting on more layers of clothing to keep warm will save you money rather than turning up the heat.
• Use draft excluders at the bottom of doors.
• Why block out the daylight with dark heavy curtains? Use light-coloured, loose-weave curtains on your windows to allow daylight to fill the room.
• On sunny days, open the curtains and let the sun in.
• Close your curtains and blinds at night.
• Turn off the lights you're not using, or consider installing timers, to reduce the amount of time your lights are on.

Kitchen

• Only boil enough water that you need to avoid wasting both water and electricity.
• When you are cooking on your new gas hob, adjust the flame to fit the pan, it should never come up around the side of the pan.
• Fill the sink and wash the dishes by hand, not only will you use less water than a dishwasher, you will also be conserving electricity.
• If you can't live without your dishwasher, make sure it has high energy efficiency to ensure that you are getting the best results.
• Line dry your clothes, or if you need to use a tumble dryer, make sure it's a natural gas one. You can not only save money on your running costs but you can also do your bit for the environment by reducing your carbon emissions. They are also kinder to your clothes as they often have automatic shut off points which lets it know when the clothes are dry, minimising energy wastage and helping your clothes last longer.