Buildings and Energy
What's the issue?
Buildings are responsible for 33% of greenhouse gas emissions. How we heat and cool our homes and offices, cook our food, light our rooms and heat our water are a major part of our carbon footprint
What we can do about it
Switch to a renewable tariff
First of all check whether your energy provider has a renewable option. If not, switching is very easy (try Uswitch) and you may even save money.
Find out more about the cost of running your appliances
Use this calculator to estimate the cost of using each of your appliances.
Turn down your flow control
If you have a condensing combi boiler (most modern boilers are this), there is a quick fix that can save you 15% on your energy bill with no reduction in heating. Watch this video to see how to do it.
Turn your thermostat down
Check what your thermostat is set to. Although, many homes are heated to 21 or 22 degrees or even more. The WHO suggest that 18 degrees is the ideal. It is estimated that reducing your heating by 1 degree could save you £100 annually.
Turn radiators off in rooms that aren't being used.
Get a smart meter
Everyone is entitled to have a smart meter. By being able to visualise your consumption, you will be able to reduce your consumption and save money. Meter readings will also be a thing of the past.
Insulate your home
Fully retrofitting a home can be an expensive and complicated business, but there is much we can do to make a difference to the to our energy consumption:
Insulation: Check your roof insulations. If you have cavity walls, then wall insulation may be a very viable option.
Airtightness: Are there any gaps or drafts in your home. Ensure your draft excluders are working and consider double glazing if you don't already have it.
Use energy efficient appliances
Switching to LED light bulbs provide big energy savings, particularly if you have older incandescent bulbs in your house.