How energy efficient is your home?

With fossil fuel supplies dwindling and sustainable energy in its infancy, our wasteful ways have become not just a political football, but a global emergency. Awareness of the issue has reached new heights over the last decade, but a cavalier attitude to energy and energy-saving still persists. Each time a light is left on, a window left open and an unnecessary boilwash done we sap the national grid of its precious power for no reason other than carelessness. There are a few very simple ways in which we can make our homes more energy-efficient, less expensive to run and still maintain the all mod con lifestyle to which we’re so accustomed.

Lighting is probably the most consistent drain on your energy supply, and it’s easy to forget how much you rely on it, especially during the dark days of winter. Energy-saving lightbulbs may be slightly more expensive to buy, but they last a lot longer. Halogen bulbs usually run with 35 watts of power, but you could be greener still with a 9 watt candle, and lend a dickensian mood to your home into the bargain. Switch lights off not only when you leave the house, but as you leave each room.

Washing machines can waste an enormous amount of energy. If you wash clothes at lower temperatures not only will they last longer but you will hugely reduce your energy expenditure. Next time you buy a new washing machine – or any other appliance for that matter – look for the Energy Saving Recommended logo. Any product carrying this logo has met strict criteria on energy efficiency and will therefore cost less to run and reduce carbon emissions.

Boilers play a huge part in our energy consumption, typically accounting for around 60% of domestic carbon emissions. How old is your boiler? If it’s more than 15 years old, then it’s probably time to look for a new one. Fit a high efficiency condensing boiler and you could save around £200 per year on your bill. A new boiler works by recovering the heat that it would traditionally have wasted, making it around 15% more efficient than a conventional boiler. British Gas offers a comprehensive range of new boilers as well as a boiler maintenance service to ensure it is kept in good working order.

Half of the heat that escapes from your home is lost through the walls and the loft. It stands to reason that you could make huge energy savings by installing insulation, or looking into how efficient your current insulation is and improving it. Have you ever thought how much heat you could be losing through that rickety letterbox? Fitting a brush is a simple measure you can take to prevent such heat loss. Double-glazing and pipe insulation are also highly effective energy-saving methods.