Quick and easy changes

There are lots of quick and easy things you can do at home to reduce your carbon footprint – and save money too! Here’s our top ten tips:

1. Switch off your electrical appliances at the plug, instead of leaving them on standby. This could save you around £55 a year on your electricity bill.
2. Switch off lights when you’re not in the room and save around £25 a year.
3. Wash clothes at a lower temperature (20 or 30 degrees) and get in the habit of only using your washing machine when it’s full.
4. Spend less time in the shower – aim for 4 minutes and you could save around £70 a year.
5. Don’t overfill your kettle, just use the amount of water you need and you can save £13 a year.
6. Turn your thermostat down – going from 20C to 19C can save up to £105 a year on your heating bill.
7. Replace bulbs in your home with LED lights. They use at least 75% less energy and last up to 25 times as long. They’ll also save you around £60 a year.
8. Cook smart – microwaves, air fryers and slow cookers use far less energy than your oven or hob. Try them when you can.
9. Ask your energy supplier about switching to a renewable energy tariff – your electricity will come from renewable energy generation such as solar, wind, geothermal (using heat from the Earth) or hydroelectric (using water from rivers to spin a turbine).
10. Fit draught excluders on doors and windows to stop too much cold air getting in.

We have used estimated savings from the Energy Saving Trust website, based on a typical 3 bedroomed, gas heated house in Great Britain.