Challenge 4 - Energy

Your next challenge (should you choose to accept it) is to take a good look at your energy use – that's your gas and electricity. This is one of the quickest, easiest and cheapest ways to save money.

Take a Minute

• Turn your thermostat down. Reducing your room temperature by 1°C could cut your heating bills by up to 10 percent and typically saves around £55 per year.
• Always turn off the lights when you leave a room.
• Don't leave appliances on standby and remember not to leave laptops and mobile phones on charge unnecessarily.  During standby appliances are still using energy – this accounts for 6% of all electricity used in the home.

Take a Day

• Fit low-energy lightbulbs. They last up to 10 times longer than ordinary bulbs, and using one can save you around £40 over the lifetime of the bulb. The low-energy lightbulbs available now are bright and come on almost instantly, so no excuses!
• Use the washing line not the tumble dryer. Not only does it save energy but line dried washing smells lovely! It also gives you the chance to chat to your neighbours over the fence…if you're feeling sociable.
• Check for draughts around your windows and doors and fit draught excluders where needed.

Take a Month

• Fit loft Insulation – this could save £150 a year. Cavity wall insulation can save £150-£200 a year. There are Government-backed grants available and they do not have to be re-paid!
• Install double glazing to help stop heat escaping; reducing your energy bills and keeping your home warmer and quieter
• Switch to a green energy supplier
• Start generating your own energy! Once you have made your home as energy efficient as possible, you may want to install a renewable energy technology such as solar water heating, a mini wind turbine or a biomass boiler

There are loads of websites that can help you save energy and you can get great little gadgets to help make it all that little bit easier.

• Act on Energy - Advice on insulation, energy efficient appliances and heating, grants and more. Telephone: 0800 988 2881
• Energy Saving Community - Great resource to help you save energy as a community, including ways to utilise alternative energy sources, energy sharing and renewable energy.
• Compare energy costs of thousands of electrical appliances, including TVs, games consoles and white goods on the Sust-it website.
• Energy Saving Trust - Partners with Act On Energy and offering similar advice, contains detailed information about energy saving.
• National Energy Foundation - Energy advice for businesses, communities and homeowners.
• Energy Saving Advice.co.uk offers lots of advice and information.
• The Warmer Worcestershire project is aimed at reducing carbon emissions in the county by increasing energy efficiency in homes and businesses, particularly where high levels of heat loss are identified. For more information call 0800 9882881.

Energy Saving Products

• Green and Easy have lots of great products that can help you save energy.
• The Rotaire Dryline - a great product that allows you to dry your washing outside all year round.
• Bye-Bye Standby cuts power to devices plugged in but not in use. Saves the power which would otherwise be used in standby mode.
• Low energy lightbulbs - energy efficient lightbulbs in all sorts of shapes, sizes and wattages are available.
• Home Electricity Monitors - great gadgets for visualising your energy use and spotting those power hungry appliances.
• Smartburn - Chimney flue cleaner and smoke reduction product for use in wood burners, open wood fires and kitchen wood stoves

Generating your own Energy

Once you have made your home as energy efficient as possible, you may wish to start generating power from renewable energy sources.

• Through the Government's Feed-In Tariff (FIT) scheme you can be paid for the electricity you generate, even if you use it yourself, and for any surplus electricity you export to the grid.
  
• The Energy Saving Trust's Cashback Calculator will help you find out how much you could earn and save through solar electricity, wind turbines, hydroelectricity, and micro combined heat and power systems using the Feed-in Tariff scheme.

Local Businesses

• Newey and Eyre Energy Saving 247 offer energy saving lighting advice and products to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions.
  

• Worcester Renewables Ltd have extensive experience in Solar PV, thermal, Heat Pump,  Biomass (wood chip) as both designers and installers.

• Black Mountain Insulation- Manufacturer and supplier of natural Sheep wool and Hemp fibre building insulation.

	Learn more about Renewable Energy  Renewable Energy
	Learn More about using Electricity Monitors to Save Money  Home Electricity Monitors
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