. a focal point for individuals and groups in Plymouth involved with and/or interested in environmental, human and animal issues. Plymouth Environment Centre title and link to home page





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 Environment  > Saving Energy in Your Home

Pie chart of energy use in home.

Using energy in the form of electricity and gas depletes scarce natural resources of non renewable fossil fuels. The burning of these fuels releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere which contributes to global warming. By implementing energy saving measures you will not only be saving yourself money, but also making an active contribution to conserving the planet by reducing the impacts of global warming.




Top tips: energy saving doesn't need to cost much!

No Cost Turning your thermostat down by just 1C can cut as much as 10% off your heating bills. The ideal room temperature is between 18 - 21degC.
No Cost Switch off your TV, video and Stereo at the set. Standby can use as much as 10%-60% of the electricity used by the device if it was switched on.
No Cost Defrost fridges and freezers regularly and set them at the right temperature to keep them running efficiently (2-3degC for a fridge and -15degC for a freezer).
Low Cost Buy low energy light bulbs. Replace one normal 100 watt bulb with an energy-saving one and you could save £10 a year. They cost £5 - £15, but should last up to eight times as long.
Low Cost Put a lagging jacket around your hot water tank and insulate hot water pipes. This can pay for itself in a few months and goes on saving you money for years to come
Low Cost Fit draught excluders to doors & windows. Up to 15% of heat can be lost through draughts. Start with your outside door, using a brush type or hinge flap seal along the bottom - and don't forget the letter box! (these items can be bought in any DIY or hardware shop)
Other Ideas Loft Insulation - Over 25% of heat generated in your home goes through the roof. Fitting 180mm (8 inches) of loft insulation will cost the average householder £200, but can save you £20-30 a year on your fuel bills.
Other Ideas Buy Energy Efficient Appliances - The European Energy Label is now on all electrical equipment and it rates them on their efficiency (A-C = Good, D-G = Bad) (See Shopping Guide for details).
Other Ideas Cavity Wall Insulation - Up to 35% of the heat generated in your home can be lost through the walls. Having cavity wall insulation installed can drammatically decrease this loss and save you £70-100 a year on your fuel bills.
Other Ideas Replacement Boilers - If your boiler is over 15 years old it may not be very efficient. Installing a modern, energy effcient boiler could save you 10-15% a year on your heating bills. Condensing boilers are the most energy efficient. See  boilers.org.uk  and  green-boilers.co.uk 


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