This is about making our homes more energy efficient and delivering all energy with renewable technologies.
The energy hierarchy is the most sensible place to start. The aim is to reduce the demand as much as possible first, ensure you are using energy efficient technologies, and then finally look into generating your own renewable energy.
Our top tips
1. Use less energy. Think about all the things that use energy in your home and consider how you use them. Ask yourself, do I ever leave anything on? What can I do to make sure I turn things off? Am I using the most efficient technologies? This can be a big and complex action to get right. If you are unsure what’s using your energy, talk to the Energy Savings Trust. You could also get a smart meter, which will give you feedback throughout the day on the energy consumed in your home.
2. Insulation. When you get into bed in winter, you probably wrap yourself in a nice warm duvet. Our houses also need a blanket to help us keep warm. The recommended depth for loft insulation is 27 cm (probably about the height of your screen you are looking at), and walls should also have either cavity wall or solid wall insulation. It also helps to eliminate all draughts and try and have windows that keep the warmth in. Click here for more insulation information which explains exactly how you can get this sorted.
3. Check you have an efficient boiler. Boilers account for around 60% of the carbon dioxide emissions in a gas heated home. Fitting a high efficiency condensing boilers can make a huge difference to your heating bills. You can find out how efficient your boiler is here. It will be rated A-G, where A-rated boilers are 90% efficient and G boilers are less than 70% efficient. For further advice, click here.
4. Switch to a green energy supplier. This way you can be assured that you share of energy is being met by new renewables in the UK. There are now a few suppliers of green energy and you can compare them using the Green Electricity Marketplace: http://www.greenelectricity.org
5. Help your friends, family and neighbours. Done some or all of the above? Then you should be an expert and have valuable knowledge to help your friends, family and neighbours.
Further Resources
Energy Savings Trust. The Energy Savings Trust is an independent, UK-based organisation focused on promoting action that leads to the reduction of carbon emissions. Their website offers in depth information about what you can do, checklists, guidance on efficiency and renewables and grants. http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk
T-Zero. T-ZERO is a free internet tool that provides independent sustainable refurbishment advice for your house, with the option of linking directly to the suppliers, manufacturers, and installers of any measures you choose. It is designed for those refurbishing their own homes, homes they manage, or the homes of clients, taking you through a series of simple steps. http://www.tzero.org.uk/
Parity Projects. Parity Projects are Eco Refurbishment and Eco Retrofit Experts based in Sutton. They offer the full range of services required to reduce the environmental impact of existing buildings – which can also save you money. This includes assessing the function of existing buildings, appraising and designing all opportunities for improvement and facilitate or managing the eco-renovation process itself to minimise energy and water consumption aiming for a 75%-plus reduction in bills. For more information, visit: http://www.parityprojects.com
The Carbon Account. A great tool to help you measure your energy consumption – so you can really see if that extra insulation is making a difference. http://www.thecarbonaccount.com/
