Orkney Communities Orkney Renewable Energy Forum | text version | sitemap | log in

How to save energy

The average household could save £250 a year by being more energy efficient. This is equivalent to a saving of over 1.5 tonnes of CO2.

Here are some of the easiest things you can do to cut down on the energy you waste. Not only will they help reduce your ever rising energy bills, but will also help reduce your carbon footprint!

Insulate your loft

Nearly 50% of all the heat lost in an average home is through the roof and walls. Adding insulation to your loftspace to a depth of at least 270mm immediately starts saving you money, and in some cases the installation costs can be met by a grant from the local authority. (Contact Keep Orkney Warm for more details).  

Install cavity wall insulation

More heat is lost through walls than any other route – approximately 33% in an un-insulated home. Insulating your walls if you can will not only keep your house warmer but reduce your fuel bills too. 

Cut out draughts

Around 20% of the heat in the average home is lost through ventilation and draughts. Fitting simple rubber foam or brush strips to your doors, windows and letterbox will stop those chilly draughts. 

Install double glazing

 Around 20% of the heat lost from an average home occurs through the windows. Double-glazing cuts heat loss and also reduces noise and condensation problems. Savings of around £90 on bills can be expected every year. 

Check your boiler

 The older your boiler is the more inefficient it becomes so if it is more than 15 years old you may need to think about replacing it. Don’t forget to check that your boiler has an insulating jacket and hot water pipes are insulated where they can be. This will keep your water hot longer and save you money.

Turn down your thermostat

Do you really need to walk around the house in T shirts?  Just by turning your thermostat down by one degree when you are too warm could save you up to 10% of your heating bill.  

Fit energy saving light bulbs

 Energy efficient bulbs last around 10 times longer than their inefficient counterparts. In less than a year they'll have paid for themselves and will be saving you money. They are now widely available in a variety of sizes.

Turn appliances off standby

Leaving computers, TVs and DVD players on standby wastes energy, so why not turn them off? 

Turn off lights

Get into the habit of turning off lights when you don’t need them on.

Buy energy efficient appliances

Energy efficient appliances use less power and are cheaper to run.  When buying a new appliance look for the new EU labelling scheme which rates them from  A++ (the most efficient) down to G (the least efficient). 

For example, buying an energy efficient fridge freezer to replace your inefficient model could cut carbon dioxide emissions from your home by up to 150kg a year.  AND an energy efficient fridge freezer uses only a third of the energy to do the same job as a 10-year-old appliance – that’s a saving of up to £37 a year. 

Reduce car travel

Try to avoid using the car for short journeys and share transport where possible.