Energy Saving Tips

Energy saving tips

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council is urging residents to help make ours a low carbon community. Here are some tips from the Energy Saving Trust on what you can do to help – and save yourself money!

	Turn your thermostat down. Reducing your room temperature by 1°C could cut your heating bills by up to 10 percent. You could save around £40 per year.
	Is your water too hot? Your cylinder thermostat shouldn't need to be set higher than 60°C/140°F.
	Close your curtains at dusk to stop heat escaping through the windows.
	Always turn off the lights when you leave a room.
	Don't leave appliances on standby and remember not to leave appliances on charge unnecessarily.
	If you're not filling up the washing machine, tumble dryer or dishwasher, use the half-load or economy programme.
	Only boil as much water as you need (but remember to cover the elements if you're using an electric kettle).
	A dripping hot water tap wastes energy and in one week wastes enough hot water to fill half a bath, so fix leaking taps and make sure they're fully turned off!
	Use energy saving light bulbs. Just one can save you £60 over the lifetime of the bulb - and they last around 10 times longer than ordinary light bulbs.
	Look for the Energy Saving Recommended logo when replacing appliance and electronic goods

For details of insulation grants please follow this link http://www.basingstoke.gov.uk/housing/energy/grants.htm

For more 'top tips' please follow this link http://www.basingstoke.gov.uk/housing/energy

Spread the word to your communities!

The Energy Saving Trust’s Community Action for Energy (CAfE) programme is specially designed to advise and support community groups of all shapes and sizes, who want more information on how they can save energy or embark on exciting energy saving projects.

Whether community groups are looking for support to install a community heating project or ideas on how to help members of their community understand the benefits of becoming more energy efficient, they can help. Among its many services the CAfE programme offers free training, a community helpline, advice and information on funding and has supported groups in activities as wide ranging as Home Energy Efficiency Bingo to Village Energy Days.

To join the CAfE network or for further information please visit www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/cafe or call 08701 261 444.