Home tips for saving money & helping the environment

Things that save money or cost very little:

- Turning off lights and appliances not in use

- Draught proofing all doors, windows and skirting boards

- Changing energy supplier to green tariff

- Turning heating thermostat down and turning off heating in infrequently used rooms

- Using “green” cleaning products.  Washing at 30 degrees and using “Eco balls”

- Getting an electricity monitor

- Using mechanical not electrical machinery

- Buying A+ rated appliances if buying new ones

- Thick curtains across windows and outside doors and drawing curtains at night

- Buy an eco kettle

- Use the oven less and cook on the hob

- Fit thermostatic radiator valves on radiators and upgrade heating controls

- Bricks/hippos in toilet cisterns

- Local organic veg box (saves shopping)

- Eco toilet descaler (need less loo cleaning) or use citric acid

- Growing your own veg

- Composting (compost heap made from old pallets for garden waste and Green Joanna for all food waste)

- Re-using: paper (for notes, drawing and children’s revision), plastic pots (for freezer, paint, plants, storage), envelopes.

- Recycling everything (bottles, cans, paper, cardboard,clothes, shoes, metal, electrical and more)

- Mending, repairing or getting things second hand. Borrowing equipment not buying it

- Going to the library rather than buying books

- Signing up to stop junk mail.


Thing that cost more money:

These are for the dedicated and require extra funds.  Most have a longer term payback but, given that energy prices can only rise, they are an astute investment for the future.  Some are only sensible to do when carrying out a refurb of your house as they mean disruption.

- New eco light bulbs

- Insulation – wall, loft and floor

- Double glazing

- Water tanks for garden

- Woodburning stove

- Solar panel to heat water

- Photovoltaic panels to generate electricity

- Ground source heat pump or heat exchange unit to provide heating.