a. Measuring your consumption

The key to reducing your electricity usage is effective monitoring. Eventually all homes in the UK will be equipped with Smart Meters; until then an Energy Monitor can be very effective at helping you measure and reduce your electricity usage. An Energy Monitor is a device which gives you real-time information about your current electricity usage and cost, and research suggests that they can help you cut your electricity consumption by up to 15%.

b. Lighting

Lighting in the home typically accounts for 10-15% of electricity usage. Replacing old-style incandescent bulbs with low-energy ones can provide significant energy savings. They are available in a variety of shapes, sizes and ratings so they should be selected to suit the fitting and the space available.

A low energy lamp uses about a fifth of the energy of an equivalent ordinary light bulb, saving up to £10 a year in electricity costs if used for about 4 hours a day. They can last up to ten times longer than ordinary bulbs so they don't need to be changed as often.

The table shown in Fig.2 is a buying guide for low-energy light bulbs. It gives the power ratings of the old and new types of bulb, which give off an equivalent amount of light.

Fig. 2

Environmental note: Low-energy bulbs contain mercury which means that if they break or come to the end of their life they must be disposed of very carefully. However LEDs contain no toxic materials so they can be safely recycled.

OTHER TIPS:

• To light your home efficiently, use as much natural daylight as possible. Curtains or blinds should be drawn well clear of the windows during the day, lamps carefully positioned and light colours used on the walls in darker corners.
• Consider the use of individual “task” lighting for reading or sewing. This is more efficient and will be cheaper than lighting an entire room.
• Keeping lamps and accessories clean is important, especially in the kitchen where grease and grime tends to accumulate.

c. Electrical Appliances

Some of the biggest carbon criminals in our homes are the white goods that live in our kitchen/utility area. Fridges, freezers, washing machines, dishwashers, cookers and microwaves all generate heat which means that the electricity input is usually quite high. Therefore, when it’s time to buy a new appliance, it’s a good idea to choose the most energy efficient model you can afford as it will save you money in the long run.

Nowadays most electrical appliances are required to carry a label showing their energy efficiency rating from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient).

 These stickers tell you exactly how efficient the appliance is by calculating how much electricity it uses to operate it in relation to its output value.

Once you have an A-rated appliance, make sure it keeps running efficiently by having it serviced regularly (see the user manual provided for guidance).

To illustrate why the energy rating of an appliance is so important, Fig.3 compares the typical running costs of the most efficient (A-rated) and least efficient (G-rated) appliances.

Fig.3

LED bulbs are the next generation of energy-saving lighting, using between 1 and 3 watts per bulb – a saving of up to 95% on standard bulbs. However until recently the quality of light from LED bulbs has not been suitable for domestic situations.

As well as the Energy Efficiency sticker, here are some more symbols that you should look out for when buying your next electrical appliance:

These symbols are only accredited to products that have been recognised by industry experts for their energy efficiency, or for the ethical way they have been manufactured.

OTHER TIPS

• Switching appliances off standby can save around £20 a year.
• When boiling water, heat only the amount of water you need in the kettle and always keep the lid on a saucepan. We sell a range of energy efficient kitchen appliances, including kettles and toasters, at www.goodenergyshop.co.uk.
• The optimum temperature for a fridge is 3c to 5c, a freezer works best at – 18c. Both appliances function more efficiently if they are kept full and regularly defrosted.
• Where possible wash clothes at 30c – this uses up to 40 percent less energy. Try not to use a tumble drier but line dry your washing outside – wind and solar power, au naturel!

To give you a better understanding of the typical energy consumption of the most common electrical appliances please see fig.4 below:

Fig.4