Tips on saving energy

Saving energy around the home is easy and, if enough people take up the challenge, together we can make a real difference.

Find free and low-cost ways to cut your fuel bills and help tackle climate change here.

Make your own power!

It's now cheaper and easier than ever to harness renewable sources of energy at home, from simple solar hot water heating systems to domestic wind turbines. Grants may also be available to cover some of the cost.

Find out more by calling the Energy Saving Scotland Advice Centre free on 0800 512 012.

Energy-efficient lighting

In most homes, lighting accounts for 10-15% of the electricity bill. Energy-efficient light bulbs use a quarter of the electricity, helping to cut down on greenhouse gases. They also last up to 15 times longer and a single bulb could save you up to £60 before it needs replacing.

Newer LED-based lighting systems are also energy efficient and long lasting.

Don't forget outdoors either. Security lighting, porch lights etc. use energy and cost money too.

Saved water = saved energy

We're in Scotland, it rains plenty, so why should we save water?

It takes a lot of energy (and chemicals) to turn water from rivers and reservoirs into water for drinking, cooking and washing. More energy is needed to pump it and keep it flowing into our homes. When it goes down the drain, even more energy is used pumping and treating it as waste water. Learning to save water is therefore an essential part of helping to tackle climate change. If you have a water meter, saving water will also save you money.

Find out more about how you can save water and why it matters to the environment on the Scottish Water website.

Water saving tips

Turn off the cold tap while you brush your teeth - a running tap wastes over 6 litres per minute.

Other ways to save water include taking showers rather than baths, and only running dishwashers and washing machines when full or using economy.

You can collect rainwater from your shed, garage or greenhouse roof and use dish and bath water to keep your garden moist in summer, rather than watering with a hose.

Home heating and hot water

Turning down the thermostat one degree can help to reduce global warming and cut your heating bill by around £55 a year.

Tank insulation keeps your water hotter for longer by reducing the amount of heat that escapes. Put an insulating jacket on your hot water tank and you could save around £35 a year.

Update your boiler

Replacing an old boiler and installing heating controls could save 25% on your heating bills, That could represent a saving of up to £235 a year.

Grants may be available to help cover the cost of new heating systems.

For information on grants and more energy saving tips, call the Energy Saving Scotland Advice Centre free on 0800 512 012.

Hot water - put the plug in!

Always put the plug in your basin or sink. Leaving hot water taps running with the plug removed is like washing money down the plughole.

Fix hot water leaks

A dripping tap wastes at least 5,500 litres of water a year: that's enough water wasted to fill a paddling pool every week for the whole summer.

Only boil the water you need

By everyone just boiling the amount of water needed when making a hot drink we can save enough energy to power over 7 million TVs for a year.

Match pan size to ring or hob size

Use the right size of ring or hob for the pan you're using. Larger rings cost more to keep hot and if the pan doesn't cover its entire surface, loads of heat escapes around the edges and is wasted.

Energy-efficient appliances

When buying fridges, freezers, washing machines or tumble dryers, take a look at their energy-efficiency label. Models labelled Grade A are most efficient and may only use up half the energy of a similar old model.

Use the Energy Saving Trust’s website to compare and buy energy saving recommended products.

Fridges and freezers

Close the fridge or freezer door as soon as you've got what you need - even if you know you'll be back in there soon. Every second the door stays open, the inside temperature will rise and the more power it will take to cool back down again.

Every time you open the door of your fridge or freezer, warm air rushes into any empty spaces. Fill up empty space in fridges and freezers with old (clean!) polystyrene packaging to help reduce the volume of air that needs to be kept cool.

Dishwashers

When using a dishwasher, wait until you have a full load and try using the low temperature programme or ecocycle if it has one.

Washing clothes

Most modern washing machines (and some dishwashers) have economy or low temperature and "half-load" settings. These can save you money by reducing the amount of water heated to suit how much is actually being washed.

Drying clothes

Hanging your clothes up to dry costs nothing and is much better for the environment than using a tumble dryer, which costs a lot to run. An added bonus is that your clothes will last longer - the lifespan of elastic and many synthetics is drastically reduced by tumble drying.

If you don't have a washing line outside, consider putting a clothes pulley up indoors - it's always hotter nearer the ceiling and so things will dry quicker up there.

For a quick fix, clothes-horses cost only a few pounds and can be folded away when not in use.

If you have radiators, however, don't drape wet clothes directly over the radiator as this will make it work harder to heat the room. Instead, buy metal hangars that hook over the top and keep washing away from the radiator surface.

NEVER place clothes on electric storage heaters or close to open fires, gas fires or portable heaters.

Switch appliances off at the wall

Avoid leaving TVs, videos, computers or music systems on standby and remember not to leave appliances such as mobile phones on charge unnecessarily. Even while on standby, most appliances use electricity, so switch off and save up to 8% of your electricity bill.

Turn lights off

Remember to turn lights off when you leave a room!

Home insulation

A typical house loses up to 35% of its heat through the walls and up to 25% through the roof. Check that your roof and pipes are adequately insulated - this will save both energy and money.

Grants may be available to help cover the cost of insulating your home.

For information on grants and more energy saving tips, call the Energy Saving Scotland Advice Centre free on 0800 512 012.

Draughts

Cutting down on draughts by fitting draught excluders to doors and windows will also help keep the heat in your home. Even just rolling up an old blanket and pinning it to the bottom of a door can help. Grants may be available to help with draught exclusion. Please see Energy Saving Trust website for details.

Windows

Well-fitted, modern, double or triple glazed units are best for preventing heat escaping through your windows.

Can't afford new windows? Even just drawing the curtains can make a major difference. In winter, close your curtains as soon as it starts to get dark.

For extra warmth, look for curtains with thermal linings and remember that fabric curtains are usually better at beating draughts and trapping heat than blinds.

Home improvements

If you're thinking about home improvements - either doing it yourself or employing someone else - then have a look at the practical sustainability advice provided by the Scottish Building Standards Agency.

Home Energy Check

Spend a few minutes completing the Energy Saving Trust’s Home Energy Check questionnaire and you'll receive a personalised report showing you how much energy and money you could save in your home.

Energy Saving checklist

There are lots of ways you can reduce your carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions to help fight climate change. Complete the Energy Saving Trust’s checklist to see how much CO₂ and money you could save by taking some simple energy saving measures.

Grow Your Own

Think of all the energy that’s used to get the fruit and veg you eat to your plate – transport from the farmer to the supermarket, packaging, heating, lighting and refrigeration in the shops, travelling from home to the supermarket by car. No need for any of this if you grow your own fruit and veg! You can also save energy by eating some of your food

You don't have to be an expert gardener, and you don't even need a garden to get started - you can grow herbs in a window box, tomatoes in a sunny room or potatoes in containers on the patio. Or you could get an allotment or volunteer at a community garden.

For more information contact:

Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens - www.farmgarden.org.uk/scotland
Scottish Allotment and Gardens Society - www.sags.org.uk
Trellis (Scottish Therapeutic Gardens Network) - www.trellisscotland.org.uk

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