Energy Saving & Environment Friendly Tips for Your Home

1. Replace your light bulbs with energy efficient ones. They do cost a bit more to start with but they last 12 times longer than a normal lightbulb and are more efficient. You could save £7 per bulb per year or £78 over the lifetime of the bulb. See the Energy Saving Trust at www.est.org.uk on this and other good ideas for the home.
2. Put radiator panels behind your radiator to reflect the heat back into the room and not out the walls. Save 5-10% off your fuel bills this way.
3. Turn down the thermostat in your house by 1degree C. and put on a wooly jumper. This could save you £30 a year.
4. Wash your clothes at 30 degrees C. with a biological powder or liquid - these clean better at lower temperatures.
5. Consider not using too many different types of cleaning products and air fresheners. A house does not need to be sterile! Some research suggests that over-use of air fresheners can cause headaches and stomach upsets.
6. Choose FSC (Forestry Stewardship Council) certified wooden furniture and shelving to make sure the wood comes from well-managed forests. See www.fsc.org
7. Fix a small device to your loo that reduces the amount used for each flush. Loos use one third of the water used in most homes. See www.interflush.co.uk
8. Recycle: do some good with your unwanted bits and pieces.
   1. Your old mobile phone. See www.fonebak.com.
   2. Bottles, cans, paper etc - in the banks/bins you see everywhere these days or via your local council service
   3. Clothing - clothing banks, charity shops or if you have some men's casual clothing in reasonable condition - bring in to to Esther McKaig (x6359) for distribution to London homeless.
   4. Oil, cardboard, wood, metal, plant waste, furniture etc - take a trip to your nearest 'dump'/recycling centre. See http://www.lhc.org.uk/members/pubs/factsht/83fact.pdf for London sites.
9. Switch off appliances at the plug. Turning off your computer and TV could save you £62 a year and also helps reduce CO2 emissions.
10. Re-use plastic bags - they are not very bio-degradable so try to carry one with you and thereby avoid getting new ones all the time.

One more tip - If you are feeling very sociable - share your bath with a special friend!