Eco Projects Easy Ways To Save Energy At Home

Date Published:

29/05/2008

Easy Ways to Save Energy and Money at Home

Turn off a Light!

Do you know how much energy you could save just by turning off a light when you leave a room? It's simple, easy, and saves an incredible amount of energy (and therefore money) in the space of a year. Below, we tell you more - and come up with lots more effortless energy-saving tips.

How much does it Cost to Leave Lights On?

Did you know that it's estimated that lighting in most homes accounts for 10 to 15 per cent of the electricity bill, and that the average household could save as much as £25 per year, just by switching off unused lights around the home?*

So why not get into the habit of switching off the light every time you leave a room for any length of time? Just by switching off one bulb for an hour every day, you'll save enough energy to power a month's worth of TV viewing.**

And don't forget, lights that are left on don't just use up energy - and your hard-earned cash - they also create heat, too, warming up your rooms unnecessarily. So, do you really need an overhead light, a floorlamp and three table lamps on in your living room? Does your kitchen need to be lit by a cooker hood, spotlights and dining table lights? Switch at least one off, and you'll make both energy and cash savings.

Energy-Saving Lightbulbs

Of course, switching to energy-saving lightbulbs helps even more, because they last around 10 times longer than ordinary bulbs (which equates to an amazing £60 worth of electricity over the lightbulb's lifetime).

We know what you're thinking... energy-saving lightbulbs are bulky-looking and not nearly as bright as ordinary bulbs. Well, the good news is that technology has moved on and energy-saving bulbs now come in a range of styles and shapes and are just as bright as normal bulbs - but much better for the environment.

Need more of an incentive? The energy efficiency assessor who comes to your house to assess its efficiency as part of your home information pack when you come to sell, will almost certainly suggest you swap from ordinary bulbs to energy-efficient ones to help your home's energy rating.

* and ** Source: Big Green Switch