How to save energy in the home

Insulation makes an enormous difference to the cost of heating and should be top of your list of energy-saving measures. See "How to insulate your home" for more details.

It might seem like a little thing to turn the main lights off when you're not in the room but it makes a big difference to our overall energy consumption.

And don't forget all the other mini energy guzzlers like laptops, printers, scanners, speakers, routers and keyboards. You don't have to know what all these things do to understand that they make our homes even more power-hungry.

And turn them off properly - don't just leave them in standby mode. Basically, if it's got a little light on - turn it off.

Energy saving bulbs use 80% less power than normal lightbulbs but produce the same amount of light. For each bulb you change you're cutting your CO2 output by 26 grams per year, plus your saving 7 quid on your electricity bill. And that's for each bulb. Throw in the fact that they last ten times longer than normal bulbs and what are you waiting for!

Another good way of preserving energy is to buy an electricity-saving device called Electrisave. Essentially it's a meter that tells you how many kilos of greenhouse gases your house is consuming per hour and also works out the cost. This way you can work out which appliances in your home are using the most energy.

An Electrisave meter isn't cheap - it retails at £80. It could, however, save you up to 25% on your bill, so it's worth investing in.

Changing to a green electricity suppier is something everyone can do; it only takes a few minutes online. www.whichgreen.org has lots of information on the different options out there.

You can also start generating your own electricity at home using solar panels, ground source heat systems, biomass or even wind turbines. For more information on this visit the Renewable Energy Association website http://www.r-p-a.org.uk.

Be aware however that cost savings are likely to be made over quite a number of years, so this isn't generally something that's worth doing solely on financial grounds.

If you follow these simple steps, you will notice a huge difference in your energy consumption at home, your bills will be lower, and you will be helping to preserve our environment. Now go with a clear conscience and and enjoy your greener home!