Reducing your footprint should also reduce your bills according to new research

Consumers are starting to live in green homes due to the impact of the credit crunch upon their finances, new research has shown.

Findings from a study by green financial services provider cahoots revealed that consumers are making more effort around the home to change the way they use appliances and consumer electricals.

The study showed nearly three quarters of respondents are trying to cut energy bills by turning off electrical items, such as PC's or TVs, when not in use rather than leaving them on stand-by.

A further 60 per cent of consumers are switching to using energy efficient light bulbs rather than the incandescent type.

How big is the carbon footprint of your Chiswick home? The Government’s ‘Act On CO2’ calculator will help you to discover the size of the carbon footprint of your flat or house in Chiswick.

A recent report from Sainsbury's revealed that Britons took out £4 billion in personal loans to improve their homes, part of a trend it calls 'improving not moving'. If you don’t have the time or budget to renovate, you can still cut your carbon footprint.

More importantly, reducing your footprint should also reduce your bills. Here are some easy ways to save CO2.

Wash and dry smarter
Wait until you have a full load before switching the washing machine on; two half-loads will use more energy than one full. Whenever possible use the 30 degree cycle. Hanging your clothes out to dry instead of using a tumble dryer will also help reduce your carbon footprint and save you money on your fuel bills.

Unplug and turn off
Removing plug from socket. Almost £800 million worth of energy is wasted in the UK each year by leaving appliances plugged in and switched on at the socket – so turn TVs, games consoles and mobile phone chargers off at the mains. A further £140 million a year is wasted through leaving lights on in unused rooms, so always turn off the lights when you leave a room.

Change your light bulbs
Energy saving light bulbs last up to 10 times longer than ordinary light bulbs and will save you money over the lifetime of the bulb. Make the switch today.

Swap a bath for a shower
Heating water uses energy, so take a quick shower – you’ll use about a third of the water of a bath. And remember, hot water means more energy used, so the quicker the shower the better!

Turn your thermostat down
Thermostat Just one click and you’re saving already. Reducing your room temperature by 1 degree could cut your heating bills by up to 10 per cent, meaning you could save around £50 per year.

Is your water too hot?
The thermostat on your hot water cylinder should be set at 60 degrees Celsius or 140 degrees Fahrenheit so turn it down and save.

Close the curtains
Close your curtains at dusk to stop heat escaping through the windows.

Boil what you need
Only boil as much water as you need in saucepans and kettles (remember to cover the element if you're using an electric kettle).

Fix dripping taps
Replacing worn washers is quick, cheap and easy, and you’ll be preventing a dripping tap wasting up to 15 litres of water a day, or almost 5,500 litres per year. If you’re on a water meter, that could save you over £18 a year.

March 12, 2009