Eco friendly money saving tips

We're all concerned about the effect our energy usage is having on the earth and its atmosphere. But the good news is that there are plenty of things that you can do cut your energy usage around the home. What's more, these things won't cost you a penny to implement, but could lower your energy bills quite dramatically - so what are you waiting for!

Use energy saving light bulbs - Did you know that just one energy saving light bulb could save you 26kg of carbon dioxide and £7 off your energy bills every year? When you go low energy bulb shopping, only buy bulbs which show the Energy Saving Recommended logo, as this indicates that the bulb meets standards set by the Energy Saving Trust so that you know it really is saving you energy.

Don't forget sunlight - A gift from nature, and 100% free to use, is the sun's natural light. Of course, you can employ solar panels to turn this into electricity, but by just leaving your curtains open a little longer, you'll be able to use more of this natural energy in its simplest form, and less of your electricity supply. Or, as a change from regular lighting, why not light a couple of candles instead - creating a more relaxing atmosphere in your home as well as saving energy!

Turn out the light - We know you've heard this before, but it bears repeating as it is such a simple energy saver, and it really make a difference. Whenever you leave a room turn out the light. It's as simple as that.

Multi-bulbs are a no-no - Ask yourself if you really need a two or four-bulb light fitting. By replacing it with a single bulb fitting you'll save energy and money, and it's a cheap and simple improvement to make.

Standby at your peril - Appliances on standby are far from switched off. In fact, appliances on standby still use a substantial amount of energy while that little red light is on. Energywatch claims that as much as £37 could be saved each year by households who remember to switch appliances off at the unit or wall.

Saving energy in the kitchen - Your clothes will still come up shining after you've washed them at a lower 40 degrees, and by making sure you only ever do a full load of washing you'll be operating much more efficiently. If you must do a smaller wash, use your machine's economy or half load setting. As for your dishwasher - don't use its dish drying option, let dishes dry naturally. Try not to use tumble dryers as these are very costly and energy heavy, hang your clothes outside or on a clothes horse instead wherever possible.

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