Geography For Schools

• Increase the depth of loft insulation to 200mm
• If your home was built after 1930, install cavity wall insulation which will reduce heat loss through the wall by up to 60%
• Change to energy saving lightbulbs, especially in areas where lights are used most – it will use a quarter of electricity, and will last eight times longer than an ordinary bulb
• If your boiler is 15 years old or unreliable, replace it – this could save 10-15% on your fuel bill
• Add heating controls to your central heating system and cut your loses by up to 20%
• Fit a good insulating jacket to your hot water tank if it is not foam covered
• If you are too warm, turn the thermostat down by 1 degree centigrade, this can cut 10% of your fuel bills
• Invest in draught excluders for letterboxes and for doors and windows opening onto the outside to reduce the amount of warm air escaping
• A shower uses only two fifths of the hot water needed for a bath. Shower attachments for bath taps can be bought from many local stores
• Water does not need to be heated to a scalding temperature. Setting the thermostat at 60 degrees centigrade is usually quite adequate
• Don’t put really wet clothes into a tumble dryer, ring them out or spin-dry first. This is much faster and will save money as well
• Close your curtains at dusk to stop heat escaping through windows
• Always wait until you have a full load before using your washing machine. If this is not possible, use a half-load or economy wash if your machine has one
• Always remember to put the plug in the basin or sink. Leaving hot water running without a plug is wasteful and expensive
• Use the microwave rather than a conventional oven to heat up food
• Try to reduce the number of appliances that are left on standby in your home, such as televisions and video recorders

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