Cut your consumption, cut CO2 emissions, save money, save energy and save our environment.

You can make your home or business more energy efficient by applying a number of simple energy efficiency tips. Not only will this cut your energy bill by up to 50%, but the planet will appreciate you reducing your CO2 emissions.

1. Turn down your Thermostat - save 10% on your energy bill.

Turning down your Thermostat by only 1 degree will shave approximately 10% off your energy bill. If it is too hot in the house, resist the temptation to open windows. Just turn the thermostat down and take some time to properly understand the settings on your heating system. When you go on holiday, turn the heating down to the minimum- enough so the pipes don't freeze.

2. Switch off lights! As simple as that - save 10% on your energy bill.

Cut your consumption by switching off indoor and outdoor lights when not needed. It seems obvious, but the amount of energy wasted this way is colossal on a worldwide basis.

3. Replace your light bulbs - save 25% on your energy bill.

After Brussels declared back in March 2007 that old style incandescent filament bulbs would be phased out during 2009 (to help fight the battle against climate change), it would make sense to upgrade your lighting as soon as possible.

Incandescent old-style bulbs are inefficient because 95% of all energy used is converted into heat rather than light. They cost a bit more but last up to 15 times longer and will pay for themselves in about 6 months.

We recommend installing ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) or LED lighting. Phillips, Osram, Sylvania, General Electric or Greener Living energy efficient light bulbs are all good brands and switch on almost immediately (some new-style CFL bulbs can take a while to reach full brightness - annoying if you need light instantly so select carefully).

If you are a business, get rid of the outdated, inefficient T8 and T12 light tubes. These are costly in terms of energy usage and CO2 emissions. Replace them with high frequency T5 bulbs or LED bulbs. These don't flicker when you first turn them on, save 70% on your energy bill (they use 4-6 Watts rather than 14 Watts) and have durability of up to 5,000 hours.

4. Switch off your appliances - save 5% off your energy bill.

It seems obvious, but flick the main cooker switch off when you are finished. Don't leave Microwave ovens, Washing Machines and Dishwashers on standby. That will cut your energy bill by roughly 5% per year.

If you do buy new appliances, make sure you get A rated appliances which will save you money and the environment in the long run.

When you are using appliances such as your hob or oven, make sure you leave lids on pans as that cooks food faster and requires less energy. Microwaves also use less energy than ovens.

5. Switch off electronic equipment you've left on standby - save 10% on your energy bill.

Modern equipment, such as TV's, DVD players, Digital TV Set Top Boxes, Internet modems, Personal Computers, Printers, Scanners and Phone Chargers amount to approximately 20% of an average household energy bill. About HALF (10%) of your energy bill comes from equipment left on stand-by or sleep mode losses - when the equipment is still connected to the grid but not in use.

6. Save energy and money using a Multi Plug Adapter.

Try plugging all of your multimedia equipment into a multi-plug adapter and then switching the whole adapter off at night with one switch. That will shut off all of that 'standby' power being consumed. Did you know that standby consumption of such equipment costs European citizens €15 billion yearly without really being aware of it? It currently takes 10 large 1GW power stations, producing 100 billion kWh per year to supply the 'standby' electricity needed.

7. Save energy and money correctly charging your mobile phone and laptop.

Mobile Phone - charge your mobile phone when you are awake so you can unplug it once it is full. Leaving it to charge overnight is wasteful as a phone typically only needs an hour to charge fully.

Laptop - to save energy and significantly prolong laptop battery life, make sure you plug it in as soon as the battery indicates it only has 5-10% remaining. When it is fully charged, unplug it straight away. This makes the battery work harder, thus preserving its life. A battery will last roughly half as long if you let it switch off due to running out of power and then leave it plugged in all the time when it is fully charged.

8. Invest in Cavity Wall Insulation and Roof Insulation.

You can buy Eco wool from many DIY stores which will insulate your roof and walls better. Up to 35% of your home's heat escapes through the walls and up to 25% through the roof.  Alternatively contact your green energy supplier for advice and quotations where applicable.

9. Renewable Energy - Solar Thermal Panels and Wind Turbines.

Invest in Solar Thermal Panels on your roof as the hot water from these can be fed into your Boiler. This saves your boiler having to heat up cold water. The energy savings are substantial and Solar Panels will add to the energy efficiency rating of your home, as well as the value if you sell it. Fossil fuelled power is becoming increasingly expensive and Solar is now commercially viable.

Also consider looking into a domestic wind turbine although these work better in the country where they can be mounted in a position that gets a direct, uninterrupted wind flow - essential for efficiency and payback!

10. Energy Efficient Double Glazing.

It goes without saying that double glazing stops energy escaping from the house and makes a home quieter as well. If you haven't had this installed, consider doing so as it will improve the energy efficiency of your home and will add value to it as well.

Make sure that you get lined curtains to cover your windows and draw them just before dusk to stop heat escaping. Try to keep curtains behind the radiators so that the radiators emit heat into the room. This stops the heat going behind the curtain towards the window.

Good luck with the above. If you need any advice or help, please contact at enquiries [at] ecoswitch [dot] com.

Please share your views and comments on how you save energy below. We'd love to hear from you and create a Top 20 or 30 energy efficiency tips to help others.

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