Residential housing contributes 16% of the UK’s domestic greenhouse gas emissions.
Improving energy efficiency reduces your carbon footprint, cuts bills, and creates a more comfortable home. Homeowners and renters can take simple steps to go green.
The Home Energy Advice Team
HEAT offers free advice and energy surveys to identify improvements. Funded by the UK Government’s Local Energy Advice Demonstrator (LEAD) and delivered in partnership with Zero Carbon Guildford.
Quick and Affordable Energy-Saving Tips
1. Seal Windows and Doors (Renter Friendly)+
Prevent draughts with weatherstripping, caulking, or DIY draught-proofing kits. For a long-term solution, upgrade to double or triple-pane windows for better insulation and noise reduction.
2. Switch to LED Lighting (Renter Friendly)+
LED bulbs use up to 90% less energy and last much longer than traditional bulbs. They’re an easy, cost-effective switch with immediate results.
3. Manage Dampness to Save Energy (Renter Friendly)+
Damp homes feel colder and require more energy to heat. Improve ventilation, use dehumidifiers, and address condensation. For more advice, visit the Energy Saving Trust.
4. Use a Programmable Thermostat+
Use programmable thermostats to match your heating to your schedule and save energy. Smart thermostats even offer greater control through apps. Renters can ask landlords for support or installations to be organised.
5. Wash Clothes at Lower Temperatures (Renter-Friendly)+
Washing at 30°C saves up to 38% energy and is gentler on fabrics. While the lowering the temperature from 40°C to 20°C on cotton programmes cuts costs by 62% reducing energy use (Which?).
6. Turn Off Vampire Power (Renter-Friendly)+
Even when turned off, many devices such as set-top boxes, satellites, internet routers and TVs, continue to use power if they’re plugged in.
You can turn these off at the wall when not in use, for hard-to-reach areas you can buy smart plugs that can be operated remotely.
7. Add Curtains or Blinds (Renter-Friendly)+
Thick curtains or blinds can help insulate windows by trapping heat inside during winter and blocking the sun’s heat in the summer.
Quick and Affordable Energy-Saving Tips
1. Seal Windows and Doors (Renter Friendly)+
Prevent draughts with weatherstripping, caulking, or DIY draught-proofing kits. For a long-term solution, upgrade to double or triple-pane windows for better insulation and noise reduction.
2. Switch to LED Lighting (Renter Friendly)+
LED bulbs use up to 90% less energy and last much longer than traditional bulbs. They’re an easy, cost-effective switch with immediate results.
3. Manage Dampness to Save Energy (Renter Friendly)+
Damp homes feel colder and require more energy to heat. Improve ventilation, use dehumidifiers, and address condensation. For more advice, visit the Energy Saving Trust.
4. Use a Programmable Thermostat+
Use programmable thermostats to match your heating to your schedule and save energy. Smart thermostats even offer greater control through apps. Renters can ask landlords for support or installations to be organised.
5. Wash Clothes at Lower Temperatures (Renter-Friendly)+
Washing at 30°C saves up to 38% energy and is gentler on fabrics. While the lowering the temperature from 40°C to 20°C on cotton programmes cuts costs by 62% reducing energy use (Which?).
6. Turn Off Vampire Power (Renter-Friendly)+
Even when turned off, many devices such as set-top boxes, satellites, internet routers and TVs, continue to use power if they’re plugged in.
You can turn these off at the wall when not in use, for hard-to-reach areas you can buy smart plugs that can be operated remotely.
7. Add Curtains or Blinds (Renter-Friendly)+
Thick curtains or blinds can help insulate windows by trapping heat inside during winter and blocking the sun’s heat in the summer.
