Top 10 Tips

Loft insulation could reduce your emissions by 10% to 20%, and could save you up to £200 off your annual energy bills*

* source Energy Savings Trust Sept 2006. Savings based on a 3 bed semi-detached uninsulated gas heated house.

With your Barclaycard Breathe you can save £25 on fully installed loft insulation from British Gas.

Click here to save £25 on your loft insulation

Cavity wall insulation could reduce your emissions by 10% to 20%, and could save you up to £145 off your annual energy bills*

* source Energy Savings Trust Sept 2006. Savings based on a 3 bed semi-detached uninsulated gas heated house.

With your Barclaycard Breathe you can save £25 on fully installed cavity wall insulation from British Gas.

Click here to save £25 on your cavity wall insulation

Most energy is produced by CO₂ emitting fossil fuels. Green energy comes from sources such as wind farms and hydro-electric generating systems. Many energy suppliers offer ‘green source options’.

If a business selects ‘green source’ energy, it is possible to gain exemption from the Climate Change Levy (a tax on energy consumption). This might make ‘green source’ no more expensive than traditional energy.

Click here to get £25 off your first year’s bill with Ecotricity

Click here to get 10% off electrical products from Eco-Electricals.co.uk

Hot water boilers

A staggering 85% of domestic energy is consumed through heating. Around 60% of domestic CO₂ emissions are attributable to boilers. A boiler has a typical lifespan of around 10-15 years. When you replace yours, select a high efficiency ‘A’ rated condensing boiler that can save you up to £180 per year and halve your emissions. You may even be able to secure a grant from your local authority.

You can make further additional energy reductions by fitting the latest generation of Solar Thermal Central Heating Systems to your home or business. These solutions combine the latest generation ‘A’ rated boilers with energy from the sun even in winter. Overall energy gains total between 70% and 80% to that of an older boiler system. Solar Thermal technology is practical, independently tested and easily fitted.

Refrigerators and freezers

Fridges and freezers consume more energy than other kitchen appliances as they are always switched on.

UK households spend over £1.3bn on cooling food and produce and you can typically reduce your annual bill by over £30 per annum and reduce emissions by selecting an energy efficient model.

Washing machines and tumble dryers

Many households use these items on almost a daily basis and excess emissions from inefficient machines are a serious problem.

Even if you don’t have an energy efficient machine, you will use a third less electricity by using a 40° wash cycle rather than 60°. Modern appliances can be as effective at lower temperatures and it is kinder to your clothes.

Dishwashers

If you run your dishwasher every day, you could save on your energy costs and make a respectable reduction in your emissions. Using an energy saving model also conserves water.

Energy efficient light bulbs can reduce your energy bills and emissions dramatically and over the lifetime of a bulb, you can save up to £78. In addition they can last twelve times as long as normal bulbs and when combined with dimmer switches to reduce lighting levels, they are even more effective.

Save 10% off the price of energy efficient lighting from Eco-electricals.co.uk

Click here to save 10% on energy efficient lighting

Of course, we all love our cars. They’re so convenient but do we really need to use our vehicles as much as we do?

When was the last time you tried public transport? A double-decker bus carries a greater number of people and is over five times safer than travelling by car. Imagine how much our carbon emissions would be reduced if everyone decided to go to work by bus or train. If you drive your kids to school, why not try a different routine? Doing the school run on foot isn’t just better for the environment; it also helps children be more awake and alert during lessons too.

Don’t forget with Barclaycard Breathe your interest rate for most public transport is only 5.9%, and you can save 10% on any cycle from Halfords.

Click here to get 10% off your cycle from Halfords

20% of household heat loss is typically through drafts.

Installing draft proofing to BS7386 standard will cost between £50 (if you do-it-yourself) and £100 (if you have it installed), which could save you around £20 per annum off your average fuel bill.

Care must be taken to ensure adequate ventilation remains in kitchens and bathrooms. If you have solid fuel or a gas fire with open flue, check air bricks for blockages and ensure chimneys are swept regularly.

A British Standard cylinder jacket (75mm thick) will cut heat loss by 70%.

It costs around £10 if you fit it yourself and for around another £10, you can lag your water pipes and recover the cost in fuel savings in less than a year.

Double glazing can be expensive, but offers great benefits in terms of reduced heat loss, noise and condensation. If you are on a tight budget, you should consider secondary double glazing. Even polythene sheeting can have a positive impact.

Did you know that if you turn down your room thermostat 1° Celcius, you could save up to 10% off your heating bill? Here are some other ways to cut down at home:

• Take showers rather than baths
• Boil only the water you need
• Use half load or economy cycles in dishwashers and washers when doing small loads
• Stop dripping taps. In one week, one tiny drip can waste enough hot water to fill a bath.