 | Turn the thermostat down. Reducing the room temperature by 1°C could cut the heating bills by up to 10 percent. If there is a programmer, set the heating and hot water to come on only when required rather than all the time. |
 | Is the water too hot? The cylinder thermostat should be set at 60°C/140°F. |
 | Close the curtains at dusk to stop heat escaping through the windows and check for draughts around windows and doors. |
 | Always turn off the lights whenever leaving a room. |
 | Don't leave appliances on standby and remember not to leave laptops and mobile phones on charge unnecessarily. |
 | If possible, fill up the washing machine, tumble dryer or dishwasher: one full load uses less energy than two half loads. |
 | Only boil as much water as needed (but remember to cover the elements if you're using an electric kettle). |
 | A dripping hot water tap wastes energy and in one week wastes enough hot water to fill half a bath, so fix leaking taps and make sure they're fully turned off! |
 | Use energy saving lightbulbs. They last up to 10 times longer than ordinary bulbs. |
