How can I help tackle climate change?

The energy used to heat the spaces we live and work in is one of the highest contributors to our carbon footprints. The majority of houses in Kingston still rely on fossil fuel gas boilers, which the Government is moving to phase out.

If you want to know how energy efficient your home is, check to see if it has an energy performance certificate by visiting the Government’s website. 

There are lots of less carbon intensive alternatives available, such as installing heat pumps, electric heating or even district heat networks where a central source is used to heat water which is then shared among nearby houses through a network of pipes.

One of the easiest and very impactful actions on climate change is to make sure the energy you buy is from renewable sources. There are many companies in the UK that offer 100% renewable energy and even those who don’t often offer a ‘green tariff’. Ask your energy supplier about this today, or take a look online for alternative suppliers.

Energy saving at home

There are plenty of ways to save energy, money and carbon emissions at home. From heating to lighting, appliances to water supplies, there are lots of things we can all do to help.

The information below has been provided by the Energy Saving Trust.

Kitchen

• Save yourself £13 a year on your bills by not overfilling the kettle.
• Use the right sized pan and put a lid on pots to help food cook more quickly.
• Keep the oven and fridge doors shut as much as possible.
• Microwaves can use less energy than an electric oven so choose the best appliance for the job.
• Wash your clothes at 30 degrees instead of higher temperatures to save £17 a year and avoid half loads.
• Dry your clothes outside in the summer to save £70 a year (compared with a tumble dryer).

Living room

• Draw the curtains at dusk to keep the heat in and the draughts out.
• Turn off lights when you’re not using them to save £25 a year.
• Keep comfy throws and blankets handy to avoid turning the heating up more than necessary
• Switch appliances off standby to save £65 a year on your bills.
• Don’t leave devices charging longer than required, as this wastes energy.

Hall

• Replace all the lightbulbs in your house with LEDs to save £65 a year.
• Fit draught excluders around the front door and over the letter box and key holes.
• If it still feels chilly, a thick door curtain can help keep the heat in.
• Turn your thermostat down by 1 degree and save up to £145 a year.

Dining room

• Set your radiator on the lowest setting if you don’t use the dining room often.
• Don’t overdo the catering – food waste contributes toward CO2 emissions and costs you money too.
• Keep all the doors in your house closed to keep the heat in each room.

Bathroom

• Set your controls to give you enough hot water at the right temperature, when you need it.
• Turn off the tap when you’re cleaning your teeth, shaving or washing your face.
• Swap just one bath a week with a 4-minute shower to save £9 per person per year on your energy bills.
• Consider fitting an aerated or low-flow showerhead to cut down water use.

Bedroom

• Electric blankets are fine to warm the bed up, but if you want it on for more than an hour, a hot water bottle is cheaper.
• Set the boiler to switch off for a bit before you go to bed – you don’t need it on overnight.
• Set the heating to come on just before you get up, so it’s warm by the time you get out of bed.
• Don’t leave your phone charging all night – it should only need a couple of hours.

Heating controls

• Install a room thermostat, programmer and thermostatic radiator valves to save £180 a year.
• Use heating controls to heat up a room just before you need it and switch off before you’re done, to enjoy the residual heat.
• Get your boiler serviced in the summer, so it’s in good working order before winter arrives.
• Bleed your radiators so your heating is working efficiently.
• Take time to understand how your heating controls work so you can use them confidently.

Home appliances

• Choose an A-rated fridge freezer over an F-rated one to save £800 in energy costs over its lifetime.
• Buy an A-rated dishwasher instead of a E-rated one to save £35 a year in running costs.
• Choose a smaller TV (G-rated, 55- inch) over a larger one (G-rated, 66- inch) to save £25 a year in running costs.
• Use a new laptop instead of an old desktop computer to cut £45 a year off your energy bills. Better yet, a tablet uses on average 75% less power than a laptop.

There is plenty of information available from The Government and the Energy Saving Trust to help you make other simple changes at home.