Energy efficiency tips

Insulate your home. Lay down glass wool insulation about 4ins thick in your loft, lag the hot water tank, draught-proof windows and doors.

Get the cavity between the inner and outer walls of your house filled. Specialists use foam or other heat-retaining substances to do this. It isn't cheap but pays for itself in lower heating bills.

Double-glaze windows. The gap between panes traps a layer of still air, retaining heat.

Use heavy material to line curtains or, even better, buy a special thermal interlining. Take care that longer curtains don't drape over radiators, blocking their heat.

Wood floors may be trendy, but they conduct heat away through the floor more than carpets. A good underlay will also stop this waste. Use draught-proofing strips around doors and windows, while ensuring adequate ventilation wherever there are gas appliances.

Buy energy-efficient electrical appliances. The amount of CO2 used depends on ratings, measured in watts. Washing machines and tumble dryers now have efficiency ratings clearly marked. Although TVs and fridges have lower ratings, they are on for longer, so check their ratings too.

Close the fridge door, even if you'll go back to it soon. For every minute the door is open, the motor has to run for three minutes to cool the inside down.

Put a full load in your washing machine before you start your wash. Use lower temperatures - today's laundry powders work at much reduced levels.

Use a washing line or indoor washing horse whenever possible. Tumble dryers use twice as much energy as a washing machine.

Energy-efficient lightbulbs use 80% less electricity for the same amount of light. They cost more but soon pay for themselves.

Take a shower instead of a bath.

Cook several dishes at once in your oven. On the hob, put lids on saucepans. Instead of using the grill for toast, use an electric toaster. Microwaves use less energy than ovens.

Don't leave your television on standby. This is the norm in thousands of households, but in each case it uses £7 worth of electricity a year. The same is true of videos, DVD players and stereos.

Turn down your central heating. A one-degree adjustment on your thermostat could knock hundreds of pounds off your fuel bill.

Don't fill the kettle to the brim to make just one cup of tea.

De-ice your fridge. An iced-up refrigerator uses twice as much energy to keep food cool as an ice-free device.