Save money by being energy efficient

The average home can save £300 a year by being energy efficient.

Cut your bills and make your home cosier in the winter with these simple steps from the Energy Saving Trust.

Cheap and simple energy saving tips:

Turning your thermostat down by 1ºC could cut your heating bills by up to 10% and save you around £55 per year.

Is your water too hot? Your cylinder thermostat should not need to be set higher than 60ºC/140ºF.

Close your curtains at dusk to stop heat escaping through the windows.

Always turn off the lights when you leave a room.

Do not leave appliances on standby and remember not to leave appliances on charge unnecessarily.

It is best to wait until you have a full load if you are using the washing machine, tumble dryer or dishwasher; but if you really can't wait, then use the half-load or economy programme.

Only boil as much water as you need (but remember to cover the elements if you are using an electric kettle).

A dripping tap wastes around 5,500 litres of water a year. That is enough water wasted to fill a paddling pool every week for the whole summer. If you are on a water meter, mending your dripping tap could save around £18 a year.

Replace your light bulbs with energy saving recommended ones. Each one you fit can reduce your lighting costs by around £40 over the lifetime of the bulb - and they last around 10 times longer than ordinary light bulbs.

Do a home energy check. Just answer some simple questions about your home and we will give you a free, impartial report telling you how you could save around £300 a year on your household energy bills.

For more information visit Energy Saving Trust or call 0800 512 012 to speak to your local Energy Saving Trust Advice Centre.