Reduce your energy by 10% in 2010 with our New Year resolutions!
As we say goodbye to 2009 and hello to 2010, it's time to start setting your new year's resolutions. So if you haven't made yours already and you're stuck for ideas, here are a few to get you started:
1. Sign up to 10:10 - This nationwide campaign asks you to cut your CO2 emissions by 10% in 2010. As Good
Energy customers are already using zero-carbon electricity and are already pretty energy efficient, it's a big ask. But we know you like a challenge, and we'll help you with tips and advice throughout the year - email 1010@goodenergy.co.uk to let us know you've signed up.
2. Top-up your loft insulation - The recommended minimum is 250mm in the loft, but there's often room for a top-up - especially during this cold weather. Our friends at HeatKeeper have just introduced a natural wool insulation solution, which is so safe to use you don't even have to wear protective clothing to install it.
3. Fix any dripping taps - Did you know that a single tap dripping once a second could waste 1400 litres of water in a year? It's not just a waste of precious water, it's a waste of carbon too as processing and distributing the water we use in our homes has a high carbon footprint. A new washer costs as little as a pound, so get your wrenches out!
4. Stop drying clothes on radiators - Drying wet clothes on the radiator can reduce the amount of heat that circulates in the room - and cause damp. Ever resourceful, Dawn from our Shop team found a great solution in a charity shop the other day: a pull-out washing line that you can extend over the bath tub. It only cost a couple of quid and it means that when it's too cold or wet to dry clothes outside you can still dry them naturally and the bathroom extractor fan should prevent any damp. We're going to see if we can find some to stock at the Good Energy Shop. For your clothes-free radiators, our HeatKeeper Radiator Panels can help them work more efficiently by reducing heat lost through the wall.
5. Invest in an eco electric blanket - Our hot water bottles have certainly served us well during recent chilly winter nights. But lately we've been having some rather frosty mornings too and the hot water bottle is usually stone cold by then. Morphy Richards has a great solution - an Eco Electric Underblanket which we've just finished testing with great results - and it only costs around 4p a night to run on the eco setting.
6. Defrost the freezer - Once all the Christmas food has been eaten and the bottom of the freezer has reappeared it's the perfect opportunity to defrost it before rushing back to the shops to fill it up again. A frost free freezer will run much more efficiently. A full freezer also uses less energy than an empty one, so don't take too long to fill it back up again.
7. Switch your GU10 spotlights to LED bulbs - Most of us who have spotlights in our homes have already converted to the 7-11w energy saving ones, but the new Envirolight LED ones on the Good Energy Shop are only 2.6w so we can now get the same light for 75% less electricity.
8. Investigate whether your home is suitable for a solar thermal unit - According to Good Energy's Generate Your Own website, installing a Schuco Solar Thermal System costs approx £3,900 +VAT and it qualifies for a £400 grant from the BERR's Low Carbon Buildings Programme. It's a fantastic investment as not only will you be saving on your water heating bill, you can also earn an income from Good Energy's HotROCs scheme. Just complete the desktop survey online to see if your property is suitable.
9. Install Shower Smart Units on your shower heads - Eaga were giving away one unit per household free and they say that they can save you up to 12,000 litres of water per year. They are currently sold out at the moment, but you can still register for one ready for when they have them back in stock. Use them in conjunction with a shower timer and you should save even more.
10. Complete the Home Energy Check on the Energy Saving Trust website - This tool enables you to calculate the carbon footprint of your home. It also offers free independent advice on how you can save even more energy this year.
We hope you find these ideas useful. If you can think of any more we can add to our list, drop us a line at feedback@goodenergyshop.co.uk.
Best wishes
The Good Energy Shop Team