4. MAKING IT HAPPEN

Now that you hopefully feel more confident about energy and why you want to nurture a low-carbon lifestyle, it's time to pass to action. The two sections at the end of this page will be very helpful in this - the carbon calculator (which through a series of very easy to use screens will calculate your carbon footprint) and a possible list of immediate and longer term actions that will help toward reducing this impact.

Before this, however, it is important to think about the right order of steps you should take towards living a 'low-carbon' lifestyle. By way of an example, and considering the rising cost of heating, lighting and powering our homes, the following steps should prove helpful.

To get the most out of this process it will probably help to have a pen and paper to hand as you'll end up making some really useful notes that you will probably want to refer back to. And don't forget that all the parts of your house are interconnected one way or another, so try to think in terms of the 'whole house' and not just individual parts.

Step 1: Step back and 'think energy' in your house.
The energy we pay for typically comes into your house as either a fuel which is burnt to produce heat or as electricity to power everything you 'plug-in'. A whole range of different items in your home then use this energy to keep you comfortable (e.g. warmth and light), make life easier (e.g. cleaning and keeping food fresh) and let you do the things you want to do (e.g. watching television and running computers).

In the process of using all this energy a significant amount may well get wasted - very often without you really noticing. However, in starting to 'think energy' in your house you'll probably find you start to get a feel for where some of this precious commodity is simply being lost.

The next step should improve this understanding and allow you to see the difference that energy saving measures can make.

Step 2: Monitor and measure it
All properties have meters, or read-outs of some description, that let you see how much energy (electricity) or fuel (gas and oil) that you are using. Regularly checking and making a note of the readings will allow you to get a better feel for the energy use in your house. It will also let you cross-check your bill to make sure that you are not paying for supplies that you have not used.

Finding your meter can sometimes be awkward but your supplier should be able to help you here and also advise you on reading it, which can be tricky on the older 'dial' ones (supplier websites often have good information to help out). It is also possible to buy specific energy monitors which, once fitted correctly, can greatly simplify the meter reading process - making it not only easy and enlightening but also fun.

Step 3: Start saving energy
You should now have a clearer picture of where your energy is coming from, have thought about where it is being used in your home and be regularly noting down just how much is actually being consumed and paid for. From this solid base now is the time to start taking those steps that really save you energy, reduce your carbon emissions and cut your bills.

The test of a successful measure is that you are still living comfortably (or more comfortably!), your meter readings have shown a reduction over time and that you are saving money on your bills.

As we have covered in previous editions of the South Cambs Magazine, there are a great many steps you may be able to take. What is really important is to draw up a list of things that could really work for you in your house under the headings of 'do now', 'look to do over the next 12 months' and 'hope to do over the next two years'.
- some of which are outlined below.

  • Find out how your house is insulated, and whether cavity wall, loft (including top-up to around 30cm), solid wall or floor insulation or double-glazing are options. Get some no-obligation quotes, look into grants and put each option under the appropriate heading on your to do list if you can't do them straight away. Talk to colleagues, friends and neighbours who have similar properties about their insulation and experiences - compare meter readings.
  • Check for draughts around and through doors, skirting boards and windows (whilst remembering not to block essential ventilation); look to see that your hot water tank and pipes and insulated; close curtains at dusk and look to see if they are lined and not covering radiators.
  • Take control of your heating system - make sure its only coming on when you want it and off when you're warm enough and that you're not heating rooms when you don't need to; check thermostats are working properly (or if you don't have them for each room look to install them); look to see if you're overheating your water - you should be able to turn this down a little if you are (but keeping it above 60 Deg. C).
  • By checking your meter, or more easily with an energy monitoring device, look to see how much energy you're consuming overnight or when you're not in. Then, before you go to bed or leave the house empty, make sure that all non-essentials are really 'off' - use your meter reading again to see if this has made a difference.
  • Work your way around the house to progressively change all your light bulbs to the low energy variety - almost every size, fitting and brightness can now be replaced.
  • If you are changing any of your electrical appliances, try to replace them with more energy efficient items.

For a more comprehensive list you could look at the list which comes up in the section below or visit the Energy Saving Trusts website (This link will open in a new window) or DirectGov's Act on CO2 (This link will open in a new window).

Step 4: Think about generating your own renewable energy
Compared to saving energy, generating electricity and heat from your own renewable energy sources is generally a more expensive option - although once up and running the energy provided will begin to 'repay' the initial purchase and installation costs. The less energy you need to generate, however, the less this cost will be - this is why it is so important to follow steps 1, 2 and 3, above, to make sure that your home is using its energy as efficiently as possible and keeping waste to a real minimum.

There are many different renewable energy technologies that might be suitable for the home from solar panels for hot water and electricity to wind turbines, heat pumps and wood boilers. The important thing is to chose the right system for your circumstances as introduced in previous articles. One of the best sources of more detailed advice is the Energy Saving Trust (This link will open in a new window) on 0800 512 012.

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4.1 Calculate your carbon footprint

To have more accurate results, have your energy bills at hands. This calculator only take 5 to 10 minutes to complete.

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4.2 Action!

These pages will list all the actions that everybody can do to save energy, save money and live a low-carbon lifestyle. The actions are sorted into three pages according to the level of investment initially needed.

 

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