Energy Saving

Energy saving in the home is central to your personal responsibility in reducing harmful carbon emissions as part of wider personal, local, governmental and international initiatives to develop an environmentally more stable environment. Heating cooking, lighting and entertainment are all ways in which fossil fuels can be consumed and carbon dispensed in to the atmosphere. The build up of carbon in the atmosphere is, arguably, largely responsible for global warming, which could in the future prove to be environmentally catastrophic if moves are not made to halt it.

Domestic users are the fourth biggest producers of carbon emissions, after taking into account the literal waste in carbon produced during the production of energy, carbon burnt for transport purposes and carbon produced by businesses. It is also, perhaps, the area that is most directly within the hands of the general public. This makes it essential that domestic energy use is significantly reduced by the individual, if the U.K. is to reach targets agreed under the International Kyoto Protocol for Climate Change. Government initiatives to encourage energy supply companies to produce sustainable forms of energy abound, but until this is achieved it will be up to the consumer to curb their energy output.

The government currently calculates that domestic emissions are well on target to meet a 10% reduction on their 1990 levels by 2010. However, this is no case for complacency, and further reductions will offset the gross increase in emissions that will come from, for example, increased air travel.

The government have set up the 'Energy Saving Trust' to ensure further reductions in energy waste are achieved The trust advises on domestic as well as business practice and encourages a range of environmentally sustainable initiatives.

Energy Saving Initiatives

There are several energy saving ideas that you may want to consider applying to your home:

• Use energy efficient appliances: There is a universal labeling systems now in place throughout Europe (the EU Energy Efficiency Label) to help you choose energy efficient electrical goods for your home. (See related article.)
• Insulate your home: Double Glazing and cavity wall insulation, together with effective floor, roof and pipe insulation will help to save on energy consumed through compensating for heat loss. Double-glazing will help to reduce the heat lost through your windows by 50%, whilst insulation can reduce heat loss by a further 30%.
• Produce your own sustainable energy: It is possible to generate your own solar, wind or hydra energy for your home. Local authority grants are available to help you achieve this. (See related article.)

Although all of these measures will involve initial financial outlay, energy saving will soon save you money as well as contributing to a safer environment.

Simple Energy Saving Tips

As well as the intensive methods of saving energy outlined above there are many ways to simple reduce you energy output immediately, just by paying attention to wasteful habits:

• Don't leave appliances or lights on when you are not using them.
• Don't leave your computer, television and stereo on standby whilst you are not using them.
• Don't charge your mobile phone unless you need to.
• Avoid, wherever possible, the use of dishwashers and tumble driers. They are largely unnecessary, very wasteful appliances.
• Don't leave kitchen or bathroom tap running unnecessarily. This is even more the case with hot water, which should only be used where cold water is not suitable.
• Take short showers instead of baths.

It is easy to fall into the trap of not considering it important to, for example, turn the lights out when you are not in a certain room; after all, light bulbs use relatively little electricity. However, this attitude over a lifetime, and across an entire planet, has a detrimental impact on the environment. Responsibility for climate change really stats in the home!