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The cost of energy is only going one way and that is up. The only way to pay less is to use less and there are other good reasons to save energy, not least of all climate change.

A lot of the energy we use is simply wasted, lights are left on when rooms are empty, TVs are left on standby, computers are left on, windows left open when heating or air-conditioning is running, sometimes, as in the case of our local McDonald's, both at the same time!

So what can we do to reduce energy consumption?

There's several approaches:

Firstly the No Cost method: turning appliances off, or reducing thermostat settings. If you feel a bit colder there is always that superb Christmas sweater, the one with the picture of Rudolph on the front. sitting around at home in just your underwear is not only unsightly but wasteful. Don't leave the heating on full blast in an empty room. Check the setting on your fridge and make sure it isn't set too cold, 4-5 degrees Celsius is better than 2. don't use the microwave to thaw out frozen food, just get it out of the freezer in plenty of time to thaw naturally. Turn off your computer when you aren't using it. The story about the hard disk wearing out early is a myth, I always turn mine off and have never suffered a hard disk failure, that's after 15 years and over 20 different computers. If your freezer or fridge is next to a heat source move it.

At night, if you have the heating on draw the curtains and close the windows. if it becomes too hot turn the heating off.

The Low Cost method: replace your incandescent light bulbs with low energy florescent bulbs, which have a far longer life and, for the same amount of light use up to 80% less energy. Fit draught excluders to your doors and windows.

The Medium Cost Method: make sure that your home isn't leaking heat to the atmosphere, make sure that your roof has a good layer of insulating material to reduce heat loss. with a good insulation layer your heating or air-conditioning has to work less hard, saving you cash. whilst you're about it, fit reflective foil behind your radiators, no point heating the walls instead of the air in your room.

The High Cost Approach, which has a longer payback time, is to change your heating boiler for a more efficient one, replace your windows for double or triple glazed units, consider hiring a thermals imaging camera to watch your house from the outside: you will see where heat is leaking out and you can do something about it.

There is no need to suffer, but you can maintain a good lifestyle without any discomfort. Few people are so rich that they couldn't enjoy lower bills. Energy saving is something you can start here and now, so get to it.

Learn more about this author, Jeff Dray.
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