Lifestyle action

Longer term action

As we become aware of our own carbon footprint, as well as taking ‘offsetting’ action most of us naturally want to take steps to minimise our own effect on the environment.

There are major lifestyle changes we may be able to consider – such as selling the car and taking to our bike or public transport, cutting out air travel completely, or providing our own home’s energy requirements through renewable microgeneration.

But there are also many small ways in which we can alter our own lifestyle to make an ongoing difference. Almost half the UK’s CO2 is generated by the everyday activities of the population – heating, lighting, using electrical appliances, travelling to and from work. As we all make small changes to our daily habits, they can make a real difference. See below for our everyday energy-saving tips.

In addition, there are various organisations and governmental websites which provide advice and ideas for action on energy saving – for individuals, for communities and for businesses. See:

 

Use less – and pay less

You can not only get a cheap, fair rate for your gas and electricity with EquiClimate’s fellow brands EquiGas and EquiPower, but also increase your personal incentive to use less energy. These opportunities are provided by Ebico, the only not-for-profit energy company in the UK.

EquiGas and EquiPower both charge a single, flat rate to all their customers, regardless of how much energy each customer uses or how they choose to pay. In addition, there is no fixed service charge.

Why should that encourage you to use less energy? Most energy supply companies vary their rates for customers in order to make the biggest profit. The customers who buy most, and who pay online or by direct debit, are usually those who pay the lowest rate. Most companies also have a fixed service charge, which means customers pay the highest charges for their first few kWh each quarter.

Not only does that unfairly penalise those who can afford it least – often those using prepayment meters – but it also means there’s not much financial incentive for consumers to use less energy.

But with EquiGas and EquiPower, because everybody is charged exactly the same rates regardless of how much they pay, and there’s no standing charge, the less you use, the less you pay.

It really is that simple – cut your usage by 10 per cent and save 10 per cent off your bill!

 

Generate your own power

EquiClimate’s parent company Ebico offers a special deal to people who choose to generate their own green energy through the use of solar panels or wind power.

Read more about renewable microgeneration on the Ebico website.

Radiator
 

Save more, spend less: energy saving tips

You’ll not only be taking better care of the environment, but you’ll find you make real savings on your gas and electricity when you act on these easy tips for energy efficiency.

Heating your home

  • Keep radiators clear. Blocking a radiator with furniture or behind curtains reduces its output and efficiency.
  • Warm enough? Turning your thermostat down by 1°C can reduce your bill by up to 10%
  • Keep windows closed in cold weather. Otherwise you’re paying for heat that’s going straight out of the window! If you’re too hot, turn the heating down.
  • Close curtains. If you close curtains at dusk, it helps to keep the warmth inside your rooms.
  • Thermostats. Check your thermostat is in the best place for maintaining a balanced temperature – away from draughts and any cold or hot spots.

Lighting your home

  • Use daylight. Why spend on electricity when daylight will do the job? Enjoy free light all day by keeping windows clean and clear.
  • Switch off lights in empty rooms. Turning off unnecessary lights can save you up to 15 per cent of your lighting bill.
  • Use energy-efficient light bulbs. The latest Low Energy light bulbs use only 20 per cent of the energy a normal light bulb uses to produce the same amount of light.
  • Keep your light fittings clean. Dirt reduces lighting efficiency, encouraging people to turn more lights on.

Appliances in your home

  • Turn off at the plug. Leaving televisions, videos, DVD players and stereos on standby can use anything between 10-80 per cent of the power that would be used if the device were switched on. Turn them off at the plug.
  • Bath or shower? Having a bath can use at least twice as much hot water as an ordinary shower. But – power showers can use more than a bath. An ordinary shower gets you just as clean! – and costs least.
  • Don’t overfill your kettle. Only heat the amount of water you need.
  • Fridges. Don’t overwork them by leaving them open, and don’t place food in them that is still warm.
  • Defrost your fridge/freezer regularly. It might take a while, but regularly defrosting these appliances helps them to run much more cheaply and efficiently.