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Reduce at Home
Turn down the boiler or heater setting by one degree
Insulate the loft with 300mm of insulation, insulate the hot water pipes, fit an insulating jacket to the hot water boiler, draught strip the doors and windows. Materials are available from all good hardware stores. Those on low incomes can obtain insulation through the Warmer Homes Scheme run by Energy Action. www.energyaction.ie. For Irish produced natural insulation materials see www.sheepwoolinsulation.ie.
Turn off the lights, unplug appliances and don't leave them on stand-by. The Power Saving Intelligent Mains Panel, basically a high quality surge panel, with one master and seven peripheral sockets enables one to plug in all peripheral devices. Once your computer is shut down, for example, all other devices also shut down. Available from all good eco-shops.
Fit energy saving light bulbs.
Fit reflective foil on the wall behind radiators on the outside walls to reflect heat back into the room. These are the most cost effective ways of saving energy.
Use energy efficient appliances, such as an A rated washing machine.
Cavity-fill outside walls of older houses with insulation
Replace old windows with double glazing
If you can do any of these, check how much you have managed to reduce your fuel bills next year. Join with neighbours to reduce your ecological footprint with help and advice from Global Action Plan www.globalactionplan.ie.
For inspiration see how a 1950s semi in Oxford was updated to an modern eco-home.
www.sageoxford.org.uk/ecohouse.htm.
For further energy reducing ideas check out
www.powerofone.ie
Reduce with your Car
Keep the car at home, set up a car pooling scheme at work, share journeys, shop less often, walk the kids to school and help them to be fitter,
Make sure the car is regularly serviced and tuned and the tyre pressures are correct, SLOW DOWN 100 kmph uses twice as much fuel as 60 kmph.
Reduce your Flights
Is your journey really necessary?
Holiday at home. www.greenbox.ie.
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