Save energy now, with our helpful tips.

Some very simple measures which you may already be implementing in your home. Others you may not, we can all make a difference to the amount of energy we use.

- Turn your thermostat down. Reducing your room temperature by just 1°C could cut your heating bills by up to 10%.

- Is your water too hot? Your cylinder thermostat should be set at around 60°C/140°F

- Close your curtains at dusk to stop heat escaping through the windows. A simple draught excluder can make a noticeable difference to the warmth of a room.

- Always turn off the lights when you leave a room.

- Check the sensitivity of any security lights you may have, ensure they are not turning on unecessarily. Some security lights in particular use a lot of energy when in use.

- Don't leave appliances on standby and remember not to leave appliances on charge unnecessarily. This especially wastes a lot of energy in our homes.

- If you're not filling up the washing machine, tumble dryer or dishwasher, use the half-load or economy programme.

- Only boil as much water as you need (but remember to cover the elements if you're using an electric kettle). You can buy kettle's especially designed for 'just one brew' which will help you save more energy.

- A dripping hot water tap wastes energy and in one week wastes enough hot water to fill half a bath, so fix leaking taps and make sure they're fully turned off!

- Use energy saving lightbulbs wherever you can. They last up to 10 times longer than ordinary bulbs, and using one can save you around £40 over the lifetime of the bulb. This saving could be up to £60 over its lifetime if you're replacing a very high wattage incandescent bulb, or one used for more than a few hours a day.