Benjamin Fry gives top tips for saving energy

New research revealed this week shows that the average household could save £340 on annual energy bills by being more energy efficient around the home. In turn they would reduce their household's carbon dioxide emissions by around two tonnes.

Nearly £8.5 billion of energy is wasted in across the U.K. every year. The average household spends £1,300 per year (£25 a week) on fuel and power. However, by following some simple cuts each individual would save £140 per year.

Benjamin Fry, presenter of TV’s Spendaholics, is calling for Brits to take ten minutes during Energy Saving Week to do re-asses their energy consumption and do something green. Energy Saving Week is now in it’s twelfth year and is designed to promote energy saving action among householders through a concentrated programme of events across the U.K. via a network of regional advice centres.

Benjamin’s Tips For Saving Energy:

Brush up on energy saving Eliminate draughts and wasted heat by installing a cheap, easy-to-fix brush or PVC seal on your exterior doors. Letterboxes and keyholes should be covered too. You can install draught proofing yourself.

Draught dodgers

Draughts also get in through gaps in floorboards and skirting boards, which also allow heat to escape in winter. Stop this waste by filling these gaps with newspaper, beading or sealant.

Use energy saving light bulbs

Switch to energy saving light bulbs. They last around 10 times longer than ordinary light bulbs, and each bulb you fit could save around £40 over its lifetime - or up to £60 if you are replacing a very high bright incandescent bulb, or one used for more than a few hours a day.

Jazz up your tank with a jacket

Insulate your hot water tank with a jacket - it only costs a few pounds and with all the heat it traps in, it pays for itself within months. Fit one that's at least 75mm (3") thick and you could save around £30 a year. If every U.K. household that fitted an adequate tank-jacket we'd save over £132 million of energy every year.

Lofty ambitions

Insulating your loft is one of the simplest ways to save energy. Insulate your loft and it could save £155 in energy bills within the year.

Insulate wall cavities

Around 33% of the heat lost in an un-insulated house is through the walls. By insulating wall cavities £120 could be saved on energy bills per year. It also creates an even temperature in your home. If we all filled our wall cavities, we'd save around £670 million-worth of energy a year.

Switch to high-efficiency boilers

If your boiler is over 15 years old it's probably time to replace it. By law, new gas boilers in England and Wales must now be of the high efficiency condensing type, which can help you save up to a quarter on your heating bills and even more if you upgrade to modern controls as well.

Look for the logo

When purchasing new appliances, always look for the Energy Saving Recommended logo. Energy Saving Recommended appliances are the most efficient in their category and could save you up to £34 a year.

Keep twice as warm with double glazing

Double glazing cuts heat loss through windows by 50% and could cut your heating bill by around £110 a year.

Energy Saving Week is now in it’s twelfth year and is designed to promote energy saving action among householders through a concentrated programme of events across the U.K. via a network of regional advice centres. For more information visit:

Energysavingtrust.org.uk/What-can-I-do-today/Support-our-campaigns/Energy-Saving-Week