The planet is on a knife edge; there is little doubt about that. The top scientists from all over the globe agree that the amount of CO2 that we produce every day will affect the lives of our children and grandchildren. What we do today will remain on our conscience until the day we die.

Families are under increasing pressure to afford the energy they use in the home too. Humble people lose sleep over how they will feed the electricity meter tomorrow.

Photo source: Dave Dugdale

You might read this and roll your eyes; you have probably heard it all before. But perhaps your job is not as secure as you would like to think, and you could one day find yourself in the same position as those less fortunate. It makes sense for everybody to cut their power usage now. That doesn’t mean you should sit in a cold home and eat food straight from a can; you just have to take sensible steps to reduce your bills. Here are a few ideas that that will save you cash; guaranteed!

Keep The Heat In And The Cold Out

The first step is to preserve the energy you use. Did you know that insulation will help to keep your home cool in the summer as well as warm in the winter? It is almost as if magic is at work. There are several steps you can take to improve the thermal insulation properties of your building. Before you begin, investigate a scheme called The Green Deal under which you can claim back some of the money you spend on home improvements. You do not need to be on benefits; anybody can qualify. Then look at these measures:
✤ Extra loft insulation is the number one priority. Even if you think there is plenty, you can always add more.
✤ Double glazing will help to stop heat loss and prevent condensation. Your home may suffer from draughts; the new windows will address that problem too. According to the estate agents in Mill Hill, double glazing can make your home worth more than it is now.
✤ Everybody knows about cavity wall insulation, but few realise that external insulation is on the list for the Green Deal too. Not all buildings have cavity walls; you can apply external insulation boards and coat them with waterproof rendering. If the brickwork is not good, the render will improve the looks of the property.
✤ Install efficient appliances. Older models probably use more electricity than they should.

Think about a new:
✣ Dishwasher
✣ Washing machine
✣ Central heating boiler
✣ Microwave oven
✣ Electric cooker

Generate What You Can

Look around the neighbourhood, and you will see an increase in the number of houses boasting solar panels. They are expensive initially but pay for themselves over ten to fifteen years. As electricity prices rise as they inevitably will, your savings increase. Install as many as you can afford to future proof your power supply. You profit from any excess power they generate by selling it to the grid. They are a win-win solution.

I don’t want to make you feel pessimistic about the future [but fracking could kill us all and destroy our fresh water supply]. I just think it is time we all took steps to reduce our carbon footprint. Human beings are ever-resourceful; it is a pity that it is usually at the cost of others.