Want to cut your energy bills? Here's our simple guide to reducing energy usage, slashing your carbon footprint and saving money all at the same time. <br>

<b>What are the benefits?</b><br>
From an eco perspective, around 10 per cent of the average person's total emissions comes from heating their home ' so it's a

big part of anyone's carbon footprint. Financially, it also makes sense: reduce the amount of energy you use to heat your

home and you'll cut your fuel bills.

Some of the things you can do are simple and others require more effort, so really it's up to you how much you do. But

remember the more reduction measures you take, the more money you will save in the long run.<br>

<b>Common sense:</b><br>
The easiest things you can do to reduce heating costs are basic common sense. For example, wear a jumper instead of turning

up the radiator temperatures, and don't leave doors and windows open if your central heating is on. These types of things are

so simple they're almost taken for granted. Here are some more ideas:
<ul><li>Turning your thermostat down a degree or two can cut the amount of energy used for heating by more than 5 per cent.

</li>
<li>Water needn't be heated to a scalding temperature. Set your cylinder thermostat to 60°C or 140°F.</li>
<li>Programme your central heating to only be on while you're in ' heating your house all day if you're not there is

wasteful.</li>
<li>When cooking, choose the right size pan and use lids that retain heat. Pans that are too big or too small for their

contents wastes energy.</li>
<li>Use sunlight to heat (and light) your rooms by opening curtains during daylight but remember to close them at night to

retain the heat.</li>
<li>The patio heater is no ordinary household appliance. It uses on average the same amount of energy as a gas hob gets

through in six months, emitting around 50kg of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year. The CO2 emitted by 2.3 million patio heaters is

as much as would be emitted by driving from Lands End to John O'Groats 200,000 times.</li>
</ul><br>
<b>Insulate your home</b><br>
In the average home 30 per cent of the heat inside escapes through the walls and the roof. That means insulating your loft

and cavity wall is the first port of call for reducing your heating costs.

Both are relatively easy to get installed and can pay for themselves in as little as two years for loft insulation and five

years for cavity wall. There may even be grants available to help you towards the cost of installation.<br>

<b>Get a better boiler</b><br>
Heating and hot water is another area where significant cuts can be made. A boiler will last around 15 years, so choosing a

high-efficiency condensing model with heating controls can make a huge difference.

High efficiency models can use up to 40 per cent less energy than older boilers, saving you up to £170 a year in bills.
<br><b>Double glaze and/or draught proof your windows</b><br>
Up to a fifth of all household heat loss can be caused by poorly insulated frames and single-glazed windows. Double glazing

can cut this in half.

But if you can't afford double glazing, draught-proofing is a cheaper way to <A

HREF="http://www.teamgreenbritain.org/Article/how-to-reduce-heating-bills ">reduce your heating bills</A> and keep the heat

in. Invest in weatherstripping, draught-excluder brushes, long, lined curtains and fabric ''sausages' for the bottom of doors

' these can go a long way towards keeping the heat in.