Healthy household choices

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• One full load in the washing machine or dishwasher uses less energy than two half loads. Also, consider turning down the temperature. Given today's detergents, hot water isn't really necessary for the average load.
• Experiment with your washing machine to see how short a cycle you can use and still achieve effective results.
• Line-dry clothes outside or on radiators, instead of using a tumble dryer. If you need to use a dryer, ensure the lint filter is clean and the room where the clothes dryer is has plenty of air circulation. This will allow your clothes to dry faster and save electricity, as will ensuring that they've gone through a fast spin in your washing machine.
• Don't leave electrical items on standby - turn them off, and remember not to leave laptops and mobile phones on charge unnecessarily. This will save you cash and reduce your carbon emissions. When you leave your TV on stand-by, it still uses a third of the electricity it would use when watching it.
• Choose energy-efficient appliances. These are increasingly widely available at low costs. For example, new refrigerators are far more energy efficient that the ones of 20 years ago. Today's air conditioners can use up to 50% less electricity than those of 20 years ago. Front loading washing machines have dropped a great deal in price recently and are also more energy efficient that top loaders. However, when buying new appliances, do check their energy ratings as they can still vary widely.
• Do a home energy check. The Energy Saving Trust offers a good one: www.energysavingtrust.org.uk . By answering some simple questions about your home you can save on average £250 a year on household energy bills.

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