With rising energy costs, it’s important you know how to keep your energy usage as low as possible by making some easy changes around the home!

• Switch off items on stand-by. Yes, this means no more leaving the tv on standby all night!
• Use draught excluders for doors when heating a room, to help stop any loss of heat
• Turn off the lights in rooms you’re not using
• Wash your clothes at 30 degrees and avoid using the tumble dryer
• Don’t over fill the kettle if you’re not using all the water
• If you have a dishwasher at home, opt for hand washing, unless you’re doing a full load
• If you’re buying new appliances, check the energy rating for more efficient items
• Turn your heating down and wear warmer clothes indoors
• Consider swapping your lightbulbs for LED

Did you know, according to The Wildlife Trust that:

• Conserving water helps to save energy. Filtering, heating and pumping water to your home, requires energy, so reducing your water usage also reduces your carbon footprint.
• By using less water, this helps to keep more in our ecosystems and helps to keep wetland habitats topped up for animals like otters, water voles, herons and fish.

In the bathroom

• Showers use less water than baths, so try showering to save water usage
• Put the plug in the basin when you wash and use the collected water instead
• When brushing your teeth, ensure your turn off the tap
• Ensure your taps are turned off fully and not dripping
• Consider fitting a water efficient shower head. You can find more information available by completing Welsh Water’s Get Water Fit calculator
• Fix any leaking taps to avoid wasted water

In the kitchen

• When doing your laundry, wait until you have a full load
• When washing up, use a washing up bowl
• Fix any leaking taps
• Only fill the kettle with the water you need, this also saves energy!
• Looking to buy a new appliance that uses water? Check to see how water efficient it is

In the garden

• A water butt is the perfect way to reuse rainwater for your garden.
• Instead of a garden sprinkler, consider using a watering can filled from your water butt or handheld hose pipe.
• Fit a hose trigger gun onto your hosepipe to only release the water you need
• In your hanging basket, pots and tubs, add water retention crystals to help keep compost moist
• Don’t cut lawns too short and save the clippings to use as mulch to improve soil health

• Travelling in a large group to the same destination? Consider car sharing as fewer cars on the road means less emissions being emitted into the atmosphere.
• Are you travelling locally? Considered getting to your destination by foot or bicycle? The National Cycle Network includes signed paths and routes for walking, cycling and wheeling. You can find out more by heading to the Sustrans website.
• Travelling by public transport? Traveline Cymru has a great timetable for helping you make your journey as easy as possible. You can switch between bus or rail travel as well as other options such as quickest route, least changes or direct.