How to cut your home energy bills

To help offset rising energy prices by following these simple steps you can cut your gas and electric bills by up to 20% a year:

• Turn your heating thermostat down by 1°C.
  
• Run your washing machine at 30°C, and swap detergent for Ecozone Ecoballs which are a more natural alternative to conventional washing powders. They lift away dirt without fading colours or damaging delicate fabrics, are kinder to your skin and the environment, and soften clothes even in hard water - elimninating the need for fabric softener. As they do not contain soap, you can also cut out the rinse cycle to save energy. Ecoballs are re-usable up to 150 washes, which works out at 7p per wash. They also save carrying a box of detergent back from the shops every 12-20 washes!
  
• Use energy-saving light bulbs.
  
• Get your landlord to buy a lagging jacket for your hot water tank and insulate pipes as well as the loft.
  
• Don't use more water than you need when boiling the kettle.
  
• Turn the lights off when you leave a room.
  
• Don't leave electrical appliances on stand-by - turn them off completely.
  
• If you have a Sky digibox then don't leave it running all the time, power it down using the button on the remote instead, if everyone did this we could save enough energy to light Wolverhampton!
  
• Unplug chargers when not in use.
  
• Save up to £350 per year by switching gas or energy suppliers with Moneysupermarket.