Editor's Blog

The 'Energy Performance Certificate', part of the new Home Information Packs, gives houses an A to G rating, with A being the best. It shows energy efficiency and the impact of a house on the environment in terms of carbon dioxide. The Energy Savings Trust estimates that by following the proposals in the Energy Performance Certificate, the average homeowner will save £300 a year on fuel bills. To help you improve the energy efficiency of your home and make it more attractive to prospective buyers, the organisers of The London Homebuilding & Renovating Show have put together some Top Tips:

Tip No 1 - Increase Insulation Levels
Insulating your home is a great way to reduce energy costs. There is a range of grants available to help with insulation costs. The UK Government funds schemes providing up to £2,500 to households on certain benefits to improve their heating and energy efficiency. Some local authorities also offer grants and more information can be found by ringing 0800 512 012. Grants are available for solar panels and other microgeneration technologies via the Low Carbon Buildings Programme. Ring 0800 915 0990 for further details.

Tip No 2 - Work Your Windows
Around 20% of the heat lost from an average home is through the windows. Consider double glazing your windows or secondary double-glazing if you live in a period property. Double-glazing cuts heat loss through windows by 50% and could significantly reduce your heating bill.

Tip No 3 - Buy Low Energy Appliances
Maximise the efficiency of your appliances - not only will this benefit the environment, it can also save you considerable money on your bills. Make sure white goods like fridges, freezers and washing machines, are A rated (or A++ for fridges and freezers). This means that they are very efficient and, in the case of washing machines, use less water than other models. Remember to turn off computers, TVs and video/DVD players rather than leaving them on stand-by when not in use, as this will substantially cut energy use.

Tip No 4 - Be Clever with Light
Take care to provide good daylight conditions in all habitable rooms and use energy efficient lighting throughout. Good quality low energy light bulbs are one of the best investments you can make as they use a lot less power and last longer. Priced from just £5, they last 12 times longer than an ordinary light bulb. If every UK household installed just one of these bulbs, we'd save over £80 million per year!

Tip No 5 - Heating Hints
Ensure your central heating system is scaled according to your household's needs and the level of insulation. If your boiler is over ten years old, it is worth replacing it; technical improvements mean that new boilers and control systems are significantly more efficient that they were even five years ago, now achieving energy ratings of more than 90%. The most efficient type of gas fired boiler is the condensing boiler which recycles otherwise wasted energy from the combustion gases. The Energy Efficiency Advice Centre runs a database on suitable products. Use individual thermostatic controls on radiators in every room. If the room isn't in use, keep the control turned to low to avoid heating rooms unnecessarily.

Tip No 6 - Reduce Water Consumption
Simple lifestyle changes will quickly reduce the amount of water you use. Take a shower instead of a bath - a bath uses five times as much water! Install a device that reduces your water flow - you can now buy water-saving taps and flow-regulating access valves. Install an ultra-efficient toilet that still operates effectively at low-flush volumes, saving around 30% of the water normally used. Switch off that hose and use rainwater instead, collected in water butts.

Tip No 7 - Sign Up with a Green Power Supplier
Even the most energy efficient home will require some form of supplementary power. The easiest way to minimise the environmental impact of our energy use is to sign up with a green provider. Green Electricity is a website that features a comprehensive list of green energy tariffs.  Good Energy (0845 4561640) supplies electricity from 100% renewable sources and for every unit of electricity you use, Good Energy promise to feed the national grid with a unit of electricity produced from renewable sources of energy such as wind and hydropower.

Tip No 8 - Do Your Homework
Do your homework and get as much information as possible. There are a wide variety of websites to visit including the Association for Environment Conscious Building, the Centre for Alternative Technology and the Energy Saving Trust. Contact your local Energy Efficiency Advice Centre on 0800 512012 for free impartial advice.

For more advice and ideas on environmentally friendly products, increasing your energy efficiency and a lot more, visit the The London Homebuilding & Renovating Show, at ExCeL from 21 to 23 September.