You don’t need to be Swampy* to go green and save money

Energy prices always seem to go one way – up. And, as winter approaches, the temptation is to whack on the heating at full blast to keep the chills at bay. But as well as hitting your pocket, this can take its toll on the environment too.

Fortunately there are some easy ‘green’ ways to reduce your household bills and do your bit for the environment at the same time, making everyone a winner!

Up to a quarter of a home’s heat can escape through the roof, while a further third can leak through the walls, so ensuring that both are properly insulated is an obvious place to start and can save you a tidy sum. In some cases there is financial support available to help you get the job done, so it is worth taking a look online to see if you may be eligible for a grant or loan.

Switching to a water meter from the pay-as-you-go method can be another easy win. It is free of charge and if there is just one or two of you living at the property can be a quick way to make a saving. However, the exact amount you can hope to save is variable and remember that that a meter doesn’t make financial sense for everyone. A large family who like to take a lot of baths could end up paying more, for example, so think about just how much water you use every day before making the switch.

A slightly more unusual, but increasingly popular, method to reduce water bills is to harvest rainwater. It may sound a bit extreme, but the water can be used for everything except drinking and can help to reduce your household’s mains consumption by around 50%. With equipment costing in the region of £2,000 to £3,000, it’s not cheap and should be viewed as a long term investment. If you’re after something a tad less pricey, try a water butt which should supply all the water you need for your garden free of charge.

Resource Efficient Wales is a fab little service from the Welsh Government that can tell you the best ways to save energy, waste and water. Give them a call for free on 0300 123 2020 or visit http://resourceefficient.gov.wales/ It’s well worth checking out as we approach winter.

*If you’re under a certain age, you may need to Google this!

Nick James MNAEA MARLA

Director