Energy Saving Week - Save your 20%

This week is energy saving week. The Energy Saving Trust is calling on individuals to commit reduce their energy usage to help the UK meet it's target of a 20% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2010.

There are lots of simple steps we can take to reduce our own energy usage like turning off TVs and computers rather than leaving them on standby, replacing normal lightbulbs with energy efficient ones and only boiling as much water as we actually need.

I've made my commitment to

• only boil as much water as I need
• turn down my themostat by 1 degree C
• turn appliances off standby
• replace 3 lightbulbs with energy saving recommended light bulbs
• buy energy saving recommended appliances
• wash laundry at 30 degrees
• leave my car at home for short journeys

So far this adds up to an 8.7% saving, so I need to look into some of the bigger saving measures too - as I live in a flat I don't think I can do much about cavity wall insulation, but I may be able to improve the loft insulation and perhaps I could get a condensing boiler.

So I'm off now to get catch the bus and get myself some energy saving light bulbs, pausing only to turn off my appliances before I leave...

Hope you'll all make your commitment too.