Why Do We Need To Save Energy?

In countless ways, electricity and gas provide us with the power that we need for our daily lives. Fossil fuels such as gas, oil and coal that are used to generate electricity all have been produced by nature over thousands of years. In the early 1980's there was a major concern that we would use up all the fossil fuels, in the near future. More recently this concern has shifted emphasis toward pollution caused by the burning of these fuels for heat, light and energy.

Acid gases, given off when we generate electricity, mix with sunlight and water in the atmosphere to produce acid rain.

This acid rain pollutes our rivers and streams and damages plants, trees and buildings.

Global Warming

Our atmosphere contains a layer of "greenhouse gases" which allows heat to pass through from the Sun to the Earth. These gases trap some of the heat in the Earth's atmosphere which keeps the planet warm; just like a greenhouse. The main greenhouse gas is carbon dioxide which is released every time fossil fuels are burnt. If we produce more carbon dioxide than our trees and oceans can absorb, too much heat is trapped and the planet begins to overheat. This is called global warming.

We add to the worlds carbon dioxide level when we heat our homes, switch on our lights, use our TV, washing machine, or any other electrical or gas appliance.

Over a quarter of the UK's carbon dioxide is produced by energy usage in the home.

The average household produces over 7 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year.

Global warming is causing changes in our climate and is increasing the risk of drought and flooding in areas of the world.

You can help by being "energywise", saving energy and money by following these guidelines:

Heating And Hot Water

• Reduce your energy use and fuel bill by up to 10%, turn down your central heating by 1ºC.
• Take control of your central heating! Fit a timer or a thermostat so that you only use energy when you need it.
• Reflect the heat from radiators into the room, by putting foil behind them and/or a shelf above.
• Don't heat empty rooms unless there is a problem with condensation or the weather is very cold.
• Think about replacing an old central heating boiler with an energy efficient condensing boiler.
• Only heat the water that you need - don't leave it on all the time.
• Use hot water efficiently - take showers instead of baths.
• Reduce the temperature of your stored hot water, 50ºC is hot enough for bathing/washing-up etc.

Insulation

• Curtains are an excellent form of insulation. Close them at dusk and don't let them hang in front of radiators.
• Fit draught excludes to draughty windows and doors.
• Lag your hot water tank and pipes (this also protects against burst pipes in cold weather)
• Check that your loft insulation is at least 15 cm (6 inches) thick. Use mineral fibre rather than polystyrene products that may contain CFC's.
• Window and wall insulation is costly and is best left to an expert contractor - but it will save you money in the long run.

For further information including grants contact The Home Energy Efficiency Scheme on Free Phone 0800 0720150

Light And Power

Although most of the energy used in you home is for heating and hot water, changes in other areas can also have an impact on reducing our energy use. Try the following:

• Use long-life, low energy light bulbs. They might be more expensive, but last about eight times longer and use three-quarters less electricity.
• Turn off lights in empty rooms and turn off electrical appliances when you aren't using them (turn the TV right off - don't leave it on standby).
• Buying new appliances is a good opportunity to make sure you save energy. The EU Eco-label and energy ratings on fridges, washing machines make it easier to see which model uses least energy, which will save you money over time,
• Do we really need all our electrical appliances? Think before you use them, some tasks are just as easy by hand (and you'll save on washing-up!)
• Only fill the kettle with as much water as you need - but make sure you cover the element. Descale it regularly.
• Don't use a fridge or freezer which is too large for your needs, and make sure these appliances are regularly defrosted.
• Choose the right size pan for what you're cooking and your cooker. For electric cookers, the pan base should just cover the ring, while for gas, the flame should be turned down so that it never comes up the side of the pan.
• Put lids on saucepans to keep the heat in, and reduce the heat when it starts to boil.
• Cook small things under the grill rather than in the oven.

Water

Every year each household uses and wastes thousands of gallons of water. Water is essential - protect the quality and quantity of your supply.

• Buy water-efficient washing machines and dishwashers (look for the eco- and energy efficient labels) and only use them with a full load.
• Ordinary showers use only a fifth of the water, compared to taking a bath or having a 'power' shower.
• Fix leaking taps and overflows . In one day a leaking tap can waste enough water to fill a bath.
• Use a plug or bowl in the sink rather than leaving the water running, and also don't leave the water running when you're cleaning your teeth!
• Collect rain water in a garden water butt and use it to water the garden. Remember, a sprinkler can use as much water in an hour as a family of four does a day.
• Cut back on chemicals used in the garden. When it rains, chemicals can be washed off your garden into streams, rivers and drains.
• Chemicals from household cleaning products can also cause water pollution. Try to buy 'environmentally friendly' household cleaning products.
• Avoid flushing hair-dyes, bleaches or medicines down the toilet or sink. Put them in their containers and then into the rubbish bin.
• Never pour engine oil down drains or onto soil. Waste oil can be taken to the Civic Amenity sites at Dark Lane, Harpenden or Sandridge Road, St Albans.

Is Your Loo Seat Worth A Rainforest?

Most of us are concerned by the cutting down of tropical rainforests, as they play a vital role in helping to maintain the balance of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. It is the home to the greatest variety of animals and plants on earth, which might contain the solution to many modern day diseases. One in ten of the medicines that we commonly use come from the rainforest, yet we still know relatively little about the remaining plants.

Buying furniture or doors, window frames and any other wooden items like loo-seats which are made from tropical hardwoods such as teak or mahogany encourages the destruction of the rainforests. To meet the demand for mahogany, teak, meranti and ebony at least 4.5 million hectares of forest are logged each year. These woods take hundreds of years to mature so they cannot be replaced easily.

Also, much of the world's bauxite, which provides aluminium, is mined in rainforest areas. To reach it, trees and top soil are removed so that mining can take place.
So if you need wood or wood products, buy:

• Softwoods (pine, larch, spruce)
• Hardwoods like temperate beech, ash or oak.
• Wood that has been certified by either the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) or the "Good Wood Seal of Approval" awarded by WWF. They both guarantee that wood forested comes from properly managed and ethical sites.

also,

• recycle your old aluminium drinks cans, so that we need less mining in rainforests.