Fixtures and fittings

• Lighting accounts for 10 - 25% of the electricity bill in most homes.

Simple tasks like switching off lights can save energy and money. Energy saving bulbs/ tubes – even though they have a higher initial cost – have a longer life span than equivalent regular bulbs and lower running costs:

you can see a payback for your purchase within a year. It is estimated that if every household in the UK used one energy-efficient light bulb, we could switch off a whole power station.

Choose good quality, energy efficient bulbs or appliances (remember to look for the Energy Efficiency Recommended logo when you buy). Poor choice can make a well built extension waste the savings made. Ensure that all external lighting is equipped with controls that turn the lights off in daylight and after a specific period of time or at lower light levels during hours of darkness.

• Before purchasing appliances, always look for their Energy Efficiency Recommended logo (European energy labels). These help you to choose more efficient products which save you money. Most appliances are rated on a scale of ‘A’ to ‘G’ with ‘A’ being most efficient and ‘G’ the least. Normally these labels will show the energy/water consumed and for washing machines, tumble and spin driers the noise levels also.