improving and decorating your home

Ordinary bulbs
25W
40W
60W
100W
Energy saving bulb equivalent
6W
8 - 11W
13 - 18W
20 - 25W
●
●
●
Energy efficient versions of light
fittings can also be bought. In some
cases - such as outdoor lamps -
these can contribute to substantial
savings on bills as they only allow
the use of lower wattage bulbs.
Because they use just a quarter of
the energy of traditional lightbulbs
to create an equivalent amount of
light, energy-saving bulbs come in
much lower wattages.
But be warned. There are cheaper
‘economy’ bulbs out there that say
they are energy efficient but may
not do as good a job for you.
And so to make sure you choose a
good quality energy efficient bulb or
light fitting, look for the Energy
Efficiency Recommended logo
when you come to buy.
Further information on lighting, domestic appliances, boilers, and
draught proofing
● Energy Efficiency Advice Centre: You can get free, impartial advice on all
aspects of energy use in your home by contacting your local Energy
Efficiency Advice Centre (EEAC) on 020 8683 6655. EEACs can point you
towards the energy wasters in your home, give tips and advice on how to
cut this wastage, refer you to an Energy Efficiency Installer and tell you
about grants and offers available in your area if you want to take action.
● DIY Home Energy Check: If you want to save maximum energy at minimum
cost then simply complete a DIY Home Energy Check questionnaire, which
you can obtain during office hours from your local Energy Efficiency Advice
Centre. If you like, they can talk you through the questionnaire or even
complete it for you. Once completed, you will get a free evaluation of the
energy efficiency of your home with a guide to which products will gain the
maximum savings when installed.
● Heating and Ventilating Contractors Association (HVCA)
Tel: 020 7313 4900 email contact@hvca.org.uk
● Boiler and Radiators Manufacturers Assn Ltd. (BARMA)
Tel: 0141 332 5788
Appliances
Unfortunately not all appliances use
the same energy to do the same job.
And so if you are running old
appliances in the kitchen, which will
not be as efficient as their modern
replacements, you will probably be
paying way over the odds when it
comes to energy bills.
Energy efficient models use less
power and cost less to run.
And because they need less energy,
they are responsible for fewer greenhouse
gas emissions back at the
power station. Although some of
these energy efficient appliances cost
a little more than their inefficient
alternatives, they will all save you
money on your energy bills and are
better value in the long run. “A” rated
models are the most efficient, and “E”
rated the least. The more efficient
ones usually cost a little more, but will
usually easily save their extra purchase
price over their lifetime, particularly as
electricity prices rise.
Look out for the Energy Efficiency
Recommended logo and the EU
Energy Label. Both will point you in
the right direction when you are
shopping for the most energy efficient
appliance on the market.
Lighting
Cost of energy saving bulb
Cost of regular bulb
Energy saving bulb savings (over regular bulb)
Costs recovered
£5 (approx)
50p (approx)
£10 per year, £68 over a typical lifetime (including cost of bulb)
6 months
34 HOUSEHOLDERS GUIDE