An Energy Efficiency Light at the End of the Tunnel

Energy efficiency is using less energy while receivingcome from the energy we use every day.
the same level of energy service. An example wouldThings like poor insulation, leaving lights on in
be insulating your home to use less heating andunoccupied rooms or overfilling the kettle all waste
cooling energy to achieve the same temperature, orenergy and result in needless CO2 emissions.
installing an energy-saving device to economise onHowever, it is encouraging to learn that thousands of
your gas usage. Installing fluorescent lights and/ orhouseholds are changing the way they do things and
skylights instead of incandescent lights would also beare thinking - and demonstrating - energy efficiency.
an example of energy saving.For example:o Turning off the lights when leaving a
By making use of more energy efficient technologyroom, installing energy efficient condensing boilers and
or processes rather than by changes in individualinsulating their homes.o Between 2002 and 2005 a
behaviour, it is easy to achieve efficient energy use.massive 1.1 million households installed or topped up
In response to the global call to save energy, thetheir loft insulation. It is estimated that £87
trend towards designing energy efficient buildings,million a year in energy costs will be saved as a result
industrial processes and transportation have drasticallyof this.
increased in order to reduce energy consumption.What is evident is that by each of us making a small
This in turn plays a major part in reducing globalcontribution, we can all make a difference. Whether it
emissions of greenhouse gases in a bid to protectis replacing incandescent bulbs with energy-saving
and save the planet.bulbs, or installing a 'green box' to the heating/ hot
According to the Energy Saving Trust - a non-profitwater system to lower utility bills and reduce energy
organisation funded by the UK government, devolvedconsumption, you can definitely make a difference ...
governments and the private sector - over 40% ofand save money at the same time!
the UK's carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions actually