Saving energy, saving money: Helping you save money and be more energy efficient Taking a few simple steps can increase the energy efficiency of your home and save you money:Keeping in heatClose the curtains at dusk and tuck them behind any radiators (except gas wall heaters).Move furniture that blocks heat from radiators.Cover up draughty gaps around letter boxes, key holes and doors.Open internal doors of rooms which get most of the sunlight to allow warm air to travel through and heat your home naturally.Other measuresAlways turn off the lights when you leave a room and are not going to return soon.Use energy efficient light bulbs - Fitting just one energy saving light bulb can save you on average £3 a year, and by swapping all the inefficient bulbs in your home for energy-saving alternatives you could save around £55 per year.Buy energy efficient appliances - When replacing appliances look for the Energy Efficiency Recommended Logo as a guide to help you choose the most energy efficient product.

An 'A' rated fridge can save you about £40 a year compared to a 'G' rated one.When making a hot drink - Only boil as much water as you need (but remember to cover the elements if you're using an electric kettle).Don't leave the TV, video or computer on standby. Switch off appliances at the wall or pull the plug out as leaving unnecessary items on standby could cost each household an average of £37 a year.Don't leave mobile phones and other equipment on charge unnecessarily.Switch energy supplierOur fuel switching campaign, It Pays to Switch has helped saved each household an average £290.You don't have to use our campaign.  Look online for deals offered by energy companies - they might be better than the tariff you are currently on.Further Energy Advice and AssistancePlease use the 'contact us' box if you have any questions.  For more information, see 'related pages', 'downloads' or 'other useful websites'.By Louie Watts on 8th February in Home Inspiration With winter in full swing and summer seeming a lifetime away, there’s no better way to get through the months than with cosy nights spent by the fire.

But as disruptive storms continue to blow across the UK, keeping the chill outside can be a challenge. Whether you live in a contemporary city apartment or a farmhouse in the highlands, keeping cosy is key to getting you through the season – and in today’s post, we’re giving you some hints and tips for bringing a touch of warmth to your home this winter. From wall lights to lampshades, your choice of lighting is a huge factor in nurturing the atmosphere in your home. If you’re in search of ambience, energy efficient light bulbs and wall mounted lamps can help to create a more mellow mood. Whether it’s dinner by the fire or a film with the family, softer lighting can alter the appearance of a room – providing a more welcoming living space for both you and your guests. Try switching out ultra-bright or blue-hued light bulbs for warmer tones and lower wattages to bathe your living room in a golden glow. Flooring is a key factor in helping to create a cosier home – and from warm wooden shades to fluffy carpets underfoot, it’s important you find your perfect fit.

While stylish tiles and laminate floors can be visually appealing, they’re often not as insulated as carpets and cold underfoot. telescopic shower curtain rail wilkinsonsIf you want to avoid the expense of dramatically overhauling your interior, a large and fluffy fireside rug can provide all the warmth you’re looking for at very little extra cost.arnold's curtains bromborough During the winter months, your living room becomes your place of sanctuary – and with a touch of TLC and some stylish tartan home accessories, you needn’t suffer from the winter blues (or chills)!blue curtain falls prevod Investing in some thick throws, tweed fleece blankets and cosy cushions for those winter nights can be all the comfort you need to see you through the season – not to mention keeping your heating bills under control. aldiss fakenham curtains

If you’re a fan of hibernating indoors when winter hits, there’s no better way to spend an evening than snuggled up in an armchair with a knitted throw and a great book!tab top curtains 250cm drop If you’re looking for ways to keep the heat in, investing in some thick and heavy curtains (or liners) will reduce any draft coming from your windows and create a cosy, homely feel to your living room.aprica curtains Colour is major a factor when it comes to heating your home, and if you’re a fan of tartan, opting for rich reds and fiery oranges will add instant warmth to your room. umbra cappa curtain rod and hardware setDrawing the curtains when night falls and tucking them behind radiators will create the perfect setting for a comfy night in – and with your thick curtains keeping the cold outside, you can nestle away in your very own hideaway.

Related – Find out how Anglian windows can make your home warmer, quieter & safer. Candles can be the perfect accessory to any home – no matter what the weather. But with winter billowing around us, there’s no better time to bathe your home in light – and some tempting scents. Whether it’s tea lights or tapers, candles create a sense of intimacy that electric lights can’t match – and on evenings when the sun sets early, there’s no better way to relax than by plunging your living room into darkness and letting your candles flicker away. Cosy doesn’t have to mean cluttered and winter needn’t mean doom and gloom. Armed with these handy hints and tips, you can set about shaking up your interior and creating a living room you love.There are three main factors that cause condensation: • Too much moisture being produced in the property• Insufficient ventilation within the property• Cold surfaces You need to look at all of these factors to manage a condensation problem.

Moisture or water in the air is produced by normal household activities like cooking, bathing and even breathing. It is always in the air even if you cannot see it. This moist air travels through the property. Condensation usually occurs during cold weather and will be worse in places where there is little air movement such as corners of rooms and behind furniture if near an external wall. When warm moist air hits a cold surface such as a mirror, window or a cold part of a wall near a window, condensation is generated as the moisture condenses into droplets on the surface. When this happens on your window, the glass mists up and drops of water run down the window. When it happens on a wall or ceiling, the surface soaks up the moisture and becomes damp. Mould could then grow on the damp areas. Mould growth can contribute to health problems for occupants such as asthma and other respiratory diseases. As well as affects on health, condensation in housing can also lead to the deterioration of building finishes and fabrics, which can lead to increased maintenance and management costs.

Condensation is one of a number of causes of damp in properties and occurs even when the weather is dry. It does not leave a 'tidemark' round its edges on walls. If there is a 'tidemark', this dampness might have another cause, such as: • Missing slates or tiles from a roof• Leaking or blocked gutters• Leaking and blocked down pipes and overflows• Leaks form internal plumbing and plumbing appliances• Dampness rising up walls from the ground, often from bridging of the damp-proof course To tackle condensation, a balance of measures must be used including improving the insulation and ventilation in your property and making sure there are less cold areas. Moisture production is influenced by the design, construction, disrepair of the property and also the number of occupants and activities undertaken within the property. Some simple changes in lifestyles and the occupation of properties can help reduce condensation as well as being more energy efficient. Examples of these are;

Condensation occurs on cold spots, so if you can warm up the cold spots you can reduce the condensation. Insulating your loft, external walls and draught proofing doors and windows will help to reduce cold spots and also help reduce energy bills as the home will be cheaper to heat. Ensure your property has suitable cavity wall and loft insulation where possible to reduce the number of cold surfaces where condensation can form. Older properties may require more work in providing additional insulation. Provide safe and suitable heating in your property with timer and temperature controls. Ensure it is serviced annually and ensure that occupiers understand how to use the heating system in your property.Keep the property warm naturally. Avoid placing large pieces of furniture in front of a radiator as this prevents the heat from circulating. Keep curtains above radiators as thick curtains can stop heat escaping and remember to close them at dusk. Keep curtains open on sunny days to help warm rooms and keep doors open in rooms that get lots of sunlight as this will allow the warm air to circulate in your home.

Try to avoid having cold areas in the home. If you have a condensation problem it is better to heat the whole home to a lower temperature, rather than one room to a very high temperature. When you get condensation forming it is often not in the room where you are making the moisture, for example, kitchens and bathrooms, but in a room you don’t often use, like a spare bedroom. This is because the room is usually not heated. Try heating rooms regularly. By providing suitable ventilation to the property this will allow excess moisture to escape. Special attention should be paid in rooms such as bathrooms and kitchens. Ensure that the windows in these rooms can be opened, and, where possible, provide extractor fans not just a re-circulating fan that are often fitted above cookers. You can see if the cooker hood fax extracts to the outside by checking the wall from outside to see the vent.Ensure that occupants understand how to correctly use extractor fans, vents and opening the windows, and the benefits this can achieve.

Ensure that existing air vents and air bricks are not blocked, or decorated over, and that trickle vents on windows and doors work correctly. You can also ensure that damp is not being caused or made worse by leaking central heating or waste pipes, defective rainwater pipes/gutters, drains, toilets or a failed damp proof course or defective rendering. The best way of tackling mould is to reduce the condensation levels and prevent it growing in the first place. Mould can be easy to remove. You can normally wipe it off with a disposable cloth using some household cleaner or bleach solution. There is no need to use strong chemicals. Wipe over the area again every few days using diluted household cleaner to stop the mould growing back. This should become part of your regular cleaning routine. Dry-clean mildewed clothes, shampoo carpets. Do not try to remove mould by using a brush or vacuum cleaner as this can release spores and increase the risk of breathing problems. If the mould seems persistent you can wash down or spray mould-affected walls, ceilings and paintwork with a fungicidal wash (Mould & Mildew remover) that carries a Health & Safety Executive (HSE) approval number, and ensure you follow the instructions for safe use.

These fungicidal washes are often available at local supermarkets or Do it yourself outlets. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions precisely. In more severe cases where wiping areas down as detailed above is insufficient or the mould has taken hold into the wall coating, you may need to strip wall and ceiling paper from the mould affected rooms. After treatment, redecorate using a good quality fungicidal paint and a fungicidal resistant wallpaper paste to help prevent the mould from recurring. The effect of fungicidal or anti-condensation paint is destroyed if covered with ordinary paint or wallpaper. Once the mould has been removed then you can deal with the basic problem of condensation to stop mould from reappearing. There are some national grant schemes towards efficient heating and insulation. Please contact the Energy Advice Centre called ActonEnergy on 01789 842898 who can provide free advice on what is currently available. Wyre Forest District Council has recognised that some tenanted properties need ventilation improvements to help reduce condensation issues and recommend landlords fit humidistat fans that are switched on and off automatically by the level of moisture in the air.