| Concern over energy consumption has grown
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| | energy bulbs.
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| greatly in recent years. Gas and
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| | These use up to 80% less electricity used
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| electricity prices have been at record
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| | by traditional incandescent bulbs, and
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| highs, hitting homeowners in their
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| | are now indistinguishable in terms of the
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| pockets. Plus there is a growing
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| | light they emit. Plus they last up to 10
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| realisation amongst the general public
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| | times longer. So as well as cutting your
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| that our energy consumption is causing
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| | electricity bills, you don't have to get
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| global warming, which is leading to
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| | the ladder out so often to replace bulbs
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| growing problems with our climate. In a
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| | that have blown. Now that these bulbs
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| recent Henley Centre survey, over 62% of
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| | have come down in price, they can payback
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| respondents said that climate change is
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| | their extra cost in a very short time
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| the biggest single problem facing the
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| | (only a couple of months) in terms of
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| world today.
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| | lower electricity bills.
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| We use a great deal of energy in our
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| | 4.Install energy efficient home
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| homes. Our homes account for over a
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| | appliances.
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| quarter of greenhouse gas emissions in
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| | Replacing your old fridge with the most
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| northern countries like the UK. However,
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| | energy efficient models can save you a
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| reducing your home's energy consumption
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| | small fortune on your electricity bills.
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| is in most cases quite easy. It can also
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| | In fact with the most energy efficient
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| be very lucrative: some of the major
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| | models, the savings can actually add up
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| actions you can take to reduce your
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| | to cover the entire cost of the new
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| home's energy consumption pay back very
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| | fridge! Plus you can also buy other
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| quickly, and so you soon start saving a
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| | energy efficient appliances, such as
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| small fortune. There are 4 or 5 simple
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| | washing machines and dishwashers. In the
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| measures that almost every householder
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| | EU all appliances carry an energy
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| should focus on.
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| | efficiency rating, so it is easy to spot
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| 1.Insulate your home.
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| | the most efficient.
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| By keeping more of the warmth in your
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| | 5.Install a solar hot water system.
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| home in winter, you will save a small
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| | This is the most expensive of the
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| fortune on your heating bills. The most
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| | measures mentioned in this article, but
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| common types on insulation to install are
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| | still worth doing, even in northern
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| in the loft and also in the gap between
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| | climates. A solar system can provide up
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| your external walls (called 'cavity wall
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| | to 70% of your hot water needs in a year,
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| insulation'). You can also insulate your
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| | saving on your gas bills. Using solar
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| floors and walls. Not only will this save
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| | panels mounted on the roof, solar hot
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| you money, but your home will be more
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| | water systems can be installed in most
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| comfortable in winter and cooler in
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| | houses. This is a tried and tested
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| summer. Plus in the UK, because the
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| | technology, and you may qualify for a
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| government subsidises insulation, the
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| | government grant to help with the cost of
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| investment needed will normally payback
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| | installation.
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| in under 2 years. Moreover, on average
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| | By taking these 5 measures, the average
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| you will be preventing 1 to 2.5 tonnes of
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| | householder can save hundreds of pounds a
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| carbon dioxide being emitted each year.
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| | year off their energy bills, and prevent
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| 2.Upgrade to a super-efficient condensing
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| | several tonnes of carbon dioxide being
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| boiler.
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| | emitted into the atmosphere. Even taking
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| Your boiler is the main energy user in
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| | one or two of these steps has a big
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| the house. Modern condensing boilers are
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| | impact.
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| far more efficient than some models made
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| | Plus for those who want to make an even
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| even 5 years ago. They use far less gas,
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| | bigger reduction in their home's energy
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| and can save you up to 40% off your
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| | use, there are also more advanced
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| heating bills as a result. They last for
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| | measures to be considered such as solar
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| around 15 years so the savings really add
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| | electricity and ground source heat pumps.
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| up over time. Plus by doing this you are
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| | These generally cost more, but can allow
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| saving an estimated 1.25 tonnes of carbon
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| | your home to lower even further its
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| dioxide each year.
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| | impact on Climate Change.
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| 3.Replace your light bulbs with low
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