Philippa Forrester's top energy saving home tips

Find out how to do your bit for the planet and save cash

1. Getting the kids out in the garden, planting vegetables is not only great fun but is great for the environment. A quarter of all the lorries on Britain's roads are used to transport food goods. It can save you lots of money too!

 

2. Try to remember not to run the tap while you brush your teeth. Running taps use about six litres of water per minute, or 70 swimming pools per day nationally.

 

3. Turning your washing machine down to 30° can make a dramatic difference to your household emissions, and with Persil Small and Mighty you can still achieve brilliant results. If everyone in the UK washed at 30° instead of 40° this would be equivalent to taking 84,000 cars off our roads annually!

 

4. Turning the thermostat down by just one degree can save you money and will dramatically change the amount of energy used in the house each year and save you around £60 annually!

 

5. Drying your clothes outdoors, or using an airer instead of your tumble dryer is a great way to reduce your emissions, and can save you up to £70 a year on energy bills. Plus drying clothes outdoors where the sun bleaches them, can help get rid of stains.

 

6. Where possible, home composting is a great way to do your bit. On average 20% of household waste is compostable, and by doing so you can save the same amount of carbon dioxide as is produced by your kettle each year.

 

7. Try not to use plastic bags. If, like me, you're always forgetting to take your reusable bag with you then stuff a small purse with one and leave in your handbag at all times.

 

8. Use energy saving light bulbs even if you do have regular light bulbs left in the cupboards. These use about 80% less energy compared to regular light bulbs, so although they cost slightly more, you will benefit from reductions in your utility bills!

 

9. Using a concentrated detergent to wash clothes with. Persil report that since 2007 their Small and Mighty detergent has significantly reduced packaging waste, savin ghtem over 660,000kg of plastic packaging so far - this is equivalent to over 95 million plastic bags.

 

10. Get on your bike! Cycling is great for you and for the planet.

 

Philippa has joined up with Persil to spread the eco-laundry word. For more eco-friendly laundry tips, visit www.persil.co.uk

 

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