Carbon monoxide is a silent killer. Every year in the UK it kills around 50 people and sends 4000 to A&E for emergency treatment. Make sure you get all your combustion appliances properly serviced and fit an alarm. Good quality alarms are available from most DIY suppliers and take minutes to fit. It could save your life!

Switch off radiators in any rooms you are not using regularly and keep internal doors shut to save energy.

Using lids on your pans when cooking will save energy and help heat the contents quicker.

Save energy with your washing machine. Modern washing powders often let you achieve the same results with lower temperatures.

Spending one minute less in the shower each day will save up to £8 a year off your energy bills, per person. With a water meter this could save a further £11 off annual water and sewerage bills. If everyone in a four-person household did this it would lead to a total saving of £75 a year.

Some vulnerable people need to keep their homes warmer than normal. However, most of us can save money and energy by dressing for the weather and putting on a jumper before turning up the heating.

When cooking you can often use the residual heat to to save energy if you switch your cooker off just before you finish cooking. However, you still need to make sure that your food is properly cooked through.

Keeping extract fans and vents clean and clear from obstruction reduces energy use and makes then work more efficiently.

Make sure your radiators are clear so they can heat the space efficiently. Curtains or furniture can easily block them.

When was the last time you switched energy supplier. Regularly changing to the right tariff can save you money by reducing your energy costs. If you rent a property and pay the energy bills yourself the law says you should be able to choose your own energy supplier.