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.

Thermostatic radiator valves (TRVs) only limit the maximum temperature areas reach. It is a common misconception that they change how quickly an area heats up. Don’t turn them up thinking the room will heat up quicker.

Still using tungsten, halogen or fluorescent bulbs? Changing to LED lighting can save energy and money.

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

Insulate hot water pipes along their full length. Don’t waste the energy you have used to heat your hot water.

Boiling food on the hob? Only use the water you need to save energy.

Fitting a new insulating jacket to a bare hot water tank can save over £100 per year. Costing just a few pounds, the investment can pay itself off in a few months.

A dripping tap can waste at least 5,500 litres of water a year. If this is hot water you’re also wasting the energy used to heat it. Get leaking taps fixed promptly.

Use a microwave. Generally a microwave oven is the most efficient way to heat up and cook food.

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!