Focus and the Environment

FOCUS supports the work of the Energy Saving Trust, an independent government funded organisation that promotes domestic energy efficiency. To find out more about how to save energy, save money and help the environment, click on the Energy Efficiency Recommended logo below.

Energy efficient DIY jobs are expected to enjoy a boom in the next few years, predict FOCUS DIY, as consumers realise the money they can save. With annual savings of up to £84, now is the perfect time of year to start making our homes energy efficient in time for winter.

Here is FOCUS’ ‘hotlist’ of energy saving tasks:

Top of the list is loft insulation - saving on average £59 per year. Next is draft proofing at £10. Replacing lightbulbs with energy efficient ones will also save £11 and a new hot water tank jacket will save £4. Taking the average household saving up to £84 a year.

Commenting on the tips, Frances Galvanoni, Trade Marketing Manager from the Energy Saving Trust, said: "In the UK, one quarter of all carbon dioxide emissions come from the energy we use to heat and light our homes, and power our household appliances. It's important to use tips like these from FOCUS to identify the energy wasters in your home and help the environment as well as save yourself money."

FOCUS' Top Energy Efficient DIY tasks
Loft insulation
There are many different ways you can insulate your home and some methods cost as little as £5. Insulating wall and loft spaces could reduce heat loss in the home by more than 50%. Walls are the worst culprit, being responsible for almost 35% of heat wastage in the majority of homes.

Draft proofing
If you don't have double-glazing, it's more than likely that your home is losing up to 20% of its heat through door and window gaps. Draught proofing is a cheap and cost-effective way to reduce your heating bills. There are several types of materials available - from brushes, foams and sealants, to strips and shaped rubber or plastic.

Switching traditional lightbulbs for new energy efficient ones
In most homes, lighting accounts for around 10-15% of the electricity bill. Not only do they cost less to light, but energy efficient bulbs also last up to 12 times longer than ordinary light bulbs, so you don't have to change them as often.

Hot water tank insulation
Insulating hot water tanks and pipes will help to keep your hot water hot for that nice long bath after a hard day's work! By fitting a British Standard "jacket" to your hot water cylinder it will cut heat loss by up to 75% and cost you less to heat your water.