Heating and hot water for UK buildings make up 40% of our energy consumption and 20% of our greenhouse gas emissions. So fixing our leaky homes with improved insulation and moisture control, and moving away from gas boilers to use heat pumps, is one of the biggest steps we can take to reduce our carbon footprint.

Getting Started With Retrofit

We have lots of useful resources to help you on topics such as insulation and retrofit.

What can you do?

• When your light bulbs next need changing, switch to LEDs.

• When you next need to change a fridge or other device, choose the most efficient you can afford.

• Think about ways to not waste water such as shorter showers.

• Check your thermostat and timer and utility bills to understand how much energy you are using.

• Try turning the thermostat down by 1⁰C and see if anyone notices? (but don’t go cold in winter - stay comfortable).

• That small 0.5kW electric heater in the damp corner left on for long periods can consume a lot of electricity.

• Are there some draughts that are easy to fix? Try draught excluders or other solutions for doors and windows.

• Use a water butt to store water for use in the garden during droughts.

• Are there ways to reduce water run-off around buildings you live or work in, to help reduce town flooding.