Jingle bills: saving energy at Christmas

The Christmas period is a time of particularly high energy consumption. Family gatherings and parties mean that heating and cooking appliances are used more heavily and electricity use can be very high with increased television watching and testing out all the new toys received as gifts. As much as a third of our home energy consumption is completely wasted, so why not make a New Year’s resolution to save energy? Britons will release over two million more tonnes of carbon dioxide than usual as they enjoy the Christmas holidays. Over the twelve days of Christmas, the running of our decorative tree lights could cost the UK up to a staggering £18 million, creating enough carbon dioxide (CO2) to fill over 15,500 hot air balloons.  There are some simple steps we can all take to ensure that our Christmas is just a little bit greener: 

• Remember to turn fairy lights off before you go to bed. If we all left our tree lights on for just 8 hours a night we would waste over £5.5 million.

 

• This year’s most sought after gifts could be costing more than you think if they are left charging or on standby unnecessarily. Computer game consoles waste £80m worth of energy per year so ensure you turn appliances off at the mains when not in use.

 

• Make sure you turn the TV off properly rather than leaving it on standby when gathering around the table for Christmas lunch.  TVs on standby in the UK waste £100 million every year.

 

• Install just one energy saving light bulb and over the 12 days of Christmas, help save the UK £2.5 million and 16,438 tonnes of CO2 – enough to fill 17 party balloons per household.

 

• You could also purchase gifts that use renewable energy, for example solar powered (or wind-up) radios, torches and mobile phone chargers. Try Boots or Maplins, or go to www.ecocentric.co.uk or nigelsecostore.com. 

 

• Apply for a grant to help insulate your home. Grants are available to every homeowner and private tenant regardless of income. Contact the Energy Saving Trust on 0800 512012 or search their website www.est.org.uk to find the best scheme for you.