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With daily news of gas, energy, food, and tax costs all soaring it is tempting to panic, but don’t! There are things you can do to keep costs lower – especially when it comes to your energy bills.

About a third of your home’s energy is being wasted and insulating your home properly is the best way to prevent losing energy and money. The initial costs may be steep but if you work out the savings you’ll make in the long run, they are worth the investment.

Are you eligible for a grant?

Government agencies are giving away money to help you create a more efficient home. The truth is, it’s impractical for us to continue spending the way we do at the moment, for both economic and environmental reasons.

There are loads of grants out there - the best way to get started is to visit the Energy Saving Trust for a guide to grant applications. This website allows you to calculate how much money you could save by insulating your home. It also provides information on how much insulation will cost you and also tells you what grants you are eligible for.

Using the Energy Saving Trust's amazing calculating checklist gets you a detailed listing of your current carbon emission imprint, but it also lists the measures and associated costs with making any efficiency switches.

Types of grant

Energy efficiency schemes are available throughout the UK -
• In England the scheme is known as Warm Front
• In Northern Ireland it is Warm Homes
• In Scotland it is Warm Deal and the Central Heating Programme
• In Wales it is the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme

If you aren’t over 65 or do not claim any benefits you may not find many grants available for you. However, there are still loads of subsidised prices aimed at helping with the upfront costs of making your home more efficient.

Energy Suppliers Grants

The Government’s new Carbon Emission Reduction Target initiative means that energy suppliers have to offer ways of cutting costs to clients who are looking to employ energy efficient measures. Contact British Gas EDF Energy or Affordable Energy for information.

Local Authority Grants

For a list of local councils offering grants visit the Direct Government website. Most councils offer grants and subsidies for residents looking to make energy efficiency improvements.

Small changes that still mean big savings

• Switch those bulbs

Using energy-saving bulbs will save you about £9 on your annual electricity bill and up to £100 over the bulb’s lifetime, as they last up to 15 times longer than ordinary light bulbs.

• Start shopping around for new energy supplier

Since 2003, electricity prices have increased by 30% and gas prices by 40%! With customers shopping around for good deals, energy suppliers are desperate to grab you which means bargains are out there to be had. You can save as much as £100 per year!

• 1˚C can save you £30

Turn down your thermostat by 1°C and save yourself £30 annually. Trap more heat by drawing your curtains at dusk and don’t block your radiators. By turning down your hot water boiler to 60°C or 140°F you’ll also save an extra £10 annually.

• Replace that old boiler now before winter

Boilers over 15 years old are no longer efficient and drain loads of energy and cash. New boilers can be expensive but by saving £190-240 annually on heating bills, cost will be recovered within 3-5 years. There are also government grants that will offer you money or cover the cost of purchase and installation. Make sure to have the correct heating controls, and shave another 40% off your bills!

Contact your local Energy Efficiency Advice Centre on 0800 512012 for more details on energy efficient boilers and for grant information.

• Buy your boiler a new jacket

By adding an insulation jacket 75mm thick to your hot water cylinder you will be preventing heat loss and therefore saving yourself £15-20 annually. They are easy to fit yourself and should cost you about £10 or less at B&Q .

• Switch off

Always remember to switch off your appliances when you’re not using them. Microwaves, TVs, videos, stereos, and computers eat up loads of energy when they are left on standby. In fact 85% of the energy consumed by your DVD player is done when it is not actually in use.

• Unplug too

Don’t leave your mobile charger, shavers or electric toothbrushes plugged in because they drain electricity unnecessarily. Overcharging electrical equipment also causes the battery trauma and it won’t last as long.

• Energy efficient appliances save money

By replacing a 10 year old fridge-freezer with a modern, energy efficient A-rated appliance you can save £45 a year. The government has put aside millions of pounds to help home owners switch to A-rated energy efficient appliances. Some grants offer as much as £2,700 of free money to help you make the switch!

• Stop washing your dishes by hand

Modern dishwashers use less energy and water than washing up by hand. Remember to only wash full loads of dishes, turn down that hot water temperature and skip the drying cycle. Leave the door ajar instead and let your dishes air dry.

• Don’t forget about the loft

By insulating your loft you could save up to £200 off your annual heating bill. Npower are currently offering 2for1 on rolls of loft insulation! You also get a free safety kit including goggles, mask, gloves and an installation guide and free delivery to mainland UK.

• Skip the dry cycle

Giving your tumbler a miss and drying your clothes indoors is a great way to save money. Use clothes rails rather than lying clothes over radiators as this prevents heat from circulating the room.

• Shower more and bath less

Taking a shower consumes two-fifths of the water used for a bath, however those power shower heads are a no-no as they can use as much water as a bath!