Reduce energy in buildings

In Leicestershire, 25% of total carbon emissions in 2020 came from our homes. Small changes to your behaviours at home will help you use less energy, reduce carbon, and save on your energy bills.

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net zero buildings graphic

Lighting 

Lighting makes up 11% of the average UK household electricity consumption (Energy Saving Trust).

 
Consider switching to energy efficient lighting such as LED, without compromising on quality. This has the added benefit of lowering both electricity costs and carbon emissions as less energy is used. 
Check out Energy Saving Trust’s lighting advice to understand which light bulbs work best for you to make that switch now.  

Home energy efficiency improvements  

Understanding how efficient your home is, helps identify changes you could make to make your home more friendly to the environment.

 

Check your Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) or use the governments home energy tool to get recommendations for home improvements that could make your property more energy efficient and warmer for less.  

Sign up to our warm homes newsletter

 

To find out the latest information on new and upcoming energy efficiency grants, support schemes and up to date advice supporting low carbon and affordable warmth at home, sign up to our Warm Homes newsletter.

Appliances

Leaving appliances on standby could add £65 a year to your energy bill (Energy Saving Trust study, 2022).

 

Remember to switch off appliances, e.g., TV’s, computers and game consoles, and avoid stand-by when not in use.

Use Energy Saving Trust’s guide to find out and / or a smart meter to track your energy use and costs of using different appliances in your home. If you don’t have a smart meter, you can contact your energy supplier to find out how to get one.

Look out for energy labels when buying household appliances to understand how much energy it uses compared to similar appliances. A is the most efficient with G being the least efficient.

Further reading

Check out our Warm homes advice booklet for advice and practical steps you can take to reduce energy usage, access benefits and signposting to wider resources.

Warm homes advice - your guide to staying warm at home this winter PDF, 1.34 MB Opens new window

The Competition and Marketing Authority (CMA) recently published a comprehensive consumer guide on purchasing green heating and insultation products (PDF), along with top tips for consumers (PDF) making these purchases, to help you make informed decisions on your home.