Ecotricity Explains: How to green up your home and save money

Start by checking your loft or roof insulation. You need a minimum of 270mm of insulation. When houses first started being insulated it was to a depth of 100mm, so it’s worth checking any existing insulation you may have.

You can also insulate your floors. If you have floorboards over a void, you can attach insulation to the undersides, which will also stop any nasty draughts.

Speaking of draughts, choose a windy day and take a stroll through your home to identify any breezy spots. Doors, windows, floorboards and chimneys are prime candidates. Small gaps can be easily fixed with rolls of thin, sticky insulation and you can buy a chimney balloon for your chimney to stop all that precious warm air disappearing into the sky.

If you have single-glazed windows or a door that lets in the cold air in winter, it may be worth replacing them with modern double-glazed units. These will take years to pay off in terms of the cost, but they’ll also make your home feel warmer and cosier during the colder months.

Reducing your use of hot water will save you money on your energy bill and, of course, if you have a water meter you’ll save if you reduce your cold water usage as well.

Let’s start in the bathroom. If you don’t have a low-flow toilet with separate short and long flushes, you can put things like the Water Hippo in your cistern to reduce its capacity and save water without even noticing.

Fit a low-flow showerhead to reduce the amount of water you use in a shower. These vary in quality, so our advice is to check reviews before you buy.

In the kitchen, ensure you use the Eco mode on your washing machine or dishwasher. These will usually take a little longer to run because they’re designed to use less water and less energy, while still getting everything nice and clean.

If you have a garden, collect rainwater in a water butt and water your plants for free. On a bigger scale, you can even install a rainwater harvesting system, which suppliers claim can cut your water use half by storing non-drinking water for use in toilets and washing machines.

Smart thermostats and radiator valves are a must-have if you have central heating. The valves automatically cut off hot water to a radiator when the room is at your preferred temperature, while smart thermostats control your boiler to make your heating as efficient as possible. They’re money saving and make your home much more comfortable.

If you have an electric vehicle, it’s worth considering installing a domestic EV charger. Charging at home rather than at a public charge point is much more cost effective, and it’s faster – a 22kW charger is six times faster than a three-pin plug connection. Some home chargers may also enable you to make money in future by using your car as a grid-connected battery used to store green energy for times of high demand, although this technology is still in its trial phase. Plus, we've just launched one of the cheapest EV tariffs on the market to help you save whilst you charge!

LED lights are everywhere now and rightly so – they last longer and are more energy efficient than the old-fashioned filament bulbs. Smart light bulbs go one step further, connecting to your home wifi so you can control them remotely, adjust lighting levels and set timers. However, there is a small energy drain for every smart light bulb because it needs to communicate with the network. It’s not a huge cost but we recommend only using them where you need their smart features, rather than in every room.

All appliances use energy, so when the time comes to buy new ones, it makes sense to go for the most energy efficient models. Over the average 16-year life of a fridge freezer, for example, a yearly saving of even £30 adds up to £480.