Energy

THERE are many ways to save energy in your home, also saving money and reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

Here are some cheap and easy energy savings tips:

• Eliminate draughts by installing a cheap, easy-to-fix brush or PVC seal on exterior doors.
  Letterboxe  and keyholes should be covered. Newspaper, beading or sealant can fill gaps in floorboards and skirting.
  
• Switch to energy saving light bulbs. They last 10 times longer than ordinary bulbs and save up to £60 on each bulb.
  
• Insulate a hot water tank with a jacket – it only costs a few pounds and if it’s 75mm (three inches) thick you’ll save £20 a year.
  
• Around 33 percent of the heat lost in uninsulated homes is through the walls. Save £90 every year by insulating wall cavities.
  
• Insulating a loft is one of the simplest ways to save energy, you can do it yourself and save £110 in a year.
  
• If your boiler is over 15 years old it’s probably time to replace it. New high efficiency condensing boilers save up to a third on heating bills and even more if you upgrade to modern controls as well.
  
• When buying new appliances look for the Energy Saving Recommended logo. They are the most efficient and could save up to £37 a year.
  
• Double-glazing cuts heat loss through windows by 50 percent and could save £90 a year.
  
• Turn your thermostat down. Reducing room temperatures by one degree Centigrade could cut heating bills by up to 10 percent.
  
• Is your water too hot? Cylinder thermostats shouldn’t be set higher than 60 degrees C/140 degrees Fahrenheit.
  
• Don’t leave appliances on standby or charging unnecessarily.
  
• Always turn off lights when you leave a room.
  
• Only boil as much water as you need.
  
• If not filling the washing machine, tumble dryer or dishwasher, use the half-load or economy programme.
  
• A dripping hot water tap wastes energy so fix leaking taps and make sure they’re fully turned off.
  
• Close your curtains at dusk to stop heat escaping through the windows.

For more advice on saving energy in your own home and government grant schemes, visit Energy Savings Trust website http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/ or call 0800 512 012.

Home

There are other ways to ‘green’ your home if you think about what you buy and consider alternatives. Try to avoid using harsh chemicals – you can now buy ‘eco’ alternatives to many cleaning products that are less harmful to
the environment. When shopping, try to buy locally-produced, organic goods. You can now also buy organic clothing made from natural materials such as cotton. When using wood in your home or purchasing wooden furniture, look for the Forestry Stewardship Council mark this ensures it comes from well-managed forests.

Garden

Gardens are described as our ‘most important nature reserve.’You can support and enhance nature in your garden in various ways: Plant species native to Scotland to preserve the delicate balance of our ecosystem and attract native wildlife. Avoid using chemicals and use natural methods of pest control. Use alternatives to peat, try instead homemade compost Provide food and shelter to attract wildlife – eg ponds, log piles, dust baths and put bird/bat/hedgehog boxes in quiet areas of your garden Leave parts of your lawn wild and allow deadwood to rot naturally. This encourages wild flowers and fungi and attracts birds, insects and mammals.

Plant a hedgerow using Scottish native species: they provide protection and food for many animals and connect fragmented habitats The Royal Horticultural Society has 18 leaflets on garden conservation. They are available online at http://www.rhs.org.uk/ or by sending an SAE with £1.14 postage to: AW Mailing Services Ltd, PO Box 38, Ashford, Kent, TN25 6PR.

Composting

Up to 25 percent of an average bin is kitchen and garden waste that can be composted. Home composting is a good way to use kitchen waste in your garden. It is easy to make and use and will improve soil and encourage plant growth. West Dunbartonshire Council offers residents subsidised home composting bins in various sizes and cost from just £6, including a free kitchen caddy and free delivery. To order a compost bin call 0845 077 0756 or visit www.wasteawarescotland.org.uk

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Residents and small businesses in West Dunbartonshire produce around 60,000 tonnes of rubbish every year, the majority of it ends up in landfill. This is extremely hazardous to the environment and contributes to climate change.

EU legislation requires the council to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill and the Scottish Government has set a target of recycling or composting 55 percent of our waste by 2020. Last year West Dunbartonshire recycled 32 percent of waste.

• To reduce the amount of waste you produce:
  
• Reduce unwanted direct mail by registering with the Mailing Preference Service to have your name removed from direct mailing lists.
  
• Register at www.mpsonline.org.uk or call 0845 703 4599
  
• Buy products with minimal packaging such as loose fruit and veg.or with packaging that can be recycled or composted
  
• Take your own bags with you when shopping or buy a ‘bag for life’
  
• Only buy what food you require to cut down on food waste Try to reuse goods and materials: Buy rechargeable batteries

Furniture in good condition can be donated to charity and used again Home from Home operate in West Dunbartonshire – call 01389733733 for details.

Carpets can be donated to Spruce Carpets who refurbish them and pass on to people who need low-cost flooring. Call 0141 425 1555 or visit their website www.sprucecarpets.org.uk
Unwanted toys, books, music, DVDs, and clothes can be donated to charity shops or deposited in a recycling bank for reuse West Dunbartonshire Council runs a ‘real nappy’ scheme offering parents subsidised reusable cotton nappies. Call the Waste Aware team on 0845 111 0050 for details In West Dunbartonshire, there are a number of recycling schemes.
Most residents have access to the blue bin/box/bag recycling service – to recycle paper, cardboard, plastic bottles and cans. Low-level households also have access to brown bins to recycle garden waste.
There are recycling points throughout West Dunbartonshire for recycling items such as glass, tetrapak (juice cartons), and textiles and there are three Household Waste Recycling
Centres (at Dalmoak, Renton; Ferry Road, Old Kilpatrick and Stanford St, Clydebank) for recycling materials like wood, engine oil, batteries, rubble, electrical goods and garden waste. For more information on local recycling contact the Waste Aware team on 0845 1110050.

Transport

Try to leave the car at home whenever you can and think about walking, cycling, or taking public transport. You could also consider car-sharing with a friend, relative or neighbour. Car use is set to increase adding to traffic congestion, noise and emissions, which contribute to global warming and pollute local air quality. This affects health, particularly in children and elderly people who can be susceptible to illnesses such as asthma. For information on public transport in the area, call Traveline on 0870 608 2 608 or visit www.travelinescotland.com

Eco-driving tips

• If you do have to use your car, consider ‘ecodriving’ to minimise vehicle emissions and also save money on fuel. Remember car batteries, engine oil and tyrescan all be recycled.
  
• Check your revs – change up before 2,500rpm (petrol) or 2,000rpm (diesel). Anticipate road conditions - drive smoothly,avoiding sharp acceleration and heavy braking.It saves fuel and reduces accident rates.
  
• Use air conditioning sparingly, it significantly increases fuel consumption.
  
• The most efficient speed depends upon the car but is typically around 45-50mph.
  Faster speed will greatly increase fuel consumption.
  
• Drive away immediately when starting from cold – idling to heat the engine wastes fuel and causes rapid engine wear.
  
• Accessories such as roof racks, bike carriers, and roof boxes significantly affect a car’s aerodynamics and reduce fuel efficiency, so remove them when not in use.
  
• Avoid short journeys – a cold engine uses almost twice as much fuel and catalytic converters can take five miles to become effective.
  
• Plan your journeys to avoid congestion, road works and getting lost.
  
• Check your tyre pressure regularly – underinflated tyres are dangerous and can increase fuel consumption by up to three percent.
  
• If you’re stuck in a jam, switch the engine off if you expect to be there for more than a minute or two. This saves fuel and reduces emissions.