bbc_tae_energy_saving_download (mp3cut.net)

[00:00.42] We all want to save money, and with the cost of living on the rise in the UK, it’s become more important than ever to watch what we spend.

[00:10.52] The biggest increase in our expenditure at the moment is on energy – the oil, gas and electricity we use to power and heat our homes.

[00:20.08] That’s why many of us are looking at ways to save energy so we don’t have to shell out on huge fuel bills.

[00:27.79] Making our home more energy efficient is the obvious way to save money.

[00:32.57] To try to achieve this, new homes in the UK will be banned from installing new gas and oil boilers by 2025.

[00:41.86] Having a heat pump instead can help save energy, but they’re unaffordable for many people, unless they’ve got spare cash stashed away.

[00:51.16] If your home feels like a money pit, there are some low-budget solutions you can turn to to lower your energy usage.

[00:58.86] Warm air escapes our homes easily, so adding draught excluders or a rolled-up towel to block these gaps will help.

[01:06.57] Investing in new double glazing will certainly insulate your home better, but if it is too costly, it might be worth using some heavy curtains to stop the heat escaping.

[01:18.78] Switching off lights is also a good idea.

[01:21.97] But there are lots of other little things we can do around the home that will help save energy, don’t cost a fortune and that just require tweaks to our behaviour.

[01:31.80] They could be as good as installing, fitting or making anything.

[01:35.25] Put lids on pots and pans when cooking – the food will be ready quicker.

[01:40.83] Use a microwave to reheat food rather than the oven.

[01:44.82] Don’t overfill your kettle when boiling water, and don’t leave electrical items on standby.

[01:51.19] Jo Patterson from Cardiff University’s Welsh School of Architecture told the BBC that a combination of small measures like these could reduce household energy bills by about 10%.

[02:04.47] So, we’re being encouraged to be more fuel efficient.

[02:08.46] But our main aim isn’t just financial – we need to do it to reduce our carbon footprint, so that our energy usage doesn’t cost the Earth.