Trust urges energy saving measures

By Leo Stevens

The Energy Trust insists that more can be done to save energy, despite a survey suggesting that more than half of Britons are using less energy than a year a go to save cash.

The Energy Saving Trust insists that £2 billion could be saved on bills each year if British homeowners insulated their lofts and cavity walls, used low-energy lightbulbs and turned appliances off standby.

The trust estimates that these measures could not only save homeowners money on their utility bills, but also cut nearly 10 million tonnes of CO2 from the Earth's atmosphere - the equivalent of taking 3.5 million cars off the road.

The average three-bedroom semi-detached house could save £255 by installing loft insulation and cavity walls, while homeowners who use low-energy lightbulbs can save £25 a year and can shave a further £40 off bills by switching appliances off.

Philip Sellwood, chief executive of the Energy Saving Trust, said: "There is no getting away from the fact that the UK is facing challenging economic times.

"But it is also clear that this hardship is making people think more carefully about what they are spending their money on.

"Investing in energy efficient technologies like loft or cavity wall insulation is an invaluable way to ensure that we can add value to our home, keep bills down and unlike decor will never go out of fashion."