Smart controls can help ensure your home is comfortable and energy efficient.

If your charger has an LED to show it’s in use, it is still using energy until you switch it off at the wall or unplug it.

Keeping the oven door closed while you are cooking helps keep your oven at a stable temperature. It can also improve your cooking whilst saving you energy.

Think before your print. Reducing the amount of material you print has a long list of benefits including saving paper, chemicals and electricity. More and more offices and industries are going paper free, so think about how you can reduce any printing you do.

Washing a small load of clothes? Check you washing machine’s settings to see if you can use the “half load” programme to save water and energy.

Boiling food on the hob? Only use the water you need to save energy.

Solid brick walls can be insulated internally or externally to reduce heat loss.

Are your heating costs literally going through the roof? Check to ensure you have 250-270 mm of loose roll loft insulation and top up if necessary.

Keeping extract fans and vents clean and clear from obstruction reduces energy use and makes then work more efficiently.

Use a microwave. Generally a microwave oven is the most efficient way to heat up and cook food.