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How can you help a worldwide problem and save money at the same time?
Heating, Lighting, Water, Food ... four of the most fundamental things in our homes today. Can you imagine a day when these essentials were not simply available by turning on a tap, flicking a switch or opening the fridge?
We have a very real problem which exists today, and it is no longer one being raised just by "sandle-wearing loonies in trees", but being discussed by the world leaders, emminent thinkers, even celebrities (bless 'em!) through to local councils throughout the world. The problem is this:
1) The lifeblood of modern society, Oil, is running out (pessimistic views say by 2015)
2) We use oil to power everything we do today. Heating, lighting, water, manufacturing and delivery of food to our kitchens... And that's just for starters.
3) Collectively, as homeowners we are very wasteful.
4) Collectively, as homeowners, we don't really understand the issue, how it may affect our lives, and what we can do to help.
5) As a result, we as homeowners, are not taking individual responsibility.
To help raise awareness and action HouseWeb is launching the "Our Home" Campaign, providing a ten-step practical plan for homeowners, so we can all start to make a difference at the most important level - our home. The added bonus? We'll save money! (Look out for our Money-Saving Rating: £££ and our Energy Saving Rating: £££).
== "Our Home" - The Ten Step Plan==
1) Convert all your lightbulbs to energy-saving bulbs.
(£££ Save £7 per bulb/yr on electricity bill. £££)
2) Turn off lights in empty rooms (we are all guilty of this!) and save 15% on your annual electricity bill.
(£££. £££)
3) Turn the tap off when brushing your teeth.
(££ - Metered water properties. ££)
4) Don't leave electrical appliances on standby. Turn off TVs, DVD players, Cable/Sky boxes, games consoles etc. at the wall before going to be each night.
(££. ££)
5) Stop Junk Mail - register with the Mail Preference Service. We've tried it and it really works! Whilst you are there, why not stop junk phone calls and faxes - ahhh bliss! MPS can't stop your postman putting unaddressed flyers and "To The Occupier" junk mail through your door. To stop this, e-mail optout@royalmail.com with your mailing address, or write to: Door to Door Opt Out, Royal Mail, Kingsmead House, Oxpens Road, Oxford, OX1 1RX. You will receive a form to sign and return. The form we got tried very hard to put us off signing it - but read this Telegraph front page article to find out why!
(£££)
6) Recycle everything you can. Clothes/shoes/books to charity shops. Put food off-cuts in the compost bin. Take Cardboard/Paper/Cans/Tins/Plastic to your Local Recycling Center (and write to your local MP if these aren't collected from your doorstep yet!). Join your local Freecycle group (over 2.5m people doing this) - a fantastic idea that lets local communities give away stuff to each othre to prevent it going into landfill. We've been a member since 2005 and it works!
(£££)
7) Contact your Water company and get "hippos" installed in your toilets. When next replacing your toilets, get once which has a "half flush" option. Considering showering which uses over 50% less water than baths. Beware however... power showers use lots more water - sometimes more than baths - and don't really get you that much cleaner than a standard shower!
(£££ 25 -60 litres per day per person. £££)
8) Switch to energy-conscience Gas and Electricity suppliers.
(£££)
9) Post your questions and share your tips with the HouseWeb community. We've set up the "Our Home" Forum for this, so please get involved.
10) As homeowners we need to take the responsibility to understand the issue. We've put together some links to help today.
== FURTHER LINKS ==
No Waste like Home - BBC Web Site with eco-queen Penney Poyzer
Energy Saving Trust - Great site which also includes info about getting grants for energy efficiency in the home and a database of recommended household products
Home Energy Check by the Energy Savings Trust. Answer a some simple questions about your home and you'll get a personalized report showing you how you can save £250.
Freecycle - Don't throw away, give away! Fantastic local community idea to prevent landfill and increase goodwill amongst your neighbours. Over 2.5 million "freecyclers" and counting...
Will You Join Us (Chevron) - Take a look at the oil usage counter!
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