Insulating Your Loft

Investing in insulating your loft can pay for itself within 12-18 months and save up to a tonne of CO2.

  • Estimated cost: £890 (detached); £590 (mid-terrace)
  • Estimated annual saving: £590 (detached); £330 (mid-terrace)
  • Estimated pay-back time: 18 to 22 months
  • Estimated Annual CO2 saving: 1 tonne (detached house); 0.56 tonnes (mid-terrace)

Source: Energy Saving Trust; Updated: 8th February 2023

Insulating Your Cavity Walls

Investing in cavity wall insulation can pay for itself with 24-36 months and save more than a tonne of CO2.

  • Estimated cost: £1,800 (detached house); £580 (mid-terrace)
  • Estimated annual saving: £690 (detached house); £235 (mid-terrace)
  • Estimated pay-back time: 30 to 36 months
  • Estimated CO2 saving: 1.2 tonne (detached house); 0.4 tonnes (mid-terrace)

Source: Energy Saving Trust; Updated: 8th February 2023

LED Light Bulbs

These bulbs convert 95% of their energy into light and only 5% into heat, making them 80-90% more efficient than traditional fluorescent or incandescent bulbs and 40% more efficient than compact fluorescent lamps (CFL).

  • Estimated Cost: £152 to replace all bulbs
  • Estimated annual saving: £580 (Inc. to LED); £528 (Inc. to CFL); £52 (CFL to LED)
  • Estimated pay-back time: 3 months (Inc. to LED); 4 months (Inc. to CFL); 3 yrs (CFL to LED)
  • Estimated CO2 saving: 360 kg/yr (Inc. to LED); 330 kg/yr (Inc. to CFL); 30 kg/yr (CFL to LED)

Assumptions: 3 bedroom house, a combination of central ceiling lights, spotlights and lamps, 38 bulbs in total.

Source: Energy Saving Trust & What Next estimates

Renewable Electricity Tariff

Consider switching to a 100% renewable tariff for your electricity.

  • Estimated Cost / Saving: this will depend on any deals offered by providers for renewable tariffs as compared to traditional tariffs.
  • Estimated CO2 saving: this could save about 1 tonne/yr for a typical household in Godalming.

Source: IMPACT Community Carbon Calculator and Carbon Footprint: Carbon Calculator.  

Solar Panels with Feed-in Tariff

Consider installing Solar Panels and switching to a Feed-in Tariff.

With typical electricity costs ~52p/unit (Jan. 2023), the investment of £6,000-£7,000 can now be recouped in less than a decade, even sooner with a feed in tariff.

Heat Pumps

Consider installing an Air or Ground Source Heat Pump will reduce your energy usage for heating by between 75% and 80%.

  • Estimated Cost / Saving: this will depend on any deals offered by providers for renewable tariffs as compared to traditional tariffs.
  • Estimated CO2 saving: this could save about 1.85 tonnes/yr for a typical household in Godalming, even more if you switch to a 100% renewable tariff as well; government grants available.

Source: IMPACT Community Carbon Calculator and Carbon Footprint: Carbon Calculator.  

Cooking Your Meals

When cooking, consider using a slow cooker, an eco-pot or an air-fryer instead of the hob / oven. When upgrading your stove, prioritise energy efficiency, think carefully about your fuel-type and, if electric, consider an induction hob.