Saving Energy - Helpful Ideas

It's easy to feel powerless in the face of a huge problem like climate change, but by encouraging people to carry out these achievable actions, 10:10 enables us all to make a big difference.

Why not give our top tips a try over the next 10 months? Follow these simple ideas to help reduce your carbon emissions and the impact you have will be amazing.

January: A commitment - 10% less by the end of 2010

Myth: I'm just one person; I can't make any difference to something as big as climate change.

Myth buster: Every thing we do as individuals makes a difference. If every one in Stockton-on-Tees turned the heating down by just one degree centigrade it would save enough CO2 to fill 4,292 hot air balloons, and save approx £3millon each year.

February: Termination - Knock IT on the head

Advice: Switch computers off at the mains when you are not using them and remember to switch off the monitor and printer too.

Support: Buy a PowerDown by calling free on 0800 3287126. A PowerDown is a simple device that switches off all equipment linked to your computer once you switch it off. There are versions available for desktops and laptops. Once you switch your computer back on the PowerDown also switches everything else attached to it too!

Fact: Switching your computer at off at night will save enough energy to make 50,000 cups of coffee each year.

March: Regulation - Take the heat off

Advice: If your home gets uncomfortably warm turn down radiators rather than open a window.

Fact: Turning heating down by just one degree can save up to 10% on the energy bill.

April: Transportation - Hitch and Switch - Car share to work with a colleague

Advice: Find a car sharing buddy.

Support: Cycle to work - we offer several schemes to help you get on your bike to work; contact the sustainable travel team who will give help and advice - from buying your bike, cycle training, cycle maintenance workshops, we'll even try to help you find a bike buddy to share your cycle journey with.

Fact: On a bike you can travel up to 1037 km using the equivalent energy of 1litre of petrol.

May: Knock your lights out! - Don't leave lights on in empty rooms

Advice: Remember to turn lights off when you leave a room empty. Do you actually need to switch the light on? Draw back blinds and curtains to make the most of natural light.

Myth: It uses less energy if you leave fluorescent lights switched on.

Myth busting: If you are going to be out of the room for more than a minute and a half, it is more cost effective to turn lights off. (This applies to low energy light bulbs as well).

June - Moderation - don't slaughter the water; only boil the amount you need

Fact: An overfilled kettle takes longer to boil, wasting electricity and increasing carbon emissions - only boil the amount you need.

Fact: If everyone in the UK boiled only the water they needed to make a cup of tea instead of 'filling' the kettle every time, we could save enough electricity to run most of the street lighting in the country.

July: Communication - stint on the print only print out emails if really necessary.

Advice: Try to use double side or 'duplex' printing wherever possible.

August: Mobilisation - break the connection! Don't leave mobile phones on continual charge.

Advice: Get into a good habit of switching the phone charger off after use.

Fact: Over £1 billion worth of energy is wasted in the UK by leaving appliances on standby and chargers plugged in when not being used.

Myth: Mobile phone chargers consume less than 0.5 watts of electricity.

Myth Buster: This is true... but add together all the other gadgets we leave on charge 24/7 such as laptops, iPhones, battery chargers, games consoles and the watts soon add up.

September: Consideration - don't ignore the door, keep all doors closed in cold weather

Advice: Follow these ideas to conserve energy escaping from your doors and windows:

Close doors and windows to keep in the heat
Draught proof your letter box and any gaps around your door frame - this is cheap and easy to do it yourself
Close blinds and curtains at dusk to keep heat in
Tuck curtains behind radiators to channel the heat into your room

Support: Contact the GoWarm team at Stockton Council, and arrange to have loft insulation for £99 and cavity wall insulation for £99. If you get certain benefits both can be installed free of charge!

October: Contribution - got a cool idea? Then share your vision!

Climate change is something that everyone can help slow down. If there is a quirky little thing you do to help climate change, then let us know at 1010@stockton.gov.uk.

We'd love to hear your what you do to make a difference and then we can share your ideas!