General advice these days seems to be telling us all to 'save this' or 'save that'. The environmentalists are advising us to save the planet, save energy and save on waste while the media is constantly reminding us to save money because of the current financial climate.

While both give sound advice on their own, if you mix the musings of the greener-than-thou brigade with the merchants of economic doom you can find yourself a lot better off - conscientiously and financially.

The Energy Saving Trust (EST) estimates that a few simple changes to your house can save hundreds of pounds annually. For example, having a properly insulated loft can potentially chop £150 off your outgoings each year, while cavity wall insulation will increase this number further.

The EST also recommends fitting energy efficient light bulbs - these specially designed products use around 80 per cent less electricity than ordinary bulbs and have the added bonus of lasting up to ten times longer. Although traditionally thought to be a lot more expensive, they give a lot better value for money and if you shop around then you should be able to find them at considerably cheaper prices.

While this advice may not seem like anything new, it's surprising how many people still don't follow it. Often it's the oldest advice that brings the greatest rewards - someone taking a five minute shower uses a fifth of the water of a bather.

Other simple tricks like switching the television off - rather than leaving it on standby - can save up to £30 a year. The same applies to other electrical appliances - if you're not using it, switch it off. Washing clothes at a lower temperature as well as turning down the thermostat for your heating by just one degree can have a massive effect on your bill with barely any difference to your lifestyle.

Putting an old jacket over a water tank is a simple trick to help save energy as it keeps heat in, meaning the boiler has less work to do.

All of these steps can help to make your home a more energy efficient place meaning you can cut back on bills each month safe in the knowledge that you are helping to preserve the environment. Once your home is in order, however, there's no reason to stop there as other touches - such as regular recycling or making sure that your garden and daily commute are as environmentally friendly as possible can help out even further.

Article Source: http://www.ArticleBlast.com