Living a sustainable and environmentally friendly lifestyle is becoming more and more important to many people across the UK. An increase in television coverage has driven awareness of all matters relating to global warming and the effect of pollution on the ozone layer.

The current state of the country’s economy has also had a strong impact, with government schemes promoting sustainable living as one solution to the nation’s financial woes and people quickly acknowledging that frugal living stretches to the manner in which we utilise the heat in our home.

Some fairly simple changes to the way in which you live can help you save money and also contribute towards improving the carbon footprint of your home.

Condense your Boiler, Condense your Heating Bills
We all rely on our central heating system when the weather inevitably turns cold, so it stands to reason that investing in an efficient heating system bodes well for the long term.

With the cost of gas and electricity seemingly increasingly at a rate of knots, it can be hugely beneficial to move over to a condensing boiler if you haven’t done so already. Condensing boilers have been built with efficiency in mind. They capture the waste gases produced by the boiler that would otherwise be destined to be released from the property. They are able to draw on the heat that exists within this waste gas and put it to good use, ensuring it is not wasted. This can save you a bundle on your heating costs, as you need to use less gas and electricity to get the same results.

You could end up £300 better off at the end of the year if you were to make the move from a non-condensing boiler.

Getting your Radiators Working as They Should Be
If your radiator isn’t working at its optimum levels then you will be using a lot of fuel without reaping the desire rewards. A common problem is that air settles in the rad, blocking hot water off from the radiator panel, restricting the amount of heat that can be emitted into the surrounding room.

If you can feel these cold patchy areas on radiators in your property, then it is quite easy to resolve. You simply need to grab a rag and a radiator key/screwdriver and release the radiator valve. This replaces the air with water. You will know when you need to tighten the valve back up when water spurts out. It’s that simple!

If you radiators still aren’t reaching the temperature levels you think they ought to be reaching, then you may need to flush your radiators out (commonly referred to as a Power Flush). This will push out any debris and sludge that may end up blocking your system over time.

Getting you radiators up and running will ensure you are making the most of the fuel your central heating is using to generate heat, vastly improving efficiency levels.

Minimise wastage:
Once you have got your heating system working at the best levels possible, it is then over to you to ensure you make the most of the heat generated by your heating system.
Here are some simply things that make a big difference:

•    Draw curtains
•    Invest in roof insulation
•    Close windows
•    Shut doors behind you
•    Use a draught excluder

Applying these simple efficiency measures can go a long way towards saving you money by improving the efficiency levels of your home.