For many families, cutting energy bills is a priority – even if it means switching off the Christmas tree lights when no-one is in the living room.

Turning down the central heating thermostat, making sure electrical items are switched off when not in use – it all adds up. And for many of us, these savings have a dual benefit – coming hand in hand with efforts to help the planet.

But while we go around making these changes, we still don’t know a great deal about the impact they have, and we all know we could do more but don’t know how.

That is why more and more families are bringing in the experts – people who will take a look at the way they live, and show them how they can be greener – and save cash.

Some people are even booking such visits, by specialist environmental consultants, as alternative Christmas gifts. And energy-saving products, such as electricity use monitors are also popular as useful, green presents.

Earth Matters accompanied Roland Arnison, of Bradford-based Shearwater Environmental, as he inspected the home of Vicki Jackson.

Primary school office worker Vicki, 34, lives in a three-storey, five-bedroom Edwardian terraced house in Thornton with her electrician husband Andrew, 36, and their children Ethan, seven, and four-year-old Toby.

The family make every effort to make savings. “We try to be green, using low-energy lightbulbs, monitoring the central heating (gas) and recycling as much as possible,” says Vicki, “And we are looking to get loft insulation as soon as possible.”

Clipboard in hand, Roland moves from room to room, leaving no stone unturned.

Roland notes that the open chimney would allow warm air to escape and cause cold air to be pulled in. He recommends measures to prevent this, although, he adds, a specialist would need to examine it first.

Curtains lay over the radiators, channelling heat back towards the window. “The solution is simple,” he says, “Tuck the curtains behind to allow the warmed air to rise and circulate.”

He notes the “good quality, double-glazed windows with no draughts.” He adds: “Double glazing with a low energy rating definitely makes a difference. However, the cost of installing new double-glazed windows takes a long time to pay off. Most people have them installed when a window needs replacing.”

With single glazing you can block draughts using inexpensive foam strips. Vicki says she has done this in some rooms, and it has made a difference.

Roland homes in on the TV and DVD player – both left on standby. And he points out clothing should not be hung on radiators. “It is a small point, but it prevents heat getting out.” On the plus side, he says, the lights are fitted with low-energy bulbs.

He refers to the fact that heat can escape through the floor as well as the ceiling. “Anyone who is having floorboards raised for any reason could look into getting insulation.”

“Only boil a kettle when needed,” says Roland, “Most kettles have a thermostat which clicks off but are not very efficient and the kettle will carry on boiling. If this is the case, turn it off manually – you will be saving a lot of energy.”

Vicki asks whether it is cheaper to boil water on the gas hob. “It probably is, as gas is more energy-efficient,” he says.

The spotlights are not low-energy, notes Roland. “Nowadays you can find low-energy bulbs for most fittings.” He was pleased to find a Hippo bag in the toilet cistern. “Most older toilets use too much water when flushed – this displaces a litre of water for each flush, so you use a litre less.”

As a general point, Roland encourages householders to check whether their cistern is overflowing as this is not uncommon. “Some people’s cisterns have overflowed for years,” he says.

Roland notes the secondary glazing, eliminating draughts. The main light does not have a low-energy bulb, but Vicki is planning to install one. Vicki quickly turns off a small television, which has been left on standby throughout the night. “I forgot about that,” she says. Roland urges her to switch it off when the set is not in use.

The attic rooms, says Roland, are very poorly insulated. “It feels a lot colder up here, and that is why,” he says. “Loft insulation would make a difference – I would make this a top priority.” Vicki draws his attention to a hole in the roof, which is being fixed that day.

She adds that although there is no central heating on this floor, two storage heaters work well, but the rooms are draughty. “You need around 25cm of standard loft insulation above the flat ceiling and between the rafters of the sloping roof,” says Roland, “This would pay for itself within two years.”

“And also insulate above the loft hatchway and around the skylight.” One bedroom has secondary glazing, one does not.

Roland uses a special device to measures electricity usage for the whole house, and another for individual appliances. These are available from stores including Maplin Electronics in Valley Road, Bradford.

The whole-house device uses a wireless signal to monitor how much electricity is being used in the house. All of a sudden, the reading shot up from 204 to 2,878 watts – Vicki had put the kettle on.

Roland points out that the central heating could be turned down by around two degrees.

He also notes that the boiler supplies heat to the hot water tank all day, every day, making it far too hot and wasting a lot of gas. The tank and pipes are also poorly insulated. This should be remedied as high priority.

Roland calculates energy use over a period in late November. During a typical week, the family use 113 kilowatts each day, costing around £2.70 a day. Electricity costs 20 kilowatts each day, costing around £1.70. “In that week your night time (midnight to 7am) average electric power used was about a third of the daytime average,” says Roland. “That seems high, given you weren’t using any storage heating, and, in addition to the fridge and freezer, is probably due to your televisions and other equipment being left on standby. Roland is also able to calculate how much energy is used per year.

  • As well as private residences, Roland also advises businesses. For more information contact him on (01274) 835194 or roland@shearwater.gb.com or visit shearwater.gb.com