It can sometimes feel like our homes are designed to test just how green we really are, and how far our willpower will stretch before we reach for those labour-saving mod cons that guzzle energy like there's no tomorrow.
Friends of the Earth is a name to be trusted in all matters green, so their guide to saving energy is well worth a read. The tips are all designed to become 'second nature' pretty quickly.
I've collected together some of the most useful tips here: read them after the jump.
Related: How to make your fridge a greener place | hand-knitted fairtrade snake saves energy, eats draughts
We tend to think of winter as being the most energy intensive time for our homes, but there are plenty of ways to cut back on consumption at this time of year, too. Be careful how you use your fridge! Here are some suggestions:
* Avoid leaving fridge doors open. Each minute the door is open takes three minutes of energy to cool down again.
* Avoid putting hot or warm food straight into the fridge. Allow it to cool first.
* Defrost your fridge regularly to keep it running efficiently and cheaply. If it seems to frost up quickly, check the door seal.
* Keep the freezer in a cool room or garage.
Tumble dryers are a big energy drain. The alternatives are obvious in some cases (dude, it's sunny out there!) but less so in others -- I'd never heard this argument for not drying clothes on the radiator before.
* In summer dry your clothes outside and enjoy the fresh smell that only comes from line-dried clothes.
* Don't dry clothes on a radiator. It stops heat reaching the room, creates damp and encourages mould.
* If you have to use a tumble dryer, don't put really wet clothes inside. Wring them out or spin-dry them first.
Cooking can also be done more efficiently, following these simple tips:
* Match the size of the ring to the size of the saucepan or you will be paying to heat air.
* Put a lid on saucepans so the contents heat quicker and you use less energy.
* Cook several different foods on one ring with a pressure cooker or steamer.
* Microwaves save money because you don't waste energy heating containers or air.
Read the full list of energy saving tips, including advice on heating, hot water and lighting here.
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