The bookies and the Met Office agree that the chances of a white Christmas are fairly slim. However, with cold winter weather and lots of entertaining at home over the next couple of weeks, an increase in energy consumption and costs is definitely forecast...

An increasing number of people are committing to energy efficiency as well as looking to cut the costs of their bills during this expensive month. Dedicated eco-developer, Kingerlee Homes, has compiled a list of top tips to help homeowners save energy and money over the festive season and, indeed, throughout the year.

1.     Insulation is key – Properties built with improved energy efficiency use particular materials to form an airtight shell and put in high levels of insulation. All homeowners should aim to have 250mm insulation in the loft and double glazed windows and should draw curtains at dusk. These are a few of the simplest ways to help reduce the levels of energy consumption and the money spent on their installation will be saved in lower heating bills.

2.     Monitor the heating – Don’t keep the heating on 24 hours a day. Set the timer so that it goes off overnight and set the thermostat at between 18 and 21 degrees to avoid overheating. Smart meters, which show the homeowner where energy is being used, are definitely worth installing and should become an essential household feature.

3.     Switch off appliances and lights – Turning off appliances left on standby can cut the average household’s total electricity bill significantly. If you’re a fan of Christmas lights, be selective about when they are turned on! Half the battle is getting in to the habit of being careful of the amount of electricity being used.

4.     Choose ‘A’ rated appliances – When you replace a household appliance, look out for the Energy Saving Recommended logo. Switch to energy efficient light bulbs as well.

Jonathan Kingerlee, Chairman of Kingerlee Homes, comments: “Christmas is a busy time with people entertaining guests and spending longer than usual at home. As a result, energy consumption and bills rise. My most important tip for homeowners is to be aware of the amount of energy their house is using.

“Getting into the habit of turning off appliances and being careful about the amount of heating and lighting used is essential. No property, whether a new build eco-home or an old town house can be expected to be cost and energy efficient to run if the family’s collective behaviour is not modified. This is what we are hoping to encourage at Kingerlee. There are many Christmas traditions. Don’t let spending more than you need to on energy bills become one of yours.”