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Aragon Housing’s monthly column: How smal changes can help the environment, and aid your pocket
AS I have mentioned in previous columns, the rising cost of fuel and energy bills is something that tenants of Aragon Housing Association, worry about every day.
At Aragon, we understand that not everyone is in a position where they can afford to invest in solar panels or air or ground source heat pumps. But sometimes the smallest things can help to save money on your energy bills.
The hardest part of going green is changing your habits. It is much easier to turn the television to stand-by rather than getting up and turning it off, or leaving a light on when you are out of the room instead of turning it off, but simple things like these can really make a difference.
At Aragon we have taken it upon ourselves to do our bit for the environment and are now well into our ‘Greening the Group’ campaign.
Along with our subsidiaries and parent company, Grand Union Housing Group, we are aiming to find the most beneficial green solutions for the business and our customers. As part of this, we feel that by simply offering advice on going green, we can help you all in the long-run.
According to the Carbon Trust, leaving a computer and monitor switched on all day will cost over £50 a year, but by switching it off and using standby features, this could be reduced to just £15.
The same goes for turning lights off. By making sure you turn them off in rooms that are not being used, you could reduce your lighting costs by up to 15 per cent.
As for heating, try to keep your thermostat at 19°C, because your costs will go up by 8 per cent for each degree above that. Also allow plenty of space around radiators so they can heat the room more efficiently.
As you can see by changing habits for even the simplest of tasks you really can make a difference, to your pocket and to the environment.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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