With the earth's supplies of fossil fuels drying up at an alarming rate, and the threat of global warming looming ever larger, it has become imperative that everybody takes steps to reduce their energy use. Here are some hints and tips for reducing your carbon footprint ? and your utilities bill ? without necessarily making any severe lifestyle compromises:



Use more energy efficient appliances. All modern appliances are labelled with energy usage comparison tables that you can use to gauge the relative efficiency of the item in question. If you cannot afford to replace inefficient older appliances, find out if there is any way to make them more energy efficient, such as buying a special adapter or having them converted in some way.

If you are not using an appliance, turn it off. A television or computer set to standby still uses around 60% of the power it would require during normal operation, which is a colossal waste of energy, not to mention money.

If your computer has a ?sleep? mode, use this rather than a screen saver, as this uses far less power. Although it takes a little while longer to get it going again, the amount of energy, and therefore money, that can be saved more than makes up for any perceived loss of productivity.

You can generate your own green electricity by installing solar panels and wind turbines on your property. However this can be an expensive business, so the next best thing to do would be to sign up to a green energy supply contract, with either a dedicated green electricity firm, or one of the eco-electricity schemes offered by mainstream suppliers. Although there is no way of ensuring that all of the energy you use comes from renewable sources, this at least encourages investment in renewables.

Use low-flow shower heads, and insulate your water heater and pipes to reduce heat loss.

Don't turn on your washing machine or dishwasher unless you have a full load, as this is the best way to ensure that energy is not being wasted in this appliance.

Turning your thermostat down by just one degree can wipe a colossal 10% off your annual energy bill, without producing a noticeable change in room temperature.

Upgrade your insulation. Sticking down an extra layer of mineral wool in your loft can help to reflect any heat that you produce back into the home, rather than letting it escape into the atmosphere.

By fixing any holes in your roof or pipes, you can significantly reduce heat loss from your home. Similarly, by upgrading your windows to double or even triple glazing, you can save a substantial amount off your annual utilities bill.

By installing modern timer and temperature controls for your boiler, you can greatly improve the level of flexibility of your heating system, while making substantial efficiency savings.