Your home, greener
YOUR HOME.
YOUR BIGGEST
OPPORTUNITY.
Home energy accounts for around 17% of UK carbon emissions. Switching, insulating and upgrading can cut your footprint — and your bills — significantly.
CO₂ saved per year by switching to a 100% renewable electricity tariff — the single biggest household action most people can take in 5 minutes
CO₂ saved annually by replacing a gas boiler with a heat pump — equivalent to not flying return London–New York once
The opportunity
of UK carbon emissions come from heating and powering our homes. It's one of the highest-impact areas an individual can address directly.
GREEN ENERGY PROVIDERS
Switching to a renewable electricity tariff is the fastest, easiest thing you can do for your home's carbon footprint. Most switches take under 10 minutes and don't require an engineer visit.
Featured energy partner
OCTOPUS ENERGY
The UK's most trusted green energy supplier — 100% renewable electricity, genuinely innovative tariffs, and customer service that actually picks up the phone. We recommend them because we believe in what they do, not because they pay us the most.
Data: Trustpilot UK ratings as of 2025. "Renewable %" refers to the electricity mix on green tariffs. "Matched" means REGOs purchased to match consumption rather than direct renewable sourcing. What's the difference? →
HEAT PUMPS — WORTH IT?
Heat pumps are the most significant single upgrade you can make to a home — but they're not right for everyone right now. Here's the honest picture.
Typical installation cost
After the UK Government's Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant of £7,500, net cost is typically £500–£6,500 depending on home size and insulation level
Annual CO₂ saving
Versus a gas boiler, assuming UK average electricity grid carbon intensity. Savings increase every year as the grid gets greener
IS A HEAT PUMP RIGHT FOR YOU?
Heat pumps work by extracting heat from outside air (even in cold weather) and moving it indoors — they don't burn fuel. They're 3–4× more efficient than gas boilers, meaning for every unit of electricity used, you get 3–4 units of heat.
They work best in well-insulated homes. If your home loses heat quickly, you'll spend more electricity maintaining temperature. Loft insulation and draught-proofing before installing a heat pump will significantly improve performance and reduce running costs.
The UK Government's Boiler Upgrade Scheme currently offers a £7,500 grant. This ends when the funding pot runs out — so earlier is better.
Pros
Things to consider
KEEP THE HEAT IN
25% of home heat is lost through the roof. Another 35% through walls. Insulation is the unsexy but genuinely impactful upgrade — and much of it is cheap or free.
Loft insulation
25% of home heat escapes through the roof. A 270mm layer of mineral wool costs around £300 and can last 40+ years. Often free through ECO4 government scheme if you're on benefits or low income.
↓ Up to 0.6t CO₂/yrCost: £0–£400 · Payback: 1–2 yearsCavity wall insulation
35% of heat is lost through walls. If your home was built after 1920 it likely has a cavity wall that can be filled. Costs around £1,500 but can be free through government schemes.
↓ Up to 0.56t CO₂/yrCost: £0–£1,500 · Payback: 3–5 yearsDouble / triple glazing
10% of heat is lost through windows. Double glazing pays back over 20+ years on energy savings alone, but adds comfort and noise reduction. Triple glazing is increasingly cost-effective in new builds.
↓ Up to 0.2t CO₂/yrCost: £4,000–£12,000 · Long paybackDraught-proofing
The cheapest, fastest win. Sealing gaps around doors, windows, letterboxes and floorboards costs under £200 in materials and a weekend's effort — or under £500 professionally installed.
↓ Up to 0.1t CO₂/yrCost: £50–£500 · Payback: under 1 yearSmart thermostat
A smart thermostat like Nest or Hive learns your schedule and adjusts heating automatically. Independent studies show savings of 10–23% on heating bills — typically £150–£200/yr on an average bill.
↓ Up to 0.15t CO₂/yrCost: £100–£250 · Payback: under 2 yearsLED lighting
Replacing all bulbs with LEDs uses 90% less electricity than incandescent and 60% less than halogen. Cost is negligible — a pack of 10 LEDs is under £15 — and they last 15–25 years.
↓ Up to 0.08t CO₂/yrCost: £15–£100 · Payback: under 1 yearWATER & APPLIANCES
Hot water accounts for around 18% of a typical home's energy use. Reducing water use — particularly hot water — and using your appliances smarter can meaningfully cut both your bills and your carbon footprint.
Fit an aerated tap
Aerating tap inserts mix air with water, reducing flow by 50% while maintaining the same pressure feel. They screw directly onto existing taps and cost under £10 each. A family of four can save up to 10,000 litres of hot water a year.
↓ Up to 0.1t CO₂/yrCost: £5–£15 per tap · Instant paybackLow-flow showerhead
A standard showerhead uses 10–15 litres per minute. A low-flow version uses 6–8 litres — maintaining good pressure but halving hot water use. Saves around £200/yr on energy and water bills for a household of four.
↓ Up to 0.15t CO₂/yrCost: £20–£60 · Payback: 1–3 monthsDryer balls instead of tumble drying
Wool dryer balls reduce drying time by 25–40% by separating clothes and improving air circulation — cutting energy use every cycle. Better still, line-dry when possible. Tumble dryers are one of the most energy-intensive home appliances.
↓ Up to 0.1t CO₂/yrCost: £8–£20 for a set · Lasts 3–5 yearsUse your dishwasher's eco setting
The eco programme uses lower temperatures over a longer cycle — consuming up to 40% less energy than the standard 65°C wash. Modern dishwashers also use less water than hand-washing a full load. Always run full loads only.
↓ Up to 0.07t CO₂/yrFree — already available on your machineWash clothes at 30°C
Heating water accounts for 90% of the energy used in a wash cycle. Dropping from 40°C to 30°C cuts energy use by around 40% with no difference in cleaning performance for most everyday loads. Modern detergents are formulated to work at 30°C.
↓ Up to 0.09t CO₂/yrFree — change the dial, nothing moreInsulate your hot water cylinder
If you have a hot water cylinder, wrapping it in an 80mm insulating jacket costs around £20 and reduces standby heat loss by 75%. Older cylinders without factory insulation can lose a significant amount of heat just sitting there.
↓ Up to 0.08t CO₂/yrCost: £20 · Payback: under 3 monthsWashing machine
USE THE 30°C SETTING
90% of a wash cycle's energy goes on heating water. 30°C cleans everyday clothes just as well — and modern eco detergents are designed for it.
↓ 40% less energy per washDishwasher
ALWAYS USE ECO MODE
The eco cycle runs longer but at a lower temperature — using up to 40% less electricity than standard. Only run it when it's completely full.
↓ 40% less energy per cycleTumble dryer
LINE DRY FIRST
Tumble dryers are one of the most energy-intensive home appliances. Line-dry where possible; use wool dryer balls when you must tumble — they cut drying time by up to 40%.
↓ Up to 100% saving if air-driedGENERATE YOUR OWN
Complete guide
SOLAR PANELS IN THE UK —
ARE THEY WORTH IT?
Read the guide →
Average cost of a 4kWp system (before any grants)
CO₂ saved per year from a typical 4kWp installation
Typical payback period — then free electricity for 15+ years
Better returns with a battery — store daytime generation for evening use
YOUR GREEN HOME CHECKLIST
Tick these off in order of impact. Each one compounds — a well-insulated home with renewable energy and a heat pump will have a fraction of the emissions of an average UK home.
Your estimated annual saving
Tick items below to see your total grow
actions complete
Switch to renewable electricity
The single biggest household action. Takes 5–10 minutes online.
↓ 1.2t CO₂/yr · Switch now →Check your loft insulation
Should be at least 270mm. If thinner, topping up is cheap and fast.
↓ 0.6t CO₂/yr · Often free via ECO4Draught-proof doors & windows
Cheap, fast, high impact. Under-door brushes, window seals, letterbox covers.
↓ 0.1t CO₂/yr · From £50Switch all bulbs to LED
90% less electricity than incandescent. A pack of 10 costs under £15.
↓ 0.08t CO₂/yr · Under £100 totalInstall a smart thermostat
Nest or Hive can cut heating bills by 10–23% through smart scheduling.
↓ 0.15t CO₂/yr · £100–£250Check cavity wall insulation eligibility
Most post-1920s homes qualify. Often free or heavily subsidised.
↓ 0.56t CO₂/yr · Often free via ECO4Switch to 30°C washes & dishwasher eco mode
Free, instant, and cuts appliance energy use by 40% per cycle.
↓ 0.16t CO₂/yr combinedFit a low-flow showerhead
Halves hot water use in the shower with no noticeable drop in pressure.
↓ 0.15t CO₂/yr · From £20Get a heat pump quote
The £7,500 Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant is time-limited. Worth exploring now.
↓ 2.8t CO₂/yr · Learn more →Consider solar panels
If you own your home, solar + battery is increasingly cost-effective.
↓ 0.9t CO₂/yr · Read the guide →