Low Carbon: Energy efficiency in the home

Some houses in a similar situation could benefit from insulation via external cladding or internal-battened insulation, which is perfect for landowners who have a bit of cash and time to spare (external cladding costs around £5,000 and can take at least 10 years to pay off, while internal-battened insulation can be a major upheaval and diminish the size of the room).

But there is a cheaper and easier solution, says eco guru Donnachadh McCarthy, author of Easy Eco Auditing: How To Make Your Home and Workplace Planet-Friendly.

"Wallpapers made of insulating material, like thermal wall insulation, are easy to install and will make a noticeable difference to the warmth of the whole house," says Donnachadh, who gave my home an eco audit in December.

Thermal wall coverings are available from www.greenplanetinsulation.co.uk for £21.99 per square metre and, at 10mm thick, will help reduce condensation and heat loss by providing a buffer between you and the cold outside walls.

If that's too much for you, you could always hang up a rug, kanga or tapestry by pinning it to the wall. Hey, it worked in the Middle Ages - and it's worked for my housemate too.

If your house was built after the 1920s, it's likely that you have cavity walls - or two layers with a small gap in between them. If that gap isn't sealed up, it should be - but you'll have to get someone come and do it for you. The cost will set you back around £250, but the Energy Saving Trust (EST) reckons you'll save around £160 on your annual bills.

The EST also offers grants to help both tenants and landlords pay for energy-saving moves like this one.

LOOKING UP

You've heard that heat rises? Well, loft insulation keeps the heat that's generated within your home from escaping out the roof. The EST suggests installing at least 270mm of the stuff, but Donnachadh recommends installing a bit more than that: it's the difference between a throw and a full-on duvet.

Most utility companies are providing schemes to upgrade or install it for you, with the EST also providing grants for loft insulation. All you have to do is visit www.est.org.uk/myhome and enter your postcode to see what you qualify for in your area.

You can expect to save around £205 a year on your heating bills and one tonne of CO2 per year if you haven't got any loft insulation at the moment - or around £60 if you do. Installation is relatively easy if you're the DIY type and will set you back around £250. But be sure to wear protective clothing, as most of the stuff is made from mineral wool, which has a high energy cost and is an irritant to the skin and lungs.

Eco-friendlier insulations include Warmcel (made from mineralised recycled paper) and Thermafleece (made from waste sheep-shearing products).

Warmcel, which won the Which? Best Insulation award, costs around £2.70 for 100mm and is easier to install than Thermafleece (which costs around £9.50 for 100mm), which tends to blow about due to its fluffiness unless sealed in. Check www.greenplanetsinsulation.co.uk and www.secondnatureuk.com for details on buying and installing both.

Once you've got your insulation ready to go, Donnachadh says it's important to bear one thing in mind.

"When you get the loft-space insulated, ensure the loft-hatch entry door is also draught-proofed and insulated. Otherwise you'll lose hot air from the house straight through the door."

THE FINAL COUNTDOWN

The few moves we've made in my house have increased its warmth no end. The draught excluders on the windows and doors now keep our rooms cosier, while putting floor coverings on both the floors and walls has kept the cold, wintry air out. We don't know yet how much money we've saved, but the measures proved that staying warm - and saving money - didn't mean having to install solar panels or wind turbines.

Here are a few extra reminders that you should think about when you green up your own house. Good luck!

EXTRACTOR FANS

Do you have an extractor fan in your kitchen or air vent in your toilet that's blowing gale-force winds into your house non-stop?

If you can't shut or close the fan, seal it up with some extra fabric, cardboard or thermal sealant - whatever you have lying around. You will notice an immediate effect.

FRIDGES AND FREEZERS

Fridges and freezers are one of the highest consumers of electricity in an average home, despite not being used on an hourly basis. You'll save energy by keeping them fully stocked - or at least partially stocked with food and otherwise stocked with whatever else you can use to fill up the empty space.

WATER USAGE

If you've got an old one-flush cistern, you can save at least three litres a flush by investing in a water hippo, which you can get from your water provider, or by filling a water-filled half-litre plastic bottle into the cistern. It'll stop the cistern from filling up as much each time, thereby cutting down on your water waste.

CHECK YOUR ENERGY

Ever wondered how much energy the kettle uses (mine consumes around 2800 watts), or the toaster, or the radio when it's on standby? Then get yourself an energy monitor (lots are available online, like www.currentcost.com). It might just be the most intuitive - and informative - purchase you've made in a long time.

To get your own Eco Audit with eco guru Donnachadh McCarthy, visit his website at www.3acorns.co.uk or phone 0207 703 8748.

Easy Eco Auditing by Donnachadh McCarthy is published by Octopus, priced £7.99. Available now.

For more tips on how to green up your house, to find out if you qualify for a grant or to get a free Home Energy Check, visit www.energysavingtrust.org.uk.