Put a jacket on your water tank — and a hippo in your loo!

... and other crafty ways to cut energy bills

models, but check on energysavingtrust.org.

uk to see if you qualify for a grant. CHECK your windows are fully sealed. There s no point having a double-glazed window with a gap around it. Some companies can fit inconspicuous brush strips that stop draughts. Secondary glazing — a removable pane of glass that sits discreetly on the inside of the existing frame — is also an option.

DON’T let heat escape through nooks and crannies: insulate your walls and loft. Most of the Big Six energy suppliers offer free insulation for vulnerable customers, provided they meet certain requirements. British Gas has no restrictions.

You can also plug gaps between your floorboards with insulation. These account for 10 pc of a home’s heat loss, according to energy firm Spark. Skirting boards can also be sealed, with a combined annual saving of around £75.

QUIRKY gadgets are available to make savings around the home. A hippo water

saver will save three litres every time you flush the toilet — a must for those with a water meter. They can be free from water companies,

or you can get one from hippo-the-watersaver.

co.uk.

Buying a new showerhead that mixes water and air can save £100 on water for a family of four as well as £67 a year on gas bills since you need to heat less water.

A jacket on your hot water tank is an oldie, but a goodie. it saves £30 a year for a £15 outlay.

SWITCHING your energy tariff is a sure- fire way to save money on your power bill. Up to 2.5 million homeowners have never switched provider — each missing out on an average saving of £291 a year, according to comparison site GoCompare. But there are...