• Appliances such as TV's, Sky Boxes etc. left on standby can use up to 20% (or 1/5th) of the power they use when they are fully on. So why waste this energy unnecessarily? Plug out these appliances when going to bed or heading out for the day and the savings will add up!

• Energy Saving Light bulbs such as CFL's use significantly less electricity than regular bulbs. For example the equivalent of a 100Watt Light bulb would be a 20Watt CFL, that's only 20% of the power! CFL's also last up to 10times longer than regular bulbs, so you save on bulb replacement too. CFL bulbs have come a long way since they first arrived on the market, the light is now more natural, the bulbs look like ordinary bulbs and you can also get dimmable CFL's. CFL's are readily available in your local supermarket or Hardware store.

• Fitting a lagging jacket to your hot water cylinder only takes a couple of minutes. The jacket keeps the water in the tank warmer for longer & hence you don't have to heat it so much. This will save on your Electricity and Heating Fuel bill. Laggin jackets are available at your local hardware store.

• Reducing the heating temparature in your home even by only 1 degree, could save you 10% on your heating bill! 20degrees is the recommended temparature for your home.

• Check the Energy rating of all appliances such as Dishwashers, Washing Machines etc. They Cost less to run than older appliances and will save you money on your electricity bill.
• Don't turn on your washing machine or dishwasher when they're half full. Wait until there's a full load before running the machines. Also, run the appliances at the lowest possible temparature. Modern Wash Powders and Dish Washer tablets can clean efficiently at lower temparatures than before. Try it and see!
• Install a high efficiency boiler (>90%). There are Currently SEI grants available under the HES (Home Energy Saving) Scheme of up to €700 for replacing your boiler. Contact Us for a boiler quotation and view our HES Grants Page to see how you can apply for a grant to install heating controls

• Attic Insulation is such an easy way to save energy in your home. You will notice the warmth immediately! Insulating your attic can save an average household almost €300 per year! Even if you have existing insulation it is worth checking it to see if it can be improved as insulation standards have changed dramatically in the past few years. The recommended thickness for standard attic insulation is now 200-250mm.
• You can also look into insulating the walls of your house. There are many options such as interior dry lining, exterior lining & injection insulation (which injects an insulator into the cavity of your external walls)
• Look into the 'National Insulation Prorgamme', there are grants available for various types of insulation upgrades to your home. Registration begins in March 2009. Click Here for more information (SEI Website).
• Contact our parent company Mckeon Construction Ltd for an insulation quotation and view our HES Grants Page to see how you can apply for an insulation grant

• If you're the only one having a cuppa, only put one cup of water in the kettle! It will also boil quicker!

• Switch off lights when you leave a room. No need to have all the lights on when watching TV. Dimming lights can also save Energy, a light dimmed by 50% can save 40% of the Energy, modern dimmers can also increase lamp life up to 20times. Timers, photocells(Light Sensors) and motion detectors can also be used to ensure lights are only on when in use.

• Thermostatic Radiator Valves or "TRV's" can be easily fitted to your existing radiators. These valves have a built in thermostat, rather than just a simple on/off valve. This means you can set a temparature at each radiator rather than the whole system. TRV's are available at your local hardware store.

• Most older houses have a very simply heating system, where the whole house is on one circuit. This means that your wasting energy sending hot water to all the radiators when all you want to do is heat the hot water cylinder or the downstairs living room. Even a 3 zone system (Downstairs, Upstair, Hot Water), can save on wasted heat. This can also be connected to a 3Zone time clock leaving your with loads of control. With new modern systems you can even switch you heating on from your mobile phone!!
• Contact Us for a heating controls quotation and view our HES Grants Page to see how you can apply for a grant to install heating controls

• Of Course, the Number 1 Energy Saving Tip is to call Ciall. Ciall will carry out a survey of your premises and make recommendations as to how you can save energy, we will also prepare a detailed quotation outlining how much everything will cost, the potential savings and the payback period.
• Contact Ciall Today! Click Here

For More information on Energy Saving in Ireland see the following websites:

• Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI)
• Combat Climate Change
• Power Of One