The team at Lancaster House is dedicated to ensure that the hotel is one of the Lancashire leaders when it comes to green initiatives, reducing our carbon footprint and supporting our local environment.
Adding to our Gold status in the Green Business Tourism Scheme, the hotel was recently shortlisted in the Lancashire Tourism Awards, Sustainable Tourism category. Emma Underwood, Deputy Manager at Lancaster House and our ‘Green Champion’ is keen to spread the message that it’s not just businesses that can get involved. Here are her four top tips that will help save you money, whilst also saving the environment.
Insulation
Most of the heat from your house will be lost through your roof. Don’t assume the insulation you already have in place is doing the best job it can. Insulation material has come on leaps and bounds over the last few years and is now significantly better than it used to be. Check out the Energy Savings Trust website for more information on how best to insulate your loft space. If drafty windows and conservatories are a problem in your house, you can now buy ‘insulating film’ which is quick and simple to fit. It acts as a temporary additional layer to your existing glazing, and in some instances can reduce heat loss by 35%. At around £10 to cover 4 large windows, the costs should be recouped in very little time.
Lighting
This is where progress really has been made in leaps and bounds. Energy saving bulbs such as CFL’s and Halogen have been around for a long time now, but LED technology which is brighter, cleaner and faster is seen as the way forward now. A halogen bulb can have an annual running cost of £8.42, the same power LED equivalent will only be £1.71. Although slightly more expensive, replacing 20 bulbs in your house from Halogen to LED could save you over £130 a year! As they last much longer, one single LED bulb alone could save you £180 in electricity over its lifetime.
Water consumption
This is where a cheap, easy fix really can make a difference to your wallet. We’ve all been guilty of spending too long in the shower, or letting the tap run whilst we brush our teeth or rinse the dinner plates. So, if changing these habits seems just a bit too much to do over night, did you know that you can now buy water-flow restrictors for your shower heads or sink taps? This cheap and ingenious little invention can reduce your water flow by up to 40%, yet their unique design actually injects air into the system so you will feel no loss of power or effect. These can easily be bought for around £5 but could save you £40 per year on an average house. Do check if your taps and shower heads are compatible before purchase.
Composting
Did you know that tea bags, vegetable peelings and coffee granules make a great compost? Chances are, you could be throwing all kinds of compostable stuff out on a weekly basis, so how about having your own compost bin and either giving it to your local allotments, or even better, growing your own fruit and vegetables. You will be amazed at what you can actually compost, and you’ll find some great tips here.
With a few simple alterations we can not only fulfil our moral obligation to be ‘green’, but it can genuinely save us money too!
- Written by: Emma Underwood, Lancaster House