Greening your home means less carbon and more cash

As winter begins to peek into the corners of our days, getting out of bed in the morning is starting to become a chilly affair, and we're more likely to be flicking the heating on when we get home in the evenings.

Announcements by the big energy companies earlier this year though mean that keeping warm this winter is going to be more expensive than ever, with some suppliers hiking prices by as much as 18 percent.

And of course, heating our homes doesn't just impact on our wallets, but on the planet too. Increasing power demands and wasted energy all plays a huge role in contributing to carbon emissions and climate change.

But you can make a difference - both for your bank balance and ol' Mother Earth. From easy household tweaks to bigger, financially rewarding home improvement projects, you can be on your way to creating less carbon and saving more cash. Check out our top tips below.

Replace your old boiler

Boilers account for 60 percent of carbon emissions in a gas-heated home. By replacing an old G-rated boiler for a new energy efficient one, you can significantly reduce your emissions and save up to £225 a year!

Insulate your loft properly

Loft insulation works by keeping heat exactly where you want it - in your home, and not floating out into the ether. Installing it yourself costs from £50 to £350, but you'll make financial savings of around £145 a year, every year.

Turn your thermostat down

We hear this one all the time, but it's one of the easiest things we can do in the name of energy efficiency. Just turning it down by one degree can save you up to £50 a year.

Use energy saving lightbulbs

Another well-versed sentiment, but energy saving bulbs can save you up to £45 over the lifetime of the bulb, and they last around 10 times loner.

Get an energy monitor

An energy monitor is a digital clock-like device that sits quietly in the corner of your home, taking note of how much energy is being used and where, giving you real-time data on the power you're using. For example, it'll show you how your consumption (and bills) soar when you're boiling a kettle. Simple awareness of your energy use like this can actually help to reduce usage and save around 10 percent on bills.

Power yourself!

If you're already well-versed in the being green, why not step it up a gear and generate your own power? You can do this with solar panels, wind turbines, ground source heating, biomass... There is a huge range of opportunities available for people looking to save money and the planet. Stand by for our guide to household renewable energy, coming very soon!