Stephen Lewis takes advantage of energy Efficiency Week to investigate how you could save money on your winter bills

WITH winter beginning to take hold, heating bills will be on the rise again. But if the thought of your hard-earned cash being turned into hot air leaves you feeling blue, help is at hand.

A few simple energy-saving measures could save you up to £250 a year on your fuel bills - and will help the environment too, says the Energy Saving Trust.

Simply using an energy efficient light-bulb instead of a normal one could save £10 a year - and multiply that by the number of bulbs in the house and you're looking at a big saving.

Switching off the TV at night instead of leaving it on standby, saving the weekly wash until you've got a full load, and only boiling as much water as you need, can all save money. And turning down the thermostat on your central heating by just one degree centigrade could shave up to 10 per cent off your heating bills.

A few more expensive measures - proper loft and cavity insulation, upgrading old and inefficient boilers - can also help save pounds after the initial investment. Many older central heating boilers are only about 45 per cent efficient, says Megan Remmer, manager of the York and North Yorkshire Energy Efficiency Advice Centre in George Hudson Street, whereas modern boilers can be up to 85 per cent efficient. That means more of the fuel you pay for goes on what you want it to do: heating your home.

Most people, says Megan, just don't realise how much energy they are wasting.

"By taking a few simple measures, they stand to save up to £250 a year and help the environment at the same time," she says.

If you're not sure where to start, and whether the effort will be worth it in the long run, the centre - one of 52 across the country set up by the Energy Saving Trust - has some simple DIY home energy questionnaires to help.

Take a few minutes to fill out the form - with information about your home, your heating, your insulation, the type of appliances you have and how many people live there - send it back, and centre staff will run it through a computer.

"That enables us to generate a customised report that tells people how much they can save, and how much it will cost initially," says marketing manager Jennifer Hails. "It's a very good starting point."

Another good way of saving money after an initial investment is to replace ageing electrical appliances

such as fridge, freezer and washing machine with more energy-efficient modern models. After splashing out the money to begin with, you could save up to £45 a year for each item, says Jennifer.

Knowing which appliance to go for isn't always easy, of course: despite the efficiency ratings displayed on modern appliances in accordance with European law.

But this Week is Energy Efficiency Week: and to help you choose the most efficient new fridge, washing machine - or even toaster - the Energy Saving Trust has launched a new Energy Efficiency 'Recommended' logo. See this sign - and they should be appearing in the shops about now - and you'll know that what you're buying really won't cost the earth in fuel bills.

The Energy Efficiency Advice Centre at 20 George Hudson Street can be contacted on 01904 554406. They will send you a DIY home energy questionnaire in the post, or fill one in with you there and then over the telephone. The centre also offers energy efficient lightbulbs for just £2.75 - recommended retail price £8.99 - though each household is limited to six.

Top 10 Tips for saving energy

Don't leave TVs on standby - this uses a quarter of the energy used when the set is on

Take a shower instead of a bath - it uses a fifth of the water

Turn your heating down by one degree C - this can cut 10 per cent off heating bills

Don't open the door during the dishwasher cycle - it lets heat escape

Only boil as much water as you need

Wait until you have a full load before doing the washing

Make sure the filters of your tumble dryer are fluff-free

Never cover heaters with curtains - this wastes heat

Dust the back of your fridge/ freezer regularly - dust reduces efficiency

Defrost your freezer regularly - ice should be no more than 6mm thick.