1 Cut that draught with a rug

Boom-time home improvements, such as stripped wood floors, can make it harder to cut your fuel bills. The draughts that blow up through the gaps in stripped wood flooring will have your radiators working double time, so buy some rugs if you cannot contemplate carpets. Habitat has a good selection starting at £39, but, for extra greenie points, try one of Lise Lefebvre's creations (liselefebvre.com). The French designer recycles old blankets into kitsch bearskin rugs à la Sarah Palin with an eco-twist.

2 Hang it all

Plantation blinds, another essential part of the early Noughties domestic makeover, are probably more suited to the steamy climate of the American Deep South. Full-length curtains do a better job of keeping out the cold. Marks & Spencer is doing a brisk trade in made-to-order curtains, which start at £76. Remember, some outlay now will secure long-term savings.

3 Let it flow

Thermostatic radiator valves (TRV), which cost about £8 from plumbworld.co.uk and help you to control room temperatures more effectively, are another example of investment now for long-term payback later. A London plumber will charge about £200 to install TRVs in a four-bedroom house. Also, learn more about insulation at energysavingtrust.org.uk and at diydata.com/projects/loft_insulation/loft_insulation.php

4 Shining examples

Energy-efficient light bulb enthusiasts swear that the latest give off the same-quality lighting as old-style incandescent ones. That's open to question, but they have come a long way and you can find them in all shapes and sizes. You still get the stick-shaped ones such as the 15w Osram Energy Saver (79p from Robert Dyas) but it is possible to find more attractive egg and candle-shaped ones. Also, look out for the “soft tones”, dimmable options and energy-efficient halogen ceiling bulbs that can enhance the look of a room and vary the level of its lighting.

5 Don't get in a lather

The greenest option is not to launder your clothes at all. They will last longer. Sadly, the same could not be said about your friendships if you were to take this option. But you can use eco-friendly washing liquids or wash at a lower temperature, or both. Ecover and Bio D are well-known eco-brands; Ariel has just launched Excel Gel, designed for cold washes. Bacteria and dirt will build up in your machine if you don't wash one high-temperature load or use a detergent containing bleach once a month. Washing at lower temperatures and with less water will, over time, reduce your machine's efficiency and increase the chances of it breaking down.

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