With the credit crunch hitting hard, you could benefit from taking some basic measures around your home to improve its energy efficiency.

For example, did you know that you could save around £20 a year just by insulating your hot water tank?

Insulating jackets can be picked up from as little as a few pounds and will last for longer than a year, so you are set to save a lot more than you spend out on the jacket.

It’s not just your water tank that can be insulated – you can too. Before you turn the heating up, try wearing a few more layers to see if that will do enough to stave off the cold.

If you find your house is getting too hot, don’t open a window with the heating on. First, try turning the temperature of your heating down on the thermostat or turn your heating off altogether.

You will also find long-term benefits from making sure your home is properly insulated through measures such as cavity wall insulation and loft insulation. If you are claiming benefits or are a member of the elderly community, you can get an allowance for this even if you don’t own the house you are living in.

You can also prevent heat escaping by checking for draughts around your home and using items to block them. You can get draught excluders for your doors and can use old newspaper or cardboard to temporarily fill/block unused cat flaps or old tumble dryer outlets in your walls.

Click the link to compare gas and electric and see how much you could save on your energy bills