Quiz: How Much of an Energy Expert Are You?

We’re all aware that we need to be saving energy, lowering our bills and cutting our carbon footprints – after all we’re constantly being bombarded by information and adverts to remind us to do our bit.

The only problem is that for many of us, with such a range of facts being bandied about, it can sometimes get a bit hard to keep track of them all.

Do low energy light bulbs, for instance, last ten times longer than ordinary ones and save around £40 over their lifetime – or will they save me a tenner and last 40 times as long? Or is it that they’ll each cost me £40 to buy?

Confused, or do you see yourself as a bit of an energy expert? Try this quick quiz and find out how much you really do remember.

1. What is the recommended setting for your hot water cylinder’s thermostat?

a) 37ºC
b) 60ºC
c) 100ºC

2. Reducing your room temperature by 1°C...

a) Up to 10%
b) Around 25%
c) Just under 50%

3. What is a CFL?

a) A type of low energy light-bulb
b) A high-efficiency condenser boiler
c) A unit used to measure carbon emissions

4.What is the recommended depth for loft insulation?

a) 70mm
b) 170mm
c) 270mm

5. EU energy labels use letters to describe an appliance’s energy consumption

a) A
b) G
c) Z

6.Adding which of the following to your home would cut CO2 emissions by the MOST?

a) Draught proofing for windows and doors.
b) Cavity wall insulation.
c) Water pipe insulation.

7. What is meant by ‘Eco-Driving’?

a) Only driving cars that use biofuels.
b) Planting trees to offset the CO2 from your driving
c) Driving carefully to make the most efficient use of fuel.

8. How much does the average household waste each year

a) £6.50
b) £65
c) £650

9. How big a contribution do our homes make to the UK’s total CO2 emissions?

a) More than 25%
b) About 15%
c) Less than 10%

10.Which of the following was the FIRST to be invented?

a) Fuel cell
b) Motor car
c) Lead acid battery

11.Combined Heat and Power is also known as what?

a) Internal combustion
b) Incineration
c) Co-generation

12.What is ‘thermafleece’?

a) An eco-friendly insulation material made from sheep wool?
b) A revolutionary thermally efficient under-floor heating system.
c) The cartoon sheep logo used by approved installers.

Answers

2. (a) up to 10% or around £55 per year, again according to Energy Saving Trust figures.

3. (a) it stands for ‘Compact Fluorescent Lamp’ – a type of low energy light-bulb.

4. (c) 270mm.

5. (b) ‘G’ rated products are the least energy efficient.

6. (b) cavity wall insulation, which saves 610kg a year on average; draught proofing saves 130kg and pipe insulation about 60kg.

7. (c) although there’s something to be said for all of them! Good eco-drivers can cut their fuel consumption by as much as 10%.

8. (b) standby wastes £65 a year.

9. (a) according to official figures, households account for 28% of the UK’s annual emissions!

10.(a) the fuel cell – originally called the ‘gas voltaic battery’, it was invented by the Swansea-born Sir William Grove back in 1839; Gaston Planté demonstrated the lead acid battery to the French Academy of Sciences in 1860 and Karl Benz didn’t come up with the world’s first car until 1885!

11. (c) co-generation.

12. (a) an eco-friendly insulating material.