Eight families who volunteered to take part in a six-month "energy makeover" as part of a Government campaign have managed to achieve reductions of up to 31 per cent in the amount of energy they use to heat their homes.
This in turn has led to projected annual savings of up to €680 in the cost of their heating bills, although the savings achieved varied significantly from household to household.
According to analysis of the first three months of the Power of One street initiative, which is ongoing, participants also cut their water heating bills and other costs associated with maintaining a household.
As part of the challenge, which advocates small changes to everyday energy usage, the eight families in Dublin, Meath, Louth, Donegal, Mayo, Cork and Tipperary were subjected to a full energy survey of their homes.
They were then advised about the changes required to their homes and behaviour in order to reduce their energy usage.
Among the methods used to reduce their heating, water heating and "small power" bills were lowering the heating thermostat by one degree and closing curtains to keep the heat in. The participants were also required to minimise unnecessary heating of hot water for use in sinks, showers, baths and appliances, and to evaluate the amount of hot water they actually needed.
One energy-saving example cited by a participant was boiling a kettle to wash the dishes, rather than turning on the immersion heating.
The volunteers were also encouraged to get into the habit of switching electrical equipment off when not in use and to use efficiency settings on appliances such as washing machines, fridges and freezers.