Did you know that if you were to cut down on the amount of CO2 your home produces on a daily basis, you could pay less for your energy as well?

It might sound unlikely but the two are closely tied together. You may feel as if you don't have a lot of control over your energy bills, but this simply isn't true. You've got more control than you might think - and if you focus on your CO2 emissions you should be rewarded with a lower energy bill as a result.

So what can you do to start reducing that figure?

The first thing to understand is that there are both big and small things you can do to make your home more CO2 friendly. The best idea is to start by implementing some of the smaller things, and then tackle the bigger tasks later on once you've got the ball rolling.

Remember too that some of the bigger tasks, such as fitting new double glazing if you need it, will cost money. Even if you cannot afford to do this straightaway, there is no better time to start saving for the change than now.

In the winter months we all love turning up the heating so we feel nice and warm. While you need your heating, you wouldn't notice the effect of turning it down by a single degree. The environment would if we all did this though - it reduces emissions greatly as a result.

You can also make a big difference by swapping any old light bulbs you still have for new energy efficient ones. These are designed to produce less CO2 than an old style light bulb, and you can enjoy lower bills too as they use less energy.

You will of course still use energy every time you switch a light on though. This is one area where a lot of homes are guilty of producing more CO2 than is necessary. Be honest - how many times do you leave a room and leave the light on? And how many plug sockets are left switched on when you aren't actually using them?

These are very simple changes but they can make a huge difference to the CO2 emissions of your home, as well as to your energy bills. It is good to know there is a reward for making these changes!

Another way to reduce CO2 is to make sure your home doesn't leak heat. Insulate your loft and walls, put an insulating jacket around your water tank and plug up those draughty gaps. All of these will lead to your home needing less in the way of heating, which will bring down your electricity bills as well.

How much could you do today to make a difference and reduce those CO2 emissions? The chances are it is more than you think.