Global warming might seem like a problem that only governments can tackle, but there's plenty you can do to help, too...

Helping to combat environmental damage can be as simple as changing a lightbulb.

If every home in the UK changed one lightbulb to a low-energy bulb, it would save enough energy for a power station to be closed down.

During this week the Solent Energy Efficiency Advice Centre will be holding roadshows around Hampshire and offering members of the public the chance to have a free home energy check so see if their home is energy-efficient.

Eleanor Dunn from Maybush got in touch with the advice centre to see how she could help to combat climate change by saving energy in her home.

Eleanor, 37, a self-employed accountant, lives in a 1930s three-bedroom semi with her husband Ian and two children, four-year-old Beata and two-year-old Henry.

"I have always wondered about climate change," she said. "We have lived in our house for five and a half years and I know that as it is old, it isn't particularly energy-efficient.

"I contacted the energy efficiency centre at Southampton environment Centre and they sent an adviser to see me.

"They told me that my home needed cavity wall insulation to help retain the heat. They quoted a price of £450, but I was told there are grants available for householders, which made it a far more affordable £150.

"The energy companies are required to provide energy efficiency measures and offer grants to all householders.

"We already have secondary glazing and the advisor told me that secondary glazing is almost as good as double glazing.

"My loft had six inches of insulation, which was pretty good - although a little less than recommended.

"To top up my loft insulation it would cost £100, but I am putting that idea on hold. Like many people, our loft is full to the brim with rubbish and it would cause a lot of inconvenience to get it all out while the insulation was being fitted.

"Our boiler is an old-fashioned standard gas boiler which is about 20 years old. The adviser said that it was running to only 65 per cent efficiency. If we got a condensing boiler, that would be 97 per cent efficient.

"It would cost £1,000 to replace our boiler but it is something that we will consider in the future as a third of our heat is just being wasted outside.

"Our appliances were fine, as most of them were new.

"We will get around to sorting everything out eventually. You have to consider the environmental cost, not just the financial cost. In the end, making these changes will pay for themselves as gas and electricity bills will be lower.

"Everyone needs to realise, if they did just a little bit by having energy-saving lightbulbs, they could be making such a difference."

But there are a number of simple, inexpensive things that everyone can do at home such as closing curtains, using energy-saving bulbs and remembering to turn lights off.

Hannah Bird, from the Solent Energy Efficiency Advice Centre, said: "Stopping your home from wasting energy can be done in so many ways, from simple or free measures such as closing your curtains at dusk to stop heat escaping through the windows and installing energy-saving lightbulbs, to greater investments such as cavity wall insulation which can save around £100 per year on your fuel bills.

"There are so many grants available for energy efficiency measures, it might seem a bit of a maze.

"There may be specific eligibility criteria to obtain grants from local authorities and government - but there are now discounts available for all homeowners for insulation measures.

"Some utility companies are helping the government to meet the greenhouse gas emission targets by offering discounted insulation measures.

"These are available to all homeowners, and getting your home insulated is one of the best ways to stop wasting energy.

"To find out what you are entitled to, call our hotline on 0800 727 7200, or visit us at one of our roadshows around Hampshire."

Roadshow information

October 16: Gosport's Thorngate Hall from 10am-3pm.

Saturday: Romsey, the Brooks Shopping Centre, Winchester, and Asda, Totton, all from10am-4pm.

Everyone attending receives a free lightbulb and a free home energy check.