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Big Energy Saving Week: your energy saving tips

John Fitzsimons
by Lovemoney Staff John Fitzsimons on 27 October 2012  |  Comments 8 comments

To finish off Big Energy Saving Week we look at the things you do to save on your energy bills.

Big Energy Saving Week: your energy saving tips

Big Energy Saving Week is nearly over. To round things off, let's take a look at the energy saving tips you've shared with us.

MikeGG1

“Find out where on your kettle you need to fill to in order to fill your teapot, coffee pot, etc. Then only fill to that point and you save time as well as energy.”

Misswolves

“I make sure all the children unplug gadgets at night and when they go to school.”

Marram

“I've just got a coffee machine which only heats the water it needs as it makes the coffee. Not only does the coffee taste better than the Bialetti I used to use (it doesn't boil the water) it is faster, easier and uses less energy. I can also use it for steam-heating milk in 10 seconds flat.”

Quarket

"Don't have the shower on the whole time that you are in the shower. Only turn it on to make yourself wet, then shampoo and soap up with the shower off, turning it back on to rinse off.

"Take every opportunity to dry clothes on a washing line instead of using a tumble dryer, but don't dry your clothes indoors on a line as it will make the property damp."

CaptainFlak

"Get a water butt, ok this doesn't save you energy but it reduces the amount of energy used to clean up/pump the water you would have used."

Athomik

"I have a low energy bulb in the upstairs bathroom (it's been in there for years). It takes a while to warm up but, having a glass panel above the door, I leave it on during the evenings. It provides me with enough light to negotiate the hallway downstairs and upstairs, use the bathroom and find my bedroom."

What about you? What do you do to save energy? Let us know in the comment box below.

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Comments (8)

  • reubenw
    Love rating 3
    reubenw said

    Buy a wood stove if you live in a smokeless area.

    Your 'other-half' will always look much more attractive by fire-light than by the 'power ON' light of your electric Economy 7 storage heating.

    Report on 27 October 2012  |  Love thisLove  0 loves
  • acmm10
    Love rating 2
    acmm10 said

    If you have a hot water tank/airing cupboard even if it is a modern insulated tank like mine you should cover it with a diy fibreglass blanket. I've even got two on mine and the airing cupboard, although cooler, is still warm enough to keep my clothes nicely aired.

    Report on 27 October 2012  |  Love thisLove  1 love
  • acmm10
    Love rating 2
    acmm10 said

    I've no interest at all in Nigel's ecostore but he does have some good energy saving products that work.

    Report on 27 October 2012  |  Love thisLove  1 love
  • travelbugs
    Love rating 0
    travelbugs said

    Low energy light bulbs are great and you should be using them in every room, latest ones are just as bright as any and fire up much quicker then they used to. if you have the cash put in solar panels and the water system as well. That way you can run al sorts on your roof energy and gett paid for it. ok so most can not do this but, the bulbs and careful usage can make a big difference.

    Report on 27 October 2012  |  Love thisLove  0 loves
  • browncoatemsy
    Love rating 5
    browncoatemsy said

    Having been brought up close to the bread line, heating was considered a luxury. Delay putting on the heating as late in the year as possible - woolly socks, jumpers, & snuggling under the duvet are much cheaper (invest in a decent duvet). I switched my heating off in the spring and it hasn't yet been cold enough to require being switched on again despite being -2 degrees a couple of nights ago. Only the elderly & disabled really NEED it, the rest of us just WANT it. (obviously when it is seriously cold, low heating is required to prevent burst pipes)

    If you are going to use your oven, try to plan to make the most use of it while it is switched on - eg bake some bread too.

    Report on 28 October 2012  |  Love thisLove  0 loves
  • realitywins
    Love rating 64
    realitywins said

    Who in their right minds would inconvenience themselves with any of the miniscule savings tosh from all this penny-pinching bread-line living?

    Solar pv is barely viable in the UK even with giant subsidies from all the other electricity customers. Such subsidies as the FiTs could disappear any time. However, the much cheaper unsubsidised water preheating for gas or electric hot water systems is more attractive and doesn't rip-off electricity other customers. You still have to be prepared for your roofs to be disfigured though.

    Low enenrgy light bulbs are useless to see with but OK for lighting halls and seldom used rooms.

    Unless you are very poor and suffering from the green energy blight through your rising utilityy bills, most of the savings to be made are far too inconvenient or uncomfortable or both. Wandering round in a jumper all day indoors indeed, get a life!

    Report on 28 October 2012  |  Love thisLove  5 loves
  • cleogen_blue2
    Love rating 73
    cleogen_blue2 said

    Penny pinching is only needed if you do not believe that the government should ensure the cheapest means of energy production for its people. The energy companies are allowed to get away with adding 10% to our bills from the Green Obligation. Fighting wind and solar subsidies is the logical way to bring prices down. Shale gas is a golden opportunity to have abundant cheap energy. Let's hope th government regulate the energy companies to ensure the savings are passed on to consumers as has already happened in the USA. Unfortunately because of some people In the UK being blissfully unaware of why they pay so much for energy, the government may kill the goose that lays the golden egg with more taxes.

    Report on 28 October 2012  |  Love thisLove  4 loves
  • Daytona747
    Love rating 0
    Daytona747 said

    I have just switched from Npower.

    The main reason was not to make a financial saving, although that was the initial reason for checking, but because I was so angry at the dirty tricks and the way they ignored my requests.

    When doing a switch comparison do not rely on the Tariff that they state on your bill or website, this may well be a previous cheaper tariff that you are no longer on (AS IN MY CASE) Therefore when doing a comparison using this tariff you may well find the result is 'you are already on the cheapest tariff' Take the time to check what you are currently or soon going to be paying and ensure that is what you are comparing against.

    I also took issue with the fact that they increased my direct debit from £90 to £160 per month even though I was in credit, bad enough you may think, but then when I reduced my direct debit amount (with 3 weeks notice before the next payment) using my account on their website they totally ignored this and have just taken another £160.

    Report on 29 October 2012  |  Love thisLove  0 loves

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