Bringing down my gas and leccy bill challenge (start August 2008)

greenbee

It might be worth checking whether you'd be better off heating your water with the gas rather than electricity. Even if you've got E7, it would probably be cheaper to use less elec & more gas... but do the maths to be on the safe side.

lauren_1

I have just been given 3 solar showers from freecycle, my plan of action is to (over aug/sept) use this for my washing up and general washing of hands. So i can cut down to using the boiler every other day

It's actually going to be a little science experiment for the kids (along with eggy cress men, growing herbs on the windowsil, seeing how long hot water stays hot for in a flask and what things they can grow that can be eaten)

lauren_1

Any other fun ways i can include the kids to make them more aware of why we are doing it?

metherer

greenbee wrote: »

There's now an MSE carbon club on imeasure.

Hi. Whats the club called? I searched under MSE, MSE Old Style, Money saving expert, MSE Carbon Club, but couldn't find it.

Thanks

greenbee

MoneySaving Carbon Club

metherer

Thanks Greenbee

newlywed

Well so far:

I have been thinking more before putting the dishwasher on and using the quick wash where possible

I have reduced the amount of time our water heats up for (OH had it set to 2 hours am, 2 hours pm and one hour in the evening!!). Chopped 1½ hours off out of the 5 and not noticed any difference so will tweak it a bit more later on (But he will be upset if he wants a bath and there's no water ).

[Deleted User]

I believe that water in the uk is very good value but if you are on a meter it isn`t a cost to ignore. Have a look at page 2 for some costings. I pay £23 a month and it struck home yesterday that my water bill is 2/3 the cost of my total energy bill

http://www.ofwat.gov.uk/aptrix/ofwat/publish.nsf/AttachmentsByTitle/prs_lft0708_waterseweragebills.pdf/$FILE/prs_lft0708_waterseweragebills.pdf

oldMcDonald

greenbee wrote: »

MoneySaving Carbon Club

I've also joined up.

Thanks for setting this up

SuiDreams

I cut the boiler down to once a day but other half has been using the override button on the control panel to put it back on. Need to keep a closer eye on it to make sure it doesn't happen again.