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

mardatha

I'm like that with coal. I cant be cold, it makes me unhappy.

SuiDreams

newlywed wrote: »

Your OH must be related to mine - he has the water on for 5 hours a day in case he wants a bath (we have no shower)!! I sneakily reduced the time by 2 hours and can't notice any difference (even having had baths) but looking at the gas we've used, think he may have noticed and re-set it

I think other half must be putting it on a lot as I've reduced the timer on the boiler yet we've used more gas. What is it with men and hot water.

Magentasue

kittie wrote: »

magentasue I was thinking along the same lines as you today. My dh got a skin infection and I have decided that no longer will I be washing towels etc at 30. I did a full load today at 60 and it took forever compared to 30. I expect it will cost a lot more energy. Oh well, I can`t be a saint forever!!

Now getting the things dry is a problem, yet more rain and a greyish day too. Luckily I do have a spare room on the top floor so I just hang in there anyway as we can`t hang washing outside. I was thinking about all the 2+ households trying their level best to be energy-economical and have to say that it is very easy in summer but extremely hard going towards winter

I have also reached a point that I cannot go below re energy usage. Scary thought really as the only way from here is up

Exactly, have to do your best, but no point in risking health or making ourselves miserable. I have four children who are teens and older and there's only so much nagging I can do without getting sick of my own voice. I'm lucky in that we're not struggling financially but I don't like waste and would rather buy another bottle of wine than pay for the lights to be on in empty rooms! :beer:

As for your washing, my 30deg wash costs about 4p but a 95deg boil wash is 23p. I only do one boil wash a week and I don't consider it a waste because I get nice white shirts and it's supposed to be good for the washing machine.

I've already broached the subject of tumble drying in the winter and OH has said that there's no other way. He can't be doing with washing over the radiators.

Little_Star_3

flatmate might finally be coming round to the idea of saving money! joy. he raised an interesting q this morning. He wears shirts to work, and usually irons one shirt each morning. Would it be cheaper if he ironed all his shirts in one go instead of just ironing each shirt as and when he needs it?

Magentasue

Little_Star wrote: »

flatmate might finally be coming round to the idea of saving money! joy. he raised an interesting q this morning. He wears shirts to work, and usually irons one shirt each morning. Would it be cheaper if he ironed all his shirts in one go instead of just ironing each shirt as and when he needs it?

I'm sure it would be as the iron would be on less time - wouldn't have to heat up five times a week. Well, that's what I've told my oldest two - for various reasons I'm no longer prepared to do their ironing. I've told them they must batch iron or iron straight after me. Partly moneysaving but also because I'm fed up with them rushing out and leaving the ironing board up and, on occasions the iron on.:mad:

Little_Star_3

Magentasue wrote: »

I'm sure it would be as the iron would be on less time - wouldn't have to heat up five times a week. Well, that's what I've told my oldest two - for various reasons I'm no longer prepared to do their ironing. I've told them they must batch iron or iron straight after me. Partly moneysaving but also because I'm fed up with them rushing out and leaving the ironing board up and, on occasions the iron on.:mad:

yeah flatmate has left the iron on on occassions too...sometimes i havent noticed till a good six hrs later:mad: (havent been in the same room as iron then when i go in hear it clicking away :mad:)

newlywed

Little_Star wrote: »

yeah flatmate has left the iron on on occassions too...sometimes i havent noticed till a good six hrs later:mad: (havent been in the same room as iron then when i go in hear it clicking away :mad:)

Our Rowenta iron turns itself off after a little while of no movement

Then you just move it again for it to heat up again



I have just ordered a blanket for our bed, and plan to get blankets for the boys beds today too - ready for the cold weather. Plan to get thermal linings for the boys room, have blackout linings in ours which should make a difference on heat in winter too. So that should all hopefully save a bit on the gas bill.

newlywed

Couple of energy saving bulbs questions....

Does anyone know where you can get dimmable slim edison screw (SES/E14) bulbs that aren't candles????? The candle bulbs are too tall and will show over the top of the shade and OH is fussy and doesn't want this :rolleyes:

Also... what actually happens if you put non-dimmable energy saving bulbs onto a light with a dimmer switch??? Do they not turn on at all or just not dim? Everwhere seems to say don't do it - but do they blow up??? what happens???

greenbee

I had some little round bulbs from Ikea that I think are the ones you're looking for.

newlywed

greenbee wrote: »

I had some little round bulbs from Ikea that I think are the ones you're looking for.

Energy saving dimmable ones????