Oil Consumption - how do 'greenies' use less?

Pippilongstocking

HIya
Confirmed tree hugger, live remotely, doing the alternative thing, recycle, etc do I think a sterling effort. (go us!!) Even the two little ankle biters don't consume much in the way of plasticy goodness.

So unfortunately we only have oil fired central heating, gas etc not an option, house rented - large garden and broken limbs etc provide firewood etc.

So how would any of you suggest using less oil, it runs the central heating and the hot water, we do have an electric hotwater button too, which runs at about 50p/kwh.

With the autumn on its way and winter approaching, our oil cost at mo is 61p/ltr - I am going to have to fill the tank soon - argh.

So how does a self confessed greenie use less:

We already have:
Turned down thermastat
Put on jumpers, kids used to cold


Any good greenie/ethical type tips v welcome -

Ytaya

How's your insulation? Can you add more lagging around your hot water tank, put more insulation in your loft? Neither of those is invasive, so your landlord shouldn't mind. Do you have drafts? A curtain in front of your front/back door can cut these down.

I keep banging on about them, but thermal curtain liners really made a massive difference to my flat. They more than paid for themself in their first winter!

Ben84

Heating water takes a lot of energy, so it's worth doing things to reduce this. An insulating jacket for the hot water tank could help, particularly if it's an older tank. Even with our new highly insulated tank, when I put my hand under the jacket I can feel a lot of heat trapped there. Also, one area that a lot of heat escape from is the bare metal pipes attached to the hot water tank. On our tank the pipes are too hot to touch, so it's not a small energy leak. I've insulated the first few meters of pipe to reduce this.

Pippilongstocking

cool thanks guys!
will have a look, does anyone know about any type of metering device that i can get installed liek my energy owl, we do switch things off all over house looking at it, its helpful to say the least!

Sledge_2

Next week, from the 21st Sept, Aldi are doing a plug in energy monitor for £6.99. It's the sort that you plug into a socket and then plug your appliance into it.

Pippilongstocking

ah ok , have an energy owl, looking for something to meter my oil any ideas?!

jollyme

Many years ago we had oil fired central heating and always shopped around for our oil, when the tank needed filling, we generally found that our usual supplier would negotiate on price

Pippilongstocking

Great idea but........We are on an island with only two suppliers - there's really not much in it - and with the price it is we have to do a DD as I can't afford to pay in full even for half tank load anymore
I know south folk have the options of bulk buying etc, but its not really a go'er here as over 70% houses run on oil -

ailuro2

Persuade the landlord to have a ground source pump installed to increase the value of the home? Or get a back boiler installed to have hot water made by the open fire - could they be persuaded to share the cost ?

Thick curtains across doors and windows, keeping doors closed to keep just one room cosy and have thickerquilts on the bedroom for sleeping in .

CravingSaving

I have oil fired central heating and water too. As most of the oil goes to heating up water, I now only have it timed for half an hour in the morning, and half and hour in the evening, which seems to be just about enough for all our daily needs, the odd bath, shower, washing up and machine washing. I have seperate timers for water and heating, so I only have the heating on if there is frost on the ground.

All the other above advice is good too.

border_collie

Have you got thermostats on the radiators? Ask landlord to fit them.

Did you say you had a fire? Keep that burning with all house doors open (inner!!) to let the heat spread through the house. Avoid switching heating on.

Get boiler serviced. This could be pricey ie £75-£100 but may pay for itself if it is running badly. The last time mine was serviced he checked it out on a machine and did some tweaking to get it running as efficiently as possible.

Check loft insulation.
Close curtains at dusk and tuck behind rads or push up onto windowsills.
Foil behind rads.

Bleed all rads with heating not switched on.

Buy electric blankets.
Good luck, I will be joining you in the "trying to use no oil whatsoever season"