Avoid using Gas and Electricity

cuddlymarm

Hi

We moved into our flat 2 months ago and because it has a tank for the hot water have left it switched off as much as poss. The shower heats the water as you need it so we have been making do with this and boiling the kettle for the washing up.

The numbers on the gas meter have hardly moved since we moved in.:j

Cuddles:rotfl:

Sunshine12

Does anyone have one of those new smart meters? One of my friends has one and its amazing. You can really track what electricity you are using. I want one now!

rosekitten

I know I said it in the last thread but
just go round and check to see nothings
been left plugged in may be things on stand by
etc.When we go to bed the only thing plugged in
and switched on is the fridge freezer.All those
appliances with little lights in them washing
machine,cooker,dishwasher etc especially
TV and DVD palyers etc all have little bulbs
burning electricity and I bet none of them
are low voltage bulbs be they ever so small
saved £64 on my electric bill last quarter.
Drilling my family into unplugging anything
not in use.

Also with laminate floors it makes a big
difference what what kind of underlay
is underneath it.We bought a branded
one when ours was layed it cost us
£36 extra to buy and we have saved
ten fold on this as it makes it really solid
underfoot,there is no echo especially in
the hallway when walking on it and its
warmer in the winter time.

Our central heating packed in ages ago
and all we have had is a gas fire in the
sitting room and we got through winter
quite well.Thankfully now we have the
funds to replace it.

Sunshine12

If a plug is switched off but plug still in does that use up electricity? I always switch off but never unplug....

cady

well im also getting ready for next winter as baby due in sept means im gonna need the heating on so tryin to save as much as poss now - switched suppliers and heating has been off for a month now elec is coming down too already switch stuff off but will be following with interest and anymore that can be done!!

cady x

rosekitten

Sunshine12 wrote: »

If a plug is switched off but plug still in does that use up electricity? I always switch off but never unplug....

no if its plugged in and you have flicked the off
switch on the socket its off.

the stereo my lads have had the radio playing
on silent since 2005 is now switched off permantly
and heading for the charity shop.They both have
ipods now and never bother with it.

rosekitten

last year I bought these curtain rails from
IKEA they only cost a few pounds but the
curtain rings have little clips on them so
you can clip two layers of fabric to add
extra insulation to your windows also if
your not into sewing you can use any
piece of fabric and get a nice effect.
I have taken off one layer now its warmer.
I had this at the windows as well as
net curtains set up on of the window
frame,3 times the width of the
window and it worked really well at
keeping the cold out.It made layers
and they do say lots of layers work
better than one thick layer on its own.

Not the trendiest
window covering,but if your like us with
no central heating,this works really well.

click on pics to enlarge

[Deleted User]

I treated myself to a new thermos a few weeks ago as my old one had finally given up the ghost .This one is a stainless steel one and keeps things really piping hot.Now as I live alone I usually boil a kettle of water up first thing in the morning for my morning cuppa.The remaider goes into my thermos to be used throughtout the day.Not a big saving, but a saving none the less.I have always saved the spare hot water from back in the days of the 1970s and power cuts, as then it was a case of any hot water you managed to heat in your allotted three hours of electricity was hoarded like gold dust. My hot water is still hot enough for my afternoon cuppas and the kettle ( a huge energy burner if you look at the electric meter when its switched on it goes into overdrive) only goes on once a day for a complete pot-ful. Every little helps as they say

Aril

I read somewhere this week that if you lower the resolution on your TV [colour, brightness etc] this will save electricity. Does anyone know if this is true? Perhaps eye strain could be an issue aswell. Just thought I'd add it here as someone will know:D
Aril

Reverbe

Just bought some mens tops from H&M.Long sleeved but with buttons to roll them up. Kinda like old style vests with buttons in the middle. I got white and charcoal grey.£9.99 each but I got them to use as a coverup in summer as they are thin cotton when it struck me as they are fine they can be used as layers if we have another cold winter.