Avoid using GAS and ELECTRIC !

caroline1973lefty

excellent thread, like the idea of having radiators in hallway off. here's a few others:

digital radio / tv uses LOADS more electricity than ordinary radio / tv. i only found this out when i bought a wind-up radio - 1 minute winding provides 1 hour of ordinary radio, but only FIVE MINUTES of digital. Big plasma tvs, sound systems, and flash new computers are also v power hungry.

most people can cope with bedroom that are a bit cooler than living rooms - turn radiators on later / lower.

open fires aren't v fuel efficient (though lovely) but wood burning stoves can be very fuel efficient and the newer ones come with little pellets that are v easy to use.

the old foil behind the radiator trick still works, as does little shelves above the radiators to funnel the heat into the middle of the room. plus move any obstructions from the front of radiators.

insulate your walls with books, cork, or drapes. see https://www.theyellowhouse.org.uk for inspiration on how to use less fuel and stay warm.

visit https://www.est.org.uk (the energy savings trust) for information on grants for insulation - or find your local energy efficiency centre. as i understand it people on benefits (all benefits) are entitled to some help eg free draughtproofing, insulation etc, the scheme is called HEET or warm front i think.

shetitasatic

In summer the morning sun wakes us up early, so I bought black out linings for the bedroom curtains. They were not cheap - £24 for 96"x54" size - they are thick and sort of 'rubbery' The label said as well as being black-out linings they kept rooms warm in winter and cool in summer. During the recent heatwave they kept our room beautifully cool, and also keep heat in and cold out in winter, even though we are double glazed.

In winter I don't have the heating on when I'm at home all day - I wear tights under my trousers plus socks and always wear a vest and lots of layers.
I always try to remember to take frozen food out of the freezer in plenty of time to defrost naturally so I don't use the microwave unecessarily (?) for defrosting

I use a large clothes airer in the sunniest bedroom to dry clothes and hang sheets/duvets over the bannisters.

I use a micro-fibre turban on newly washed hair so I don't need the hairdryer too much

When I have the big oven on (full!) the top oven gets really warm so I use it to dry/air clothes, keep things warm etc.

MIRRY_2

I cant wait for the winter now lol,

I have picked up so many great tips from you all and cant wait to try them.
If I use foil behind raidiators (how does this help?) can I use any sort of foil ?
Also I like the Idea of blankets under the sheets , I have just got a load of chunky wool from the charity shop 10 balls for £3 so will knit my daughter one.
I have a puppy who sleeps in the kitchen in her basket, I am concerned she may get cold out there at night but my husband says "dont be silly shes a dog! Surely dogs feel the cold ?
Filling glass bottles with water and placing them on top of the raidiator sounds great but I am concerned the bottles will crack, has anyone ever tried this ?

Blairweech

This is a bit unsocial, but consider getting separate single duvets for the winter - often, I've just got nice and snuggly in bed, then OH turns over and lets in a freezing cold shot of air!

aimeelister

Blairweech wrote:

This is a bit unsocial, but consider getting separate single duvets for the winter - often, I've just got nice and snuggly in bed, then OH turns over and lets in a freezing cold shot of air!

Ive sorted this one (well during the not so cold nights!) We got a double bed but a king sized quilt. I then sleep with a bit curled under me so he cant get it off me!!

The problem comes in the deep winter, he gets hot in bed which is great for him but he doesnt radiate it. He insists on nothing above a 4.5tog. So theres me in my sox, tshirt, jumper and joggers in bed with the duvet and a sleeping bag! :rolleyes:

MIRRY_2

Today I baked my husband a birthday cake using the gas oven,
it came out lovely but an hour later when i went back into the kitchen to decorate it I notised Id left the oven on.

I keep doing this and dont know if there are any tips to stop this from happening as its such a waste of gas.

Aril

Mirry- pehaps you could switch off the oven before you take the cake out? If you do it the other way round you then get tied up with taking the cake out of the tin etc etc. I'm always doing this with the CD player. I'm now trying to train myself to leave the door open so that I can see when it's finished and I'm always getting sidetracked otherwise!
Aril

cupid_s

When cooking do you know what uses more gas. The oven (on say gas mark 5/6) or say 3 hobs on medium heat. Obviously things usually take longer in the oven so this also has to be taken into account,

Sometimes I can't decide how to cook things so maybe knowing the relative costs might help me decide

gemmaj

MIRRY - Yes, dogs feel the cold!! But that doesn't mean you have to leave the heating on for them! :eek: My greyhounds wear fleece coats at night in the winter. Actually, I have 2 different coats for them- spring weight and winter weight :rotfl: They normally let me know how chilly they are - the colder it is, the tighter they are rolled up when I come down in the morning.

Bogof_Babe

cupid_stunt wrote:

When cooking do you know what uses more gas. The oven (on say gas mark 5/6) or say 3 hobs on medium heat. Obviously things usually take longer in the oven so this also has to be taken into account,

Sometimes I can't decide how to cook things so maybe knowing the relative costs might help me decide

Not sure of the relevant comparisons for gas cooking, but if things are microwaveable then I am pretty certain it works out cheaper to do that. Our electricity is half the price per month of our gas, and yet we have far more electric appliances. Also if you microwave e.g. a bowl of soup rather than heating it in a pan, then you can do it in the dish you will eat it out of, thus saving washing up the pan.

Edit: Forgot to say... Thermal long socks . Also, re. the fleecy throws to snuggle in, it shouldn't be too hard to make one into a poncho type thing (for ease of movement and typing etc.)