Spill the beans... on your extreme energy saving tricks

singlebill

everach wrote: »

In the living room we light candles when we feel it needs just a little boost of heat and i find that this does actually work obviously there is a lot of "SHUT THE DOOR" when the kids are around, but they get used to it. If thats not enough then the old faithfuly blanket comes out Oh yes and we tend to sit alot in the dark just using the light of the TV, certainly after the kids have gone to bed if we are watching tele why do we need to see anything else??

Watching the TV, or any back-lit monitor (CRT, LCD, plasma etc) in a darkened room without a light on causes excess strain on your eyes, which could in turn give you vision and other eye-related problems such as headaches. I know this from personal experience and I've spoken to lots of other people who've watched TV without a light and they've had the same problems as I did.
A table lamp with a 5 / 7 / 11 watt bulb will suffice. A pound or two running this light per year is better than poor eyesight and/or headaches.

oldtractor

I like this thread, I just try to avoid using electric 1 light on instead of more, fill the oven rather than cook one thing ,i even cook ontop of the wood burner when its lit and boil water there too for washing up and drinks. me and DH share the bath and I sit with a rug hat gloves and hot water bottle rather than put the heating on or light the fire as much as possible.

magpiemay

regarding toothpaste, I use a Klippit and move it up as necessary. Hardly waste any at all.

everach

singlebill wrote: »

Watching the TV, or any back-lit monitor (CRT, LCD, plasma etc) in a darkened room without a light on causes excess strain on your eyes, which could in turn give you vision and other eye-related problems such as headaches. I know this from personal experience and I've spoken to lots of other people who've watched TV without a light and they've had the same problems as I did.
A table lamp with a 5 / 7 / 11 watt bulb will suffice. A pound or two running this light per year is better than poor eyesight and/or headaches.

Well thank you i never knew this, i will keep this in mind and light more candles :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:or put the lamp on.

bertha_`46

LauraFox wrote: »

I would be embarrassed to share the below with my friends, but you dont know me so here we go:

Reduce boiling time by soaking rice in hot water for at least 20mins beforehand, soak pulses for at least 12hrs.

When cooking pasta, half boil and remove from fire, then let soak in its hot water until completely cooked.

When cooking on electric hob, switch off few minutes beforehand and let it cook on fire that gradually cools down.

Pressure cookers are God-sent.

Hot water bottle to stay warm at night.

All family to be in one room, so only one lightbulb in use. Let the economic crisis bring you closer!!

Ironing - switch off and continue ironing while still hot things like socks and pants lol

Yup, dont be in doubt, I really do all the above, even before the credit crunch. I was on salary of £15K pa and managed to save aside 13K in 6 years. :j

I love these ideas.am currently avoiding putting heating on and kids are putting thermals on when coming in from school.Got an open fire (although would love wood burning) to take the chill off the air.Also plenty of throws and jumpers.Kids have all got thick slipper socks (they dont want slippers) and they think taking a warm beany teddy to bed is great.
Do know the time to have the heating on low, is when family come round for a cupa and leave their coats on!!Although we rarely get colds and they always seem to have them (from going from boiling house to cold outside).Thank you for the tips

Colsta

ZenUK wrote: »

Adjust the water temperature in the boiler to 50 degrees. Don't turn heating on until frost appears on car windows.

Actually your boiler (and hot water cylinder if you have one) should never be adjusted below 60 degC to guard against bacterial infestation such as Legionella (it shouldn't be much higher either to guard against scalding). Otherwise some good tips.

bertha_`46

AngryPig wrote: »

I thought my nan was the only one who did this! She wouldn't deliberately boil a full kettle, but any hot water left over would always go in the Thermos for later.

love this idea!am only one who has tea during day.did have tefal one cup, but other half took it to work and they all using it!!:rotfl:

outtawork

I have 2 pairs of curtains at evey window, by clipping curtain hooks plus another pair or curtains onto the inside of the curtains I have hung up, I can double up the insulation on all my windows.Plus I live on the middle floor of a set of 3 flats and heat rises.

rogerblack

kwyken wrote: »

The article quoted makes it clear that in Europe Arsenic is not used to preserve wood, Copper may still be an issue though.

CCA is not now used in europe, and hasn't been used for some time.
You don't know what random wood you pick up off the road has been preserved with though, especially if it may be 40 years old, for example.

rogerblack

Corriander wrote: »

Move frozen food stuffs into the fridge the DAY BEFORE YOU NEED THEM. They will defrost slowly and save energy running the fridgeby keeping it cold. Slower defrosting is better then the microwave defrost for the food too.

Be careful when doing this.
It can - if you put too much frozen stuff in the fridge compartment cool it to below freezing, damaging other stuff.