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

bajangal

SYNERGY wrote: »

.......and close all doors at night, hands up all those who don't.

Me........ I leave them open if not the dehumidifier is only "sucking" from one room.

anita116

I put a couple of layers of sellotape over locks that aren't used or on the opposite side of the door if only used from one side. Really cuts down on draughts. I also have an insulating cover on the inside of the letter box.

Norman_Castle

Any suggestions for temporarily disabling the thing? It is wired into the mains so I can't just take the battery out......

Most smoke alarms have a test/hush button. Keep a stick handy if you cannot reach it.

Norman_Castle

Had new kitchen fitted as well,they wired my fridge freezer into the wall and plastered over it,I can switch it off at the wall but not sure what happens if I need a new appliance! I now have no room for my tumble dryer,they forgot about it and then put a socket in my pantry and shoved it in there,it's just as well I hardly use it.

Housing Associations were given money a few years back to improve their homes. In my kitchen the "professional" fitters managed to fit two units in the wrong place, then fitted a worktop 20" to the left of where it should have been, then fitted the sink in the wrong place. All despite having a very clear and accurate plan to follow. To acheive this I had to lend them my mains powered drill and bit. They also sneakily stole a piece of my wood (English Walnut!) to use as packing. This was on day one. I refused to let them back in. The replacement fitter managed to get everything in the right place but non of the worktops are level and they damaged my fridge by leaving a cigarette burning on it. I did the tiling myself and refused to let them "improve" my bathroom.

artybee

kingkano wrote: »

I personally always do a spin at highest setting to get everything as dry as possible before removing from the washer.

(comments about not ironing acknowledged) I find faster spin=more creases=more ironing=more electricity.

pineapple

Prepare a one pot meal like a stew (make sure meat and veg are bite size - not huge pieces) . Cook on hob for up to 20 minutes. Leave pan in a corner wrapped in blankets, old quilt, couple of pillows on top. Meal ready 7-8 hours later :beer:
And should still be hot.

Or you could make it a bit easier and invest in a thermal pan.
http://youraccount.ekmpowershop23.com/ekmps/shops/mrdscookware/

Mary_Hartnell

That used to be called cooking in "A Hay Box".

Trytogeton

Some energy saving tips: * get a TV blanket/Snuggle blanket - the blankets with arms! Even when you get up off of the floor or the sofa to go into the kitchen or bathroom, you've still got it on :j(CAUTION: BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL WHEN WALKING AROUND - DON'T TRIP!) *I try not to use the storage heaters in my flat as I have noticed that they eat electricity :eek:(even though they're supposed to charge up during off peak price times - any tips here, anyone? Don't know if I just am not using them properly?) *I have a skirting heater on a timer plug in my lounge; it's timed to come on around my getting up time in the morning for about half an hour, then at strategic points throughout the day for 15 mins at a time to keep up a background heat, then about half an hour around the time I get home and at various times through the evening, depending on how cold it gets, with the odd boost from a ceramic heater only when necessary. *Heater in bedroom's also on just before I get up and again around time of going to bed - a hairdrier is a good way to warm a bed - just make sure bedclothes are kept away from the vent so that hairdrier doesn't overheat! *Last year, I managed to get shrink-fit plastic kit to 'double-glaze' windows with (flat built mid-90s but only single glazed - can you believe that?! The condensation is really bad - microfibre clothes are a boon!) and only cost me a pound a pack! *Curtains are kept closed all week, only opened at weekend when I'm home. *There's no timer on my immersion heater, so I switch it on as I get up (still on night rate before 7.30am), start running bath slowly as I'm doing other bits for 15-20 mins; by time I've bathed, the immersion has finished reheating (approx.10mins), which then gives me enough hot water in the evening for hand washing and any washing up (do it every 2nd day if I can get away with it!). *I try never to let water get totally cold, as then it only takes a minimum time to get to a usable heat next time I want to use it (more convenience than economy with this one, but feels cheaper anyway!).

shirleymarye

Mary_Hartnell wrote: »

That used to be called cooking in "A Hay Box".

My OH came from the Channel Islands where they used this method during the occupation.

Desperate_Housewife_2-2

- I have a sponge to stick in my letterbox to keep out draught
- I cook stews and curries in an insulated box, bring to the boil and then leave in box all day, cooks a treat!