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

DANDILION_3

Cup of coffee or tea. Put cold water in the cup you want to use. Fill kettle with cup. Hence, only boil the water you need.

janaltus

For those on water meters:

‘If it’s yellow let it mellow, if it’s brown flush it down’

Enough said!

---

There is a lot on here about the money saving virtues of candles. Although there is a comparatively small initial outlay (buying one candle versus the cost of installation of an electricity supply to the dwelling) they are not cost-effective (in terms of heating and lighting) in the long-term. They are hazardous (the cause of many residential fires) and, as a byproduct of the petrochemical industry, paraffin candles are not exactly environmentally benign.

So they are not, in my mind, money savers. However, they are beautiful, romantic, earthy, spiritual and ... dependable. They are a luxury! And long may we love them!

waif8

All our water usage is cold therefore we just don't heat water. Our gas boiler has been switched off for the summer and autumn. Washing up and laundry is all done in cold water. Our gas bill was therefore so low. I was quite surprised about the £1.69 to be honest.

Bellshillbaker

Bring eggs to boil and switch off the heat. It should take about 8 minutes to cook the eggs to a solid state. Less if you want slightly runny eggs.

Mary_Hartnell

janaltus wrote: »

For those on water meters:

‘If it’s yellow let it mellow, if it’s brown flush it down’

Enough said!

---

There is a lot on here about the money saving virtues of candles. Although there is a comparatively small initial outlay (buying one candle versus the cost of installation of an electricity supply to the dwelling) they are not cost-effective (in terms of heating and lighting) in the long-term. They are hazardous (the cause of many residential fires) and, as a byproduct of the petrochemical industry, paraffin candles are not exactly environmentally benign.

So they are not, in my mind, money savers. However, they are beautiful, romantic, earthy, spiritual and ... dependable. They are a luxury! And long may we love them!

Are the standard ones still VAT free?

alexl_00

Wow, lots of interesting tips here. I'm a student so I only started paying my own bills a couple of years ago. It's amazing how much energy I wasted when it was my parents who were paying the bills! In the last couple of years I've learned a lot about conserving engery, but I still have a long way to go.

I don't watch the TV very much anymore, and I never turn it on just for background noise (which I used to do all the time :doh:)

Layer layer layer. Heat doesn't go on unless I have on at least two layers, a dressing gown, and a blanket.

Wash my hair every three days which dramatically cuts down the amount of time I spend in the shower (dry shampoo is my friend!)

I don't have a clothes dryer in my flat, so I have no choice but to let them air dry.

And, most importantly, spend as much time as possible at the university library! No need to pay for heat or light when the university can do it for me!

System

When the weather is cold i close my curtains around 3pm to keep the heat in before the temperature drops. My neighbours must think i am in mourning as when its very cold i dont open the curtains all day if i am on my own. In my head turning a couple of lights on has got to be cheaper than turning the heating up.

C_Mababejive

OK heres my tight wad tricks some of which may have already been mentioned...

1) work out your annual consumption for gas and electric in KW/h to get the best comparisons on websites and cut the best deal

2) If you see a light on,switch it off

3) Dont have heating on timer. Switch on and off as required.

4) If you normally brew for two, Measure out two mugs of water into kettle and mark accurately on scale so as not to over fill

5) Always fill kettle from hot tap,especially if you have a stored hot water system

6) Fit timers on standby devices eg the tv/satbox/DVD/stack so that they are off at night. Saves around 8 hours worth per 24 hour period

7) In winter,wear skinny type thermal vests as a base layer

8) use the right size ring for the right size pan when cooking and dont have it full on when not necessary

9) Use lids on saucepans

10) Stir water or liquids in pans and it will heat up quicker.

11) Open curtains first thing in morning to take advantage of any solar heat gains ( good if you have DG)

12) Fit a balloon in the throat of any unused chimneys to prevent warm air from being dragged up chimney

Mary_Hartnell

Judi wrote: »

When the weather is cold i close my curtains around 3pm to keep the heat in before the temperature drops. My neighbours must think i am in mourning as when its very cold i dont open the curtains all day if i am on my own. In my head turning a couple of lights on has got to be cheaper than turning the heating up.

The south facing windows, especially if they are draft proof and preferably double glazed with heat retaining glass, should gain more than they lose, during the day time, even if it is cloudy.

But you are right, there must be a break even point at some external temperature.

Mary_Hartnell

Mary_Hartnell wrote: »

Are the standard candles still VAT free?

Well it looks like they still are in Ireland.

VAT Act - Schedule 1 - Exempted Activities
Wax candles and night-lights which are white and cylindrical, excluding candles and night-lights which are decorated, spiralled, tapered or perfumed. 31.... Date:10/02/2011 (Size: 143.2k)

But the UK civil service has gold plated everything and it looks like it is now 20% VAT on candles:

SECTION VI - Products of the chemical or allied industries (chapter 28 - 38) Chapter 34 CHAPTER 34 - SOAP, ORGANIC SURFACE-ACTIVE AGENTS, WASHING PREPARATIONS, LUBRICATING PREPARATIONS, ARTIFICIAL WAXES, PREPARED WAXES, POLISHING OR SCOURING PREPARATIONS, CANDLES AND SIMILAR ARTICLES, MODELLING PASTES, 'DENTAL WAXES' AND DENTAL PREPARATIONS WITH A BASIS OF PLASTER

Heading 3406 Candles, tapers and the like
Commodity code 3406 00 00 10

• Having one or more of the following characteristics: - their fuel contains more than 500 ppm of toluene; - their fuel contains more than 100 ppm benzene; - they have a wick with a diameter of at least 5 millimetres; - they are individually contained in a plastic container with vertical walls of at least 5 cm in height

Third country measures
Measure Type Duty rates / prohibitions Additional codes Conditions Exclusions
Legal Act Footnote Third country duty 0.00% R2261/98 VAT standard rate 20.00% 03020

EN 15494:2007 Candles - Product safety labels specifies the format and content of product warning labels for indoor candles. The standard is not applicable to outdoor candles or holders and sticks which are supplied without candles. The standard requires that all information supplied with a candle is presented in a visible and legible format on the packaging or product. In cases where safety labelling on the package or product is not practical, it is permissible to make an instruction leaflet available at the point of sale. A slim dinner candle sold as a single item is an example where a separate leaflet would be appropriate.


"Candles burn with a hot flame, place in a saucer of water
Do not leave candles burning when drunk"

Does any of the guff mean anything except jobs for the Jobsworths?