Flick that Switch!

lillibet_dripping

forgotmyname wrote: »

Switch the wahing machine on at night before bed and set the delay for a few hours. So the wash finishes when
you get up or when the night tariff ends.

That way the damp washing wont be in the machine for hours.

Why would you set the washing machine in the morning and put it on timer?

Watch a scary movie and turn the lights off. Drink more water and less hot tea.

I find there are no greedy energy devices but its like a slow leak. Everything is like a leaky bucket dripping
the stuff away little by little.

Trying some LED lights, They use tiny amounts of power even when compared to energy efficient lights.

It didnt even register on my meter that records how much power items use. Bit directional though like a spotlight
and they recommend they are not used for more than 16 hours at a time.

Our living room is dark so the lights are on virtually all day unless its a bright summer sun.

Ordered a few from china to test.

Should have mentioned that I load the washing machine about 7'ish in the evening and set it to come on at midnight. I'm usually fast asleep by 9.00:o
When I give my meter readings online, I have electrickery 1 rate and 2 rate and have been advised that the night rate runs from midnight to 7 the next morning.

I think I'm just being pernickity (is that a real word?)now but I'm dertermined to hang on to all the dosh I can:cool:
Lilli

cheeswright

I got rid of a larder fridge and bought two under counter fridges - both A rated - one is for short term use - so milk etc - stuff you need all the time and keep opening the door for
and one for meat - etc - so - once a day opening -
I did this because it works better in the space - not for energy efficiency
but i do wonder if it saves electricity
because I'm not emptying out twice the volume of cold air i would if it was one big fridge
I never did the maths on this - any thoughts on if i'm spending more or less??

Winchelsea

meritaten - thanks for the thoughts on the burglar alarm - yes, it is taken account of in the house insurance, so probably is saving me money! This is not a high risk area in terms of crime, though I believe it was at one time (we've lived here for 8 years). So that was the reason it was installed obviously.

But you've made me feel better about it - thank you!

brighthair

I've just had my gas and electric bill through - £87.60 for 3 months for both
usage daily - 3.2kw electric and 5.4kw gas

bloomerang72

lillibet_dripping wrote: »

Should have mentioned that I load the washing machine about 7'ish in the evening and set it to come on at midnight. I'm usually fast asleep by 9.00:o
When I give my meter readings online, I have electrickery 1 rate and 2 rate and have been advised that the night rate runs from midnight to 7 the next morning.

I think I'm just being pernickity (is that a real word?)now but I'm dertermined to hang on to all the dosh I can:cool:
Lilli

Just check that these are still the times with the clocks changing!! Ours change, yours may well too!

splodger_seedswapper

bloomerang72 wrote: »

Just check that these are still the times with the clocks changing!! Ours change, yours may well too!

i agree - i am on economy 7 - so cheap night rate - and mine now goes off at 6.30am

i use a timer for my washing machine - but set mine for 4am

GreyQueen

lillibet_dripping wrote: »

Thanks for all these replies!!
I think I will leave the fridge on rather than risk food poisoning:o

OK, here's another one to ponder......

I have a dely-timer thingy on my washing machine. If I set it so that the machine comes on on the overnight tariff, does the energy used in keeping it on 'standby' on the day tariff outweigh the benefit of running it on the night tariff?

I'm becoming a bit fanatical about saving energy lately - can you tell? I read the meters every Sunday and enter the readings into my online power supplier account. It has become a personal challenge to beat the previous weeks readings. (Do you think I need to get out more?:p)

Hi Lilli, can see that others have answered but my parents are with E.on (nee PowerGen) and were told that their overnight tariff- Economy 7- was obsolete. Independant research backed that up.

They used to set the washer on a timer at bedtime to go off at 4 am; Mum is an early riser and would get up and sometimes get another load running before the economy rate went off.

However, this was a nuisance as it meant she couldn't respond to an excellent drying day by cracking on thru Mount Washmore and was only viable because their situation meant that the machine's noise couldn't disturb the neighbours, something not possible for many of us.

The are now on an ordinary tariff for a year or more and haven't noticed any increase thru running the washer in the day.

Electricians always say that anything which heats up is an energy hog which is an excellent excuse to limit the ironing, don't you think? I was also raised to be a bit OCD about lights being left on. Yestereve, I watched a DVD on the computer and went minus lights as they were unnecessary and the film looked better too.

I hae also heard that when you open a fridge it takes 20 mins for it to cool the warm air that enters back to the safe temperature. Now, thru observation at work and at other people's homes, I've seen that it is very commom to open the fridge to get milk and keep the door ajar whilst adding it to tea etc, then returning the milk or other item and only then closing the door. Since cold air sinks, I imagine a great dollop of it falling out of the fridge to be replaced with warm air which then requires extra energy to cool down.

So, I'm thinking, if one can limit the door-openings and make them as swift as possible, there should be less electricity used?

I guess that as fridges and freezers are on 24/7, it makes sense to watch their consumption most zealously and perhaps pay a price premium for an A or A+ model when renewing? HTH.

Sambucus_Nigra

I'm not sure using Economy 7 just for doing the washing is worth it - it was best for storage heaters which alot of people don't have these days

The day rates are higher than the non E7 day rates; perhaps use your readings to find out what the best tarriffs for your usage really are.

maman

maman wrote: »

I once tried turning my digibox/recorder thing completely off instead of stand-by and I had to retune it when I switched it back on. I'll give it another go tonight and see if it happens again.

Delighted to say that TV/recorder was switched off at mains overnight with no apparent ill effects! I don't think I'll make my fortune from it but it makes me feel better!

Penelope_Penguin

As this has fallen from the front page of OS, I'll move it to the Utilities Board where you may get further replies

Hi, Martin’s asked me to post this in these circumstances: I’ve asked Board Guides to move threads if they’ll receive a better response elsewhere (please see this rule) so this post/thread has been moved to another board, where it should get more replies. If you have any questions about this policy please email [EMAIL="forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com"]forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com[/EMAIL].