How to use less Electricity?

WantToBeSE

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4201276.htm#pdpFullProductInformation

this is the one my sister is geting me- 225W.

good_advice

want tobese - that slow cooker looks just right. I have that size and the 1.5 smaller one.

How is this for bad luck. We were meant to have the boiler serviced last week by BG. Only they phone up and say they have a lot of work on, if everything is ok can they service it in the New Year.
Well, this evening the pilot light has gone out and will not relight.
Just had to wash my hair by kettle power. In kitchen sink.
The good thing is we have it insured so coming out tomorrow.

Swipe

A slow cooker is not a cheap option. I can make a stew on the electric hob on simmer in 1 hour using total 300w (bring to almost boiling on 1000w for 10 min and then turn right down). Or I could make the same stew in the slow cooker using 150w for 6-8 hours

good_advice

The whole point of a slow cooker is that you cook cheap meat over a long time to make it tender.

YORKSHIRELASS

Hi

We got an energy monitor and while I know they arent accurate they do give a good indication of what uses the most energy.

Just remember anything that heats uses more electric so think about using kettles, cookers, showers, microwaves etc less. Its all about being creative. If the central heating is heating the water anyway you might as well have a bath rather than pay extra to put the shower on.

I also disagree about the slow cooker. I use mine nearly every day and cook a wide range of meals in it. The sort of meat I can afford to buy needs more than an hour simmering to cook.

Having said all this I agree that £40 a month is pretty good. My electric cost is nearly double that.

neil9313

tlh858 wrote: »

A slow cooker isn't a good option - while it has a lower power rating that your oven, it will obviously be on for many, many hours.
It is also hugely restricted as to what you can actually cook in it.

A better option would be a combination microwave, which will cook many things in a fraction of the time of your existing oven.

As for the tumble dryer - get rid of it. It is not an essential item for anyone.

A slow cooker uses far less than a normal oven..............fact. Have you actually got one?

neil9313

Swipe wrote: »

A slow cooker is not a cheap option. I can make a stew on the electric hob on simmer in 1 hour using total 300w (bring to almost boiling on 1000w for 10 min and then turn right down). Or I could make the same stew in the slow cooker using 150w for 6-8 hours

A slow cooker is the cheapest option/lower priced meats ect, the best ones run at around 100w on the high setting, 70w for low roughly (the old brown Tower ones) And the bigger ones can make more than 1 meal.

marleyboy

Tucking your curtains onto the window ledge helps reduce heat escaping through your windows. Reflective boards (or tin foil) behind your radiators will reflect the heat away from soaking into the walls.

Placing draught excluder's at the foot of your doors will help retain heat in the rooms, also when cooking be sure to allow the heat of the cooker to radiate around the house.

hubb

When we boil a kettle, any water left over goes in a large flask so it's less time to boil next time.

molerat

neil9313 wrote: »

A slow cooker is the cheapest option/lower priced meats ect, the best ones run at around 100w on the high setting, 70w for low roughly (the old brown Tower ones) And the bigger ones can make more than 1 meal.

Mine is an old Tower 2.5l with stoneware pot and lid from around 1978. 80/105w, the compact 1.5l from that era was 50w ! I know it won't boil water but you will get a nasty shock poking your fingers into a stew. 80w x 6 hrs = 0.48 kWh, 2.5Kw for 30 mins just bringing the oven up to temp = 1.25 kWh. The only real mistake I have made with it is soup containing scotch, as it is virtually a sealed container and does not boil the results were somewhat interesting .... hic !!