Enter Your Question Title Any energy saving tips

[Tilly2]

Enter Further Question Details Her
With rising electricity and gas prices affecting us all, do any of you have any sensible tips about saving on electricity and or gas.
I don't mean switching things off when they are not in us or turning down the thermostats.

[ummmm]

My boiler broke down about 2 years ago. We're £1,300 in credit.

We have a gas fire in the living room that I only put on if it's really cold, otherwise I just put a blanket over me.

It's not me being tight...the heat makes me feel sickly. I prefer the cold.

I have underfloor heating in the kitchen which is cheap as chips to run. Leccy blankets for the beds, which we didn't even get out this year.

[wolf63]

I find that, in days like this when it is not cold enough to put the heating back on and too cold to be comfortable, that going back to bed and hiding under the duvet with the cats saves energy. Cats are mobile heating devices that make funny purring noises.

Mainly it saves my energy and deters me from raiding the fridge. It is even better now that I have my goose feather duvet and my MacBook ready on the bedside cabinet ready to play with.

:-)

[woofgang]

the usual stuff really...put on more clothes, hot food and drink when its cold, lined curtains. I live alone and bought a small slow cooker which saves fuel. I have also just ordered a toaster oven to save putting the cooker on when its just me. I keep the freezer full, only use the dishwasher and washing machine when I have a full load.
Go through the menopause! the hot flushes must have saved me a bomb in heating costs.

[Mick-Talbot]

Sit on the sofa playing on AB all day ,saves you using lots of energy.

[Tilly2]

I was hoping for some really inventive answers that I had never thought of doing like boil the kettle in the morning for tea and then put the rest in a flask to keep warm and make subsequent cups of tea. This doesn't work by the way. The tea tastes horrible.

[HowardKennitby]

If I am only wanting 1 cup I heat it in the microwave.

[Nibble]

Make sure your house is draught proof!

[coccinelle]

I make tea and put in a flask but I'm drinking tea all day so need one in a morning then another for the afternoon. I actually put one bag in the flask not just the hot water.
Don't defrost in the microwave take things out of the freezer the day before.
Make bulk meals in the oven or hob and put into family size portions (I'm on my own so divide all into one meal dishes) freeze and then defrost when needed and heat wherever (microwave, hob)
Don't use a clothes dryer.
Wear thick socks and warm slippers. having your feet warm changes everything.
Sweep up on tiles and floorboards between hoovering.
Mow the lawn when it needs cutting.
I only heat the bathroom one hour before I need it in the morning.

[Tilly2]

Thanks coccinelle, some really good suggestions there.

[DaisyNonna]

Make sure your house is draught proof. Easier said than done when you live in a rented flat and have pointed out the shortcomings for the last three years.

[rockyracoon]

If you want to save a teeny bit of gas or leccy, next me you cook pasta, bring the water to the boil, put pasta in, put a lid on the pan and turn off the heat. The pasta will be cooked in about 3-5 mnutes longer than it would take the usual way.

[Wak]

It all depends what kind of gas central heating boiler you have to try this:
My boiler is the older type which heats the water for the radiators and then sends any hot water not used for heating up into the cylinder in the loft. This hot water is then used for personal washing and crockery, etc.
Unfortunately however, the temp of the water being stored in the loft is often far too hot and merely serves to keep the rubbish stored in the loft warm thus wasting gas.
Therefore, I set the thermostat in the lounge to the room temperature I want the house to be and then wait until this temperature is reached and is stable.
I then turn the water temperature control in the boiler down very slightly and keep a check on the room temperature. If the temp is still stable for a few hours at the set level then I turn the water temp control in the boiler down a little bit further.
If the room temperature starts to drop then turn the temp control in the boiler back up to the previous setting. You will find that the water temperature in the loft cylinder is still plenty warm/hot enough for personal use although there may not be sufficient to fill a bath. We use an electric shower so this problem does not arise.
The room temp will also vary slightly due to the outside weather conditions and temp and may need a slight adjustment during a cold spell.
By taking a gas meter reading at a certain time and repeating this over a few days you will be surprised at the reduction in gas usage which can be achieved.
When I first tried this I calculated a 6% drop in the gas used.

[jomifl]

Defrost things in the larder part of your fridge, it takes a bit longer but the fridge doesn't have to do so much work so you save money.

[craft1948]

I just went through menopause...................ever since I've only needed a summer weight duvet.

[Maydup]

Boil the water in the kettle and add it to the pan for all cooking rather than boiling on the hob from cold.

Lag your boiler.

Line dry clothes outside or on a clothes horse indoors. (Give up the tumble dryer)

Hand wash the washing up (Give up the dishwasher)

Give up ironing. Shake your clothes before you dry them and let them reshape themselves.

Hoover less often.

Shop around and switch energy suppliers for the best prices

[coccinelle]

I have also turned down the thermostat on my combi-boiler for hot water. Now, I just use the hot water tap; no need to add cold.