Friday 14 October 2022

Your energy saving tips

The energy saving survey is concluded now - thanks to all of you who filled it in and especially to those of you who gave us your tips. 

But first a reminder/plea from me - please do not just breathe a sigh of relief at the energy price cap and carry on as normal - the cap is supported by a subsidy and it still costs us money, albeit via taxes or reduced services. Fundamentally, the problem is an energy shortage and inevitably some people will have to use less; for fairness, this should not be the poorest and most vulnerable who have already cut their energy use to the bare minimum.

Now for your tips there are too many to list all of them but I have done my best.


Using the kettle. Kettles use up to 3 kW but not usually for very long, depending on how much water you are using. To make savings, do not boil more water than you need. This can be easier with a mini-kettle. Also make more than one cup at a time and keep the rest warm in a thermos. Or empty the remaining water from the kettle into a thermos and reuse that next time you boil it. If you like to use fresh water each time it is even more important not to overfill.

Lights and appliances. Turning things off when not in use is a given. But how about a timer plug to turn the WiFi off overnight? Also you can fit motion sensing lights in the hall so you cannot forget to turn them off every time you move through.

Power monitoring plugs. You can get plugs that tell you how much power you are using/have used. If you use them on large consuming appliances (like some TVs and all electric heaters) this can be a good way to keep track of energy use and remind you to be frugal.

Cooking. Batch cook, especially when using the oven. Also when cooking rice or vegetables, try turning the heat off 10-15 minutes before the end and let them finish cooking in residual heat. Also you can make a hay box (here are some instructions) and use that as a slow cooker. If cooking meat you need a good simmer for a while to kill off any bugs before putting it in the hay box for a few hours. 

Draught fixing. We know about fixing draughts around doors and windows (One respondent recommended a particular product called The Hair Worm). But also you can get nasty draughts in other places such as between floor boards and under skirting boards and do not forget open chimneys - you can reduce the air flow with a chimney fleece or chimney balloon. See also advice from the energy group about draughts

Windows. If you have still have single glazed windows, secondary glazing window film is a quick solution to reducing heat loss that will pay back in one season. In fact you can use it on double glazed windows too, especially if they are old and not very efficient.

Curtains. Heavy curtains can reduce heat loss through windows - and curtains also reduce solar gain in the summer. Personally I can recommend covering windows with space blanket to reduce solar gain in heat waves. If you are moderately careful this is reusable many times.

Keeping yourself warm. Blankets and shawls are clearly popular. One respondent recommended Silkeborg Uldspinderi in particular but anything wool based would be good.  (An idea for a Christmas present?) Personally I recommend woollen fingerless gloves as a solution for cold hands. Electric blankets are very economical to run instead of heating the whole bedroom.

Hot water. If you have a combi boiler, turn down the hot water temperature to the minimum for a shower - about 40°C. If you have a hot water cylinder, set the timer to heat it just before you need hot water so the hot water does not just sit there losing heat over long periods. (See more advice from the energy group about hot water.) If you have a Mixergy hot water cylinder you can control more carefully how much water you heat.

Use solar energy. That means letting the sun dry your washing for free! Also if you have solar panels then choose sunny times to run the washing machine and dishwasher so you use your own energy. 

As far as the rest of the survey goes, I think I can say we are pretty good about energy saving. Nearly half of you have used smart meters or other monitoring equipment to check on your electricity use and have a good idea of how much you are using. Most people scored themselves 4 out of 5 for wrapping up warm at home and setting the thermostat low. Well done!

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