Energy costs are rising! How can we cut usage??

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I can’t see a thread, so thought I’d start one to share little practical tips on cutting electricity/ gas usage. I need some more ideas!

Here is mine:

My towels go really crispy if dried on the line, so I hang out to dry and then pop them in the tumble dryer for 8 mins (‘Smoothing cycle’) instead of 2 hours. They come out lovely and fluffy.

I’m WFH and charge my laptop up then turn the plug off, work until it goes onto battery saving mode, then switch plug on again. I used to leave it plugged on all day.

I know these are small and won’t make much of a dent, but every little helps the environment and purse too. I’m keen to hear other people’s tips - including the more extreme!

Here's the thread:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/4353942-tips-for-staying-warm-and-saving-gas-elec-please

Oh that’s good to know re towels that’s exactly why I tumble dry because I can’t be doing with drying on sand paper.

Wear layers, thin base layers closest to the skin. Only bathe every second day. Don't turn on year heating till November, always wear slippers and a dressing gown indoors, air clothes and do spot cleaning if not worn very close to the skin. Invest in wool. Get solar panels

Minimise use of the big guzzlers- tumble dryers, immersion heaters, electric fan heaters etc

Turn off lights in rooms where they are not necessary.

Add another jumper, so you can turn heating on a bit later in the day, or year.

Boil only water you want to use, not a full kettle.

Loft insulation.

Make sure all your bulbs are LED, spots everything, and especially avoid halogen bulbs.

Is there any advice on how long to have the hot water boiler on for? I think ours is set to a few hours in the early morning and the same later in the afternoon. I've often wondered how long it needs to be on for. I think reducing the time it's in for would be a good way to cut energy use.

Heat yourself, not the house. A plug in electric throw costs pennies to run. Ditto electric blanket for the bed.

We bought an airfryer that saves having the oven on all the time.

Electric blankets and throws are so cheap to run too.

My dad was fastidious about this stuff when I was a child. No unnecessary lights on, curtains closed, doors closed. Heating only on between Nov and Feb.
I remember putting my hairdryer on to keep warm!

I was so shocked when I stayed at PILs to wake up sweating and find the heating pumping on full blast all night.

Close fridge and freezer ASAP. Don’t leave it open for 10 min while you putting the shopping away. Put everything one side then get it in quick as possible. It has work really hard get cold again.

Always use lids when cooking on the hob save a lot of cooking time. You can use pan lid on top of frying pan to seal in heat and also less spitting over the cooker.

@CoffeeChocolateGin

Is there any advice on how long to have the hot water boiler on for? I think ours is set to a few hours in the early morning and the same later in the afternoon. I've often wondered how long it needs to be on for. I think reducing the time it's in for would be a good way to cut energy use.

I do the same, but as it's thermostatically controlled it doesn't just keep heating it for 2 hours. It heats it to how hot it should be and then stops. Then if you use some and the temperature falls it clicks bakc on again. I'm not sure if this is the most economical way to use it or not, but I can't have it coming on in the night because the noise drives me mad!

pmk

There are lots of things you can do in a slow cooker that aren't stews:

Chicken cooked in there is fine, but looks a bit pale so if you like crispy chicken skin it's perhaps not one for you to try. I also cook a gammon joint in mine.

I did jacket potatoes in mine this week - the flesh was a bit dark, but tasted the same as usual.

I've also done a lasagne - the pasta goes very soft, but tastes fine. I used a recipe from Two Chubby Cubs

I'm assuming my air fryer uses less power than the oven as it's smaller and cooks faster?
I'll try to minimise oven use, I hadn't realised it was power hungry (makes sense though).
I'll start setting the laundry on a timer so I can hang it out in the morning at the weekend. At the moment by the time I get up and put it on and it's done a 3 hour cycle (eco setting!) it's early afternoon and doesn't have time to dry if it's not a summer day. I like the finish off towels in the dryer option, will try that.
Need to check which bulbs still aren't LED, most are but I think some are just low energy so will make a list as I can never remember the fittings when I get to the shop. Tesco has them quite cheap.

I've got a stair curtain (townhouse and downstairs is cold in winter) between the downstairs where the front door and garage are, which helps in winter. Patio doors are a big source of heat loss, but we rent and I can't change them. Thicker curtains would help, but I'd need second hand ones and they're an annoying size. Will keep a look out.

You get used to cold house quite quickly you just adapt. It's actually nice to be in warm clothes, a cosy bed but have a cool house. You feel healthier, however it must be dry.

Has anyone used those plug socket devices which are energy saving? How do they work and are the savings worth it?