how to reduce gas and electricity use?

[MrsLargeEmbodied]

any suggestions?
turn lights off?
dont use oven?
turn off heaters in unoccupied rooms?
fill a flask?

Ensure things aren't left on standby.
If showering turn water of while washing.

i dont think the standby saves much - according to dm, but ok.
not an electric shower
no tumble drier

@MrsLargeEmbodied
Turn all sockets of when not used, we've always done this and never had a high bill.

Don't leave lights on.

Keep doors shut when the heating is on, shut curtains and blinds to keep the heat in.

Use an airer to dry washing, put a dry fitted sheet over the airer and radiator.

Don't over fill the kettle, if you have a lot of tea / coffee fill a large flask in the morning.

Shorter cycles on washing machine.

I always do a full wash load, mostly cold cycle. Dry outside when possible,also bought an Electric airer,much cheaper than a tumble dryer. cooker is electricl,I always batch cook and freeze. Also got a slo cooker, pressure cooker, microwave, quicker cooking time.. I don't wash anything other than underwear after only one wearing.

There have been a few good threads on this the last few months.

my main take aways

use an air fryer rather than your oven

only fill the kettle as much as you need. A flask makes no difference as you use the same energy to boil the same amount of water.

limit heating to minimal rooms. Electric throws are excellent and use little power.

insulate your home if you can

most appliances use very little on standby.

lights also use very little but obviously add up

if you have TV boxes (like Sky) out them on the energy saving standby mode. they can use a lot on standby btw.

I've also got economy 7, have had it over 50 years,I stay up late to do the washing,get up early if I'm forced to use a dryer in the winter,and to batch cook. With the gas,I don't heat an empty house. It's set on 18c,if I go out,it's turned off. Have spent the last few years, renewing 25 years plus double glazing,so nothing is wasted

what are the timings for economy seven
and i guess it is neighbour dependent?

currently i use economy wash for the w/m and d/w but in what respect they are econimic i do not know

I purchased an energy use monitor from Amazon, very basic one for about £8. I have been trying out all my appliances while energy is still 'cheap' ready for winter. My dishwasher has an Eco cycle that takes nearly 4 hours(!) and uses 0.98kw it also has a 2 hour cycle 0.76kw. I'm guessing the Eco wash uses less water but I'm on rates so it doesn't make any difference to me. It's not a huge difference, even using it once a day after October and January predicted rises it's about £4 a month but I'm trying to find 10-15 things I can reduce by £3-5 a month so I can hopefully save £40-60 a month.

Ninja slow cooker in High uses 0.08kwh so expect on Low to be even less. We will be eating a lot of slow cookers meals this winter

It's a good question because even on this thread people are giving incorrect advice.

Basically you need to signifcantly reduce things that are high useage -washing machine, dishwasher, oven, tumble dryer, heating.

However things like leaving lightbulbs on and things on standby are miniscule -research saying these add up is at least 20 years out of date and based on old style lightbulbs/things like vcr players. A new low wattage lighbulb will cost pennies, like 4p, even if left on all day! So you could sit miserably in the dark all month and save less than handwashing your dishes once!

It's like saying "how do I save money on petrol" and people suggesting not putting the radio on when youre driving.....yes that might save you pennies but you would save pounds driving 5 miles slower on long journeys and walking short ones!

@MrsLargeEmbodied Lower temperature washes are more economical even if they seem to take forever. "Quick" washes are generally not the most economical.

I'm reducing the amount of times I hoover, ironing only essential items now, washing up once a day (instead of twice as we only have a few items in morning), DH is having a cold shower (not sure how long that'll last) and I'm reducing shower time. TV and lighting is only on when we're actively using them. Kettle only filled for required amount. Trying to cook meals that take less time and switching oven off a bit earlier, leaving meal to carry on cooking. Also, skipping the odd shower and having a wash instead. I'm starting to wear tops for an extra day and delaying towel and bedding washes by a couple of days, so less washing. Heating normally goes on early October, but it'll have to be later this year. I try not to have heating on in the day in winter, so am used to wearing a dressing gown over my clothes to keep warm.

Can anyone recommend an energy usage monitor? I used to have one that clamped onto the meter and sent a message to a screen in the house, but it's old and no longer works. The ones I see on Amazon appear to plug into a socket and I assume only monitor the usage from that socket. I guess what I am after is something akin to a smart meter but that tells me the usage, not the energy company.

Economy 7 is likely to cost you more unless you charge a car overnight or have night storage heaters. We had it for a while and the cost of daytime electricity was really high. It meant we had to run appliances at night but TVs, fridge/freezer, cooking and anything else used during the day wiped out what we saved in the summer.

Before smart meters, and at a time when money was really tight, I used to read the meters every day. As you say, without a link to your meters, you're limited to testing one appliance at a time.

I think the biggest one will always be turn your heating down a few degrees and wear more layers.

We wear oodie style hoodies when it's cold and have also switched to a condenser dryer

Need to invest in finger less gloves

MrsLargeEmbodied, there is an online chart for economy 7,hours. I am in the old SEEB area...SE UK,ours is the only split night. Winter 10.30- 12.30,2.30-7.30 BST everything an hour later. Yes you do pay slightly more for the day rate,so I do everything I can late night,early morning,to make it worthwhile. I have electric cooker, dishwasher, emersion heater and tumble dryer.

Keep the central heating off and even when needed don't push it above 19.

Wear layers.

Turn everything off when not in use.

Turn the water temperature down a little on the boiler, you won't notice that 2-3 degree drop, but it does save.

I have no electrical appliances in my kitchen, I have a double gas stove and hob, a job top kettle, I grill bread under the grill for toast. Gas is cheaper pkwh than electricity.

I also light candles in the evenings in the lounge whilst watching tv. Very rarely have the big lights on just lamps in the bedrooms with led bulbs.

The only "big light" that gets used is the bathroom and the kitchen and they have energy efficient bulbs in them.

Curtains on external doors, draught excluders on the floor of the living room and bedrooms. Socks and slippers worn in the house.

I'm in pay as you go smart so I can see the credit being used up and usage hourly really.

I’ve always had low fuel bills despite having four adults at home during the day. My tips are quick setting on the washing machine and dishwasher, never tumble except in an emergency such as a DC has been sick on their favourite blanket etc. I always fill the oven up and don’t have it on for example just a jacket potato. I don’t like hot houses so never go over 19 and I like it about 17.5/18 during the day.

I'm planning on having fewer lights on during the day in winter (I wfh) but am a bit apprehensive as it will make me feel a bit low. Otoh I have literally hundreds of unused tea lights and candles (unwanted gifts) stashed around which I'll be encouraged to finally use.

Lights aren't going to make much difference to your bill (although it makes no sense to have them on in rooms you're not using). I always have a desk lamp on - it just feels too dreary without it. It's heating and appliances that heat up that make the difference.

Do you have a combi boiler? For heating you have have an ‘e’ on the dial, this is the most economic temp setting and turn down the hot water temp until you only have to add a small amount of cold water when you run a bath.

I have one that clips on to the meter - it’s called OWL and is brilliant. The monitor is about the size of a cooking timer and I can instantly see how much electricity I’m using.