Prepping for the energy rise

[Moaningturtle]

I prepped for brexit and thank god I did because it meant I was unwittingly prepping for covid. I had weeks and weeks of dried food and household goods (although not loo roll…!) already stored in what is affectionately still known as “The Brexit Cupboard”. It’s important to note (before someone says) I did not panic buy, over several months I added a few items weekly to my shop to store up incase there were supply problems. It’s a habit I’ve gotten into and now almost always have a few spare bags of rice and pasta and tinned food.

I’m think I need to do some serious prepping now for the energy crisis. We can cut our usage but not by enough to offset the rises, so I need to do what I can now to make sure we stay fed in the coming year. Buying anything now makes sense because the prices of EVERYTHING will rise as manufacturers and retailers are paying more for the energy they use.

I’m thinking of upping my larder stores, particularly focusing on things that are high energy to manufacture (no idea what this is yet, I need to research). Making sure I have ample supplies of household goods.

Also finding new energy efficient ways of living. Hand washing lightly soiled clothes in cool water for example and just using the machine to spin before line drying? I don’t know, I’m just thinking out loud here.

Anyone want to share if they have any plans?

The other thing I did was ordered a new halogen oven, the last one I had was so cost effective, I should have replaced it the day it packed up I don't know why it didn't. Every time we have a plate of oven chips I've been heating a whole oven rather than just a bowl and quietly thinking next month I'll replace the halogen oven this is a waste.

insulate the loft hatch

I’ve sealed around the gap of the lift hatch but didn’t think about sticking some polystyrene on the middle. Thanks for that tip.

I’ve switched washing cycles from the 2 hour one to the 1 hour daily one (not sure why it’s taken me so long). stopped using the dryer and am putting out to line dry. I’m using the weather app to see when the best drying days will be and intend to have a deep clean wash of everything before my cheap price fix goes at the end of March.

TV used to go into standby, now I switch it off.

I’ve using the microwave & slow cooker more rather than the oven or job as it’s cheaper,

I’ve booked a handyman to change the threshold & draft things around my front door as the old ones are shot (can’t do these myself).

Intending to make a draft excluder for the front door too.

I’ve also put cling film over the glass in the front and back doors. They’re squiggly type glass and you can’t tell.

@EmbarrassingHadrosaurus

I generally have 1 longer bath and top it up several times - I wonder if insulating the under bath cavity would reduce the hot water used?

I sometimes wonder this. Swaddling it with bubblewrap or similar insulation and filling out the rest of the under bath cavity this way. Maybe with a horizontal shower curtain over the top of the bath when you're in to retain the heat.

I used loft insulation around my bath underneath the bath panel. It did make a difference to how long the bath stayed warm.

I’ve also bought some solar lights. I’ve got some solar fairy lights I use for Christmas but I’ve ordered some shed solar lights. I‘m thinking ahead to next winter for that

I have bought a couple of PIR battery lights, one for the kitchen and one in the hallway. We can make a brew using the kitchen one safely and the one in the hallway means we can walk upstairs safely without needing to use the mains lights. I will be buying more of these for the landing and downstairs loo, although I tend to wander around in the dark anyway. They run off 1 AA battery and will supposedly last 80,000 illuminations before needing to replace the battery. Encouraging DH to charge his phone and e-cig in his works vehicle rather than at home, have bought a clothes airer to dry washing in front of the log burners rather than the dryer (line dry when the weather is good enough) and have limited my youngest DD shower times.

Often make scones when oven is on for something else. Cheese scones are lovely with soups for a more filling meal, and saves extra trip out for bread.

Seeds and garden. Things like strawberries you get a high return for little work. Once you plant a few they basically last forever as produce runners each year.

Tomatoes, strawberries, green bean and courgettes are our easiest and largest crops. I shall be adding extra berry bushes this year ( blueberry, raspberries and blackberry).

Lidl had fruit trees a £4.99 the other day. Not fast return, but if you have space, worth planting a couple now whilst cheap to get returns in a few years time. Apple/ cherry/plum I think

Well we won't need to worry about lights ... sorting through store cupboards at work (a church) I found thousands of half burnt candles, quite frankly they are a fire risk and I have been told to get rid, we will be on candlelight after we finish dinner from now on

One of my best everyday savings is my multi pan steamer. Cheap to buy, I've actually got two which means I can steam all the veggies for even a Sunday roast on the one ring. Potatoes boil in the bottom and everything else goes in according to how much cooking it needs so root veggies at the bottom and brassicas at the top... All goes on together the difference in steam temp means it all cooks in the same time.
I also have a very large ( really big!) pan so stews, chillies, curry etc are always enough for several days so I don't need to use the cooker as often.
And I've probably saved £100s on tinfoil over the years by using a baking brick instead. Which, if you want to, you can chuck potatoes and root veggies in alongside the meat to roast at the same time. You can also use it as a Dutch oven thingy to bake bread... works a treat!