Tell E.ON what your energy saving tips are - an iPad Air to be won! NOW CLOSED

[MichelleMumsnet]

We have been asked by the team at E.ON to find your best energy saving tips - relating specifically to gadget use. This comes following new research from E.ON has uncovered that UK parents now spend almost £300 per household on gadgets for their kids each year.

E.ON know that with technology playing an increasingly significant role in family life – from helping the kids with their homework to listening to the latest music – there’s rarely a time when a gadget isn’t on the go. However, their research shows that under half of parents (44%) consider the impact their gadget use could be having on their energy bills.

That’s why E.ON is working with Mumsnet to highlight their Saving Energy Toolkit, which enables E.ON customers to monitor how much energy their family is using – and compare it to similar homes in their local area. E.ON’s research found that eight in 10 parents find gadgets useful in running their households.

The E.ON Saving Energy Toolkit also contains tips to save energy, and they are now keen to know more about the ways parents stay savvy with their energy use. Whether it’s getting the family to watch TV together – so multiple devices aren’t used in one go, or ways to incentivise children to turn off their bedroom lights, E.ON want to know how your family uses no more energy that it needs to. What are your tips to save energy? Please share them on this thread.

Everyone who posts a tip on this thread will be entered into a prize draw, where one winner will receive an 16GB iPad air worth £399.

Please note your comments may be included on E.ON’s social media channels, and possibly elsewhere, so please only post if you're comfortable with this.

Thanks and good luck,

MNHQ

P.S. Please click here for the terms and conditions of this thread.

I switch off the tv and video at the wall, never left on standby. The microwave and the oven are only switched on when actually required so clocks not flashing all the time.

We make sure nothing is left in standby.

Things aren't constantly charged, we let them drain right down and then charge them up. Not sure it makes a difference to energy usage but we charge by plugging into the USB of the PC most of the time rather than having lots of plus filled with devices charging.

Boil the kettle with what you need, not a full kettle.

Always wash at 30 and wait for full load rather than multiple small ones

I'll admit I'm shocking when if comes to energy efficiency, dp is constantly following me turning things off. I do however make sure to cook a couple of things in the oven at once which isn't much I admit but I'm trying to get better.
does eating out count as energy efficient cause I'm not using power to cook with

I'm very good at keeping lights off that aren't being used, but I tend to leave my kitchen lamp on (low energy bulb) so that the Dc's can go from the lounge to dining/landing/bedrooms without putting every other light on en route. My house is in dire need of rewiring, so we currently don't have a proper kitchen light or a hall light anyway.
I turn the halogen light in the lounge down.

I do use a tumble dryer (depending on how much I need to get dry and how little space I have left on the drying rack), but it has a timer and I do keep an eye on the things being dried so that they aren't being cooked. I also put a dry towel in with the damp things and it helps to use it for shorter periods of time so saves energy.

I only use the washing machine and dishwasher when they are full loads and often wear clothes (not underwear!) for more than one day if they pass the look and sniff test. Ds's never do, so he has loads of laundry.

Showers only and I got my Dd used to showering from being newborn so there has never been an issue with getting a wet face or head.

In the colder months, I only put the heating on for a maximum of 90 minutes in the morning ~ I turn it off earlier if I can, and put it on only as necessary in the evenings.
I found that wearing boot style slippers keep you warmer all over than ordinary slippers too, so now that is all I'll buy.
Onesies keep us warmer than any pj's and dressing gown I've ever used.
I have all season duvets, so can add the extra layer as necessary, but I also bought a load of Ikea fleece blankets for when it's extra cold.

I only put the hot water on for between 30 and 60 minutes in any one day and probably only 3 times a week as hot water isn't used a lot from the gas fired water cylinder.

I use a hob top kettle and only heat what I need to use at the time.

I use solar powered lamps in my porch and sheds.

If I buy bargain meat products like pork or lamb joints, I roast them all at the same time and then cool and freeze. When you want to use it, defrost and then I serve it cold, but pour piping hot gravy over it.

I intend to get a wood burner fitted before the winter sets in this year too.

This year I got over £600 refunded to me from my BG account.

Charge up phones and gadgets in the evening when the electricity rate is a bit cheaper.

Use slow cooker, batch cook.
Charge gadgets during the evening, not overnight. Make sure chargers are switched off when battery full.
Cuddle instead of turning the heating on.
Use rechargeable batteries.
Nag, nag, nag DD to switch lights off.

Always turn off the light when you leave the room.
Jumper on first if your cold, snuggle under a blanket on the sofa.
Hang washing to dry.

After using the oven, leave the door open and let the residual heat, heat the kitchen

We have the goldfish tank lights on a timer so we don't forget to switch it off, and the boys have to ask before the (one) TV goes on. I'm probably the worst culprit with leaving my laptop on, but am trying to get better!

Tumble dryer is very rarely used, we bought a heated airer instead.

Gadgets are only charged up when the battery is about to run out, and only plugged in until charged - never left to charge overnight for example. Only things left active overnight are the fridge freezer and the sky box as it records early morning kids tv. Tv goes on to watch a particular programme, not to browse and watch whatever's on. No devices of any kind upstairs at the moment as my children are still little so any gadget use is both monitored and time limited. Also the older consoles with the gaming pads connected by wire to the game console saves on batteries/recharging.

Well I have taught the children never to turn on a light unless it's dark!

We have got rid of our bath (so only have a shower) which is much more cost-effective in terms of heating water and the amount used.

Turn down the thermostat and put more clothes on rather than putting on the heating as a default (plus heating goes off in April in our house and doesn't go back on until the end of October)

Always dry clothes outside and don't do more than three loads of washing a week!

i tend to not put the heater on unless we really do need it. We wear warmer clothes in the house, slippers etc. We always turn off unnecessary lights. We only ever leave the TV/game consoles when someone is using them. We also switched them totally off, we never leave any of our electrical items on standby. We don't have a tumble dryer so we use the laundry line all the time.

Only boil as much water as you need whether its in the kettle or on the hob.

Use the leftover water from boiling your veg to water your plants as its full of veggie goodness.

Rather than putting the heating up put a jumper or thick pair of socks on.

Use a smart meter to learn which appliances use the most electricity. If you have a choice e.g. heaters, you can see which one to use to save electricity. Involve children in checking the smart meter and encourage them to switch off devices and make the reading go down. Children like to see a visible result of their energy saving efforts.You can also reward children if they find appliances e.g.a tv or lights left on in an empty room.

Dress in layers traps the air and keeps you warm...
Draft excluders at the bottom of doors...
Thick curtains...
Place heat reflectors behind the radiators - keeps all the heat in...
If you step outside for a few seconds, when you return it feels warm agaion inside...
Switch energy supplier - use comparison sites...
Do not overfill your kettle...
Get a combination boiler - only heats what you use!

In winter, don't leave the heating on all night - a thick blanket on the end of the bed does the trick just as well!

To avoid putting the eating on I put a hot water bottle on my tummy in the evenings and overnight

We always turn lights off when we're not in the room (or at night when we're watching TV :)), anytime anything is done charging it gets unplugged and nothing is left on standby - it really does all add up when you realise how many little lights would be sitting there blinking away!

Swap to energy saving bulbs.
Thermal curtains help keep the heat in thus the heating does not need to be on as much.
Turn things off when not in use. Preferably by switching off at the plug.

switch lights off when leaving the room, turn appliances off at the socket rather than leaving on standby, try putting a jumper and a pair of socks/ slippers on instead of putting the heating on, wash clothes at 30 degrees, use draught excluders.

1. Replace old fridge freezers and cut your electric bill significantly. The new models are more energy efficient and old equipment will tend to use more electicity as it deteriorates.

1. Get loft/cavity wall insulation installed and/or double glazing.

1. Use a microwave to cook meat before using an oven especially when cooking stewing steak. Cuts cooking time considerably. When boiling water on the cooker put the lid on as it will boil a lot quicker.

1. Use a thermos flask for hot water to make hot drinks with boiled water from the kettle. Don’t fill your kettle right up every time – just boil the amount of water you need.

1. Use draft excluders or draft excluder tape on doors. On windows, you can use cling film.

1. Turn off all sockets and gadgets which are not in use. Turn off all lights in rooms which are not in use.

1. Change all lightbulbs for low energy or efficient alternatives.

1. Use solar panels for heating or at least invest in solar chargers for your gadgets.

1. Winter duvets or a duvet with a blanket over will cut down on heating overnight.

10. Compare your supplier to other companies who may have cheaper deals or prices and swap over. Or convert to gas.

11. Open fires places are economical and wood burning stoves which not only heat the house but make a hot meal too. If you are worried about the trees etc. You can use old furniture or wood obtained from freebie sites.

We use draught excluders to help keep the house warm. We have also had loft, cavity wall insulation and double glazing fitted, which saves our gas bills. Otherwise we tend to have a thick tog duvet at night and wear jumpers in the house to save putting the heating on as much. Lastly we tend to hang our washing up when its nice to save using the dryer.

Have sex with the lights off, turn all chargers off when not in use, turn radiators off in rooms that aren't being used, set thermostat at a reasonable temperature so it turns off when the house is warm, use lamps instead of main lights, don't leave the TV on standby.

I make sure the thermostat is turned down to the lowest possible temp, whether heating water or heating the house in winter. I always use an E-on power-down plug for TV, DVD, Sky box etc, so it always switches everything completely off, except the Sky box, when not in use. I check power usage on the 1st every month so can see immediately if we are using more or less energy each month and if I spot any peaks I can investigate why. I also had double-glazing installed to retain more heat and help to lower our heating costs.

Turn lights off when you leave the room.
If you are cold, put a jumper on! Don't just automatically switch the heating on.
Unplug phones, tablets etc. when charged.