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.

When Winter draws near, put on jumpers before you put the heating on

Run dishwasher etc through the night and make sure you're home is properly insulated.

Never leave gadgets on standby, always switch off at the plug. Even chargers left in the plug use some energy. Encourage family to watch the same TV programmes to save energy.
Switch lights off when leaving a room.
Turn the pressure down on the power shower, it's amazing how much elector and water they use.
When cooking, I make several meals at a time and freeze some for meals during the week. Keeping the freezer full also means that it is using less energy then when running empty. Also leave the oven door open after cooking, to heat the kitchen.
Ask your energy supplier whether they could supply you with a smart meter. These gadgets allow you to see the amount of energy you are using, and where you need to cut down.

To cut down on water and fuel consumption I wash dishes in the sink more than use my dishwasher . Also fill the kettle up with less water if only making one cup of tea it saves loads of energy!

The best tip goes back many years.

Use draft excluders.

Sometimes you feel cold, not because the room is cold but a draft from another room where the heating isn't on!

You can make one yourself. See guardian page
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2010/jan/05/how-to-make-draught-excluder

Hope this helps everyone!

Use a slow cooker,
Don't leave lights and tv on if not in the room.

Wear a jumper to save on heating.
Don't tumble dry, hang washing out , use a clothes horse in winter.
Put lids on pans

We're not really big on gadgets, so limiting use is probably the best way! Other than that switching everything off when not in use, I'm sure alot of households have the TV on in the background quite often! I think just paying attention to what you do can lead to better habits.

I always I make sure everything is turned off standby, I only put enough water in the kettle for my needs at that time, and I make the children use a timer in the shower or they will be in there all day under a nice hot shower, I turn the thermostat down a little and make them put on an extra cardigan/jumper, and I use a long draft excluder up against the inner porch door to keep out a draft

use adapters which turn off things rather than leaving them on standby
ensure you have adequate loft & cavity wall insulation
have showers instead of baths
use energy efficient lightbulbs
use the economy 1 hour setting on clothes that don't have bad stains

Make sure you turn lights of when you leave the room and unplug all mobile charges when not in use

Draft excluders for winter time. Heating on a thermostat so it clicks off when it reaches that temperature. Showers rather than baths. Tumble dryer only in emergencies! Everything else on the line.

We have installed insualtion behind our radiators so the heat is reflected back into the room.

Turn off the lights when not in use and set timer on the television in bed at night!

Not to leave things on charge longer than necessary

Use a slow cooker for family meals these days. All your cooking in one pot, no need for veg to be cooked separately. or rice or meat.Also kids smell the food cooking all day which gets there tastes buds going. Becomes a family meal as well. easy washing up and ledd energy both for mum and energy suppliers.

When baking something in the oven, switch it off 5 minutes before finishing time. It takes a while to cool and as it does so, your food is still cooking.

Put an extra layer of clothing on before you switch the heating on.

Make sure to switch off lights whenever you leave the room, youd be surprised how much you can save and dont overcharge items.

Rechargeable batteries. Wind up gramophone.

I always charge up my ipad and iphone in my lorry at work, also try to charge kids stuff up when we are in the car.

Turn everything off and go to a friends house for the night!

turn off at the mains when not in use.
use energy efficient products (A++ ratings and LED)
use only when necessary (make use of natural sources like light/heat)!
don't overuse (shower rather than bathe, turn heating down, run a full load wash for dishes/laundry).
cook meals together (if you all eat differently - coordinate oven use)

nothing left on standby

switching computers off rather than putting into sleep mode if not being used for over an hour.

turning things off as soon as fully charged

timers set for 8 mins for showers

showers only on economy setting not full power

heating only put on after cardigans and jumpers put on

doors shut when heating on

lights off as rooms exited

all lights on dimmer switches

the TV only on when it is actually being watched.

only filling the kettle with the amount of water needed

Dont leave things on standy and layer up before heating goes on.

I make sure the heating is on a timer when I'm at work so will only turn on when I'm on the way home. I have insulated the loft and walls too.