Energy Saving Tips

I thought it might be useful if we had a thread where we could all post our energy saving tips

I'll start us off with an easy one.

Make sure you turn your lights off when you're not in the room.

Use task lighting; instead of brightly lighting an entire room, focus the light where you need it. For example, use fluorescent under-cabinet lighting for kitchen sinks and countertops under cabinets.

[seven]

When shopping for new light fixtures, consider buying dedicated compact fluorescent fixtures with built-in ballasts that use pin-based replacement bulbs.

[natterjack]

Keep your fridge and freezer full - even if it's only with old milk bottles full of water (not full if for freezing!) Once they are cold, the temperature doesn't change as much when you open the door - it's more efficient in the long run.

[david16]

Insulate your electric hot-water storage tank and pipes, but be careful not to cover the thermostat.

[agent orange]

Turning your heating down by just 1 degree can save around 20% of your energy costs.

Don't make special journey's by car just to take recycling. Make sure your central heating has a manual room thermostat. I don't use a timer at all. We have a combi boiler which heats the system very quickly, so we just turn it up till it clicks when we go down in the morning, down when we go out or to bed. We don't automatically turn it to 20 or 21 when we turn it up, but just till it first clicks on. Often all the house needs is a quick warm up rather than full heating all day. Close the curtains at night to keep the heat in. I don't really think you save much by hand washing, but you do by natural drying. Don't leave the fridge or freezer open longer than you need to ie when you are loading your shopping or taking food out. Turn lights of when you leave the room. Turn off your computer when not using it. Most people nowadays tend to leave it on all day. Don't fit a power shower, they use too much hot water. My sis fitted a super duper one, but now tells guests to turn it off while they are soaping themselves!! Would have been better to have fitted a normal one!

[* star *]

Some dishwasher tips:

Check the manual that came with your dishwasher for the manufacturer's recommendations on water temperature; many have internal heating elements that allow you to set the water heater to a lower temperature.

Scrape, don't rinse, off large food pieces and bones. Soaking or prewashing is generally only recommended in cases of burned-on or dried-on food.

Be sure your dishwasher is full, but not overloaded.

Don't use the "rinse hold" on your machine for just a few soiled dishes. It uses 3 to 7 gallons of hot water each time you use it.

Let your dishes air dry; if you don't have an automatic air-dry switch, turn off the control knob after the final rinse and prop the door open a little so the dishes will dry faster.

[MarkuisMellvile]

Dishwasher tips 2:

Don't buy one at all. Run the tap in your kitchen sink, filling a bowl with enough water to wash your crockery and cutlery.

Wash them up, re-fill and do the pans.

Leave them to dry on a rack over your draining board, and you've used no more water than necessary, and saved the electricity too (assuming you have gas heated hot water!)

Seriously though, are there biodegradable dishwasher tablets/crystals, or is having a dishwasher at all to be condemned as unsustainable on all grounds? Ecofriendly washing-up liquid is available in all supermarkets, but the usual advice to not use too much still applies as with any chemical product!

MM

[* star *]

You raise some very good points there Markius. I can't afford a dishwasher so always wash things by hand but many of my friends use dishwashers and wouldn't dream of using anything else