The problem with todays lifestyle is we tend to moan about the cost of Electricity and Gas etc. but still pay the bills ! By having a more frugal and thrifty attitude to saving home energy, we can reduce these quite considerably.

FREEZER
Ensure you defrost on a regular basis - makes more space for more storage and doesn’t send the thermostat into overdrive.
Are the Door Seals efficient? Put a piece of paper in door frame and close - any movement means there’s a gap for warm air to get in.
Keep the Freezer full, more space means more waste. Any gaps, put screwed up plastic bags in.

FRIDGE
Do the same as above with the doors
Do you really need a light in there? If not, take the bulb out.
Defrost any freezer compartment on a regular basis

OVEN
Keep interior clean. The more grease etc around the thermostat and sides will mean food takes a little longer to cook.
Use the smallest Ring when possible, especially when slow cooking.
Do not continually open the Oven door when cooking, this loses a quarter of the heat.
Switch Oven off five or so minutes before the food is cooked. The Oven will retain the heat.

MICROWAVE
If you’re buying one, get one with a digital timer. This is not only safer, but allows you to cook exactly the time specified, a dial timer one can add or lose a few seconds.
Use Microwave whenever possible. It’s more energy efficient than an Oven and surprisingly, more environmentally friendly

KETTLE
Descale on a regular basis, this will cause less strain on power and make the Kettle last longer.
Note - Fast Boil Kettles use no more electricity than a slow one. They simply use more electricity, but for a shorter period - it cancels out.

WASHING MACHINE
Never use unless you’re filling it to an exceptable level, thus using less frequently.

DISHWASHER
Again, don’t use if not full
Seperate page coming soon

GADGETS
Electric Can Openers, Knives, Whiskers etc. - avoid them - go back to basics and exercise those arms !

LIGHTING
Do we really need lights in Cupboards, under them, over them etc?
Switch off lights or take bulbs out if they came with the Units and you don’t require them.
Use energy efficient bulbs on the ceiling and get the kids disciplined to switch them off when they’re not in there snacking !

MONITOR YOUR ELECTRICITY
There are many things you can buy to monitor one particular item, but there’s one - the Efergy Smart Meter which does it all. Simply clamp a magnet onto your live feed at the Meter, stick a wireless monitor on the wall and read your exact useage on a small screen monitor anywhere around the house. It operates by battery and will show you the useage either in power used or by cost, updating every five seconds !
You’ll be amazed at the savings you could make. CLICK HERE for a separate page on it with photo’s etc.

LABOUR SAVING IS NOT ALWAYS SAVING ENERGY !!