Lots of Little Ways to Conserve Electricity
Electricity is obviously a key expense that we just cannot avoid. However, have you ever thought about switching out your bulbs to energy-saving alternatives and turning off everything electrical when not in use? Most of us have, but there are other things you can do to cut down on your electricity consumption.
• Electronic equipment, like computers, use electricity even when switched off. To really save money, unplug them when you're not actively using them.
• You may think that it won't make much difference because things like light bulbs don't use up much electricity anyway, but you'll be pleasantly surprised at how much savings you'll see on your energy bill.
• Keep the food processor in the cupboard and dice, chop and grate your vegetables the old fashioned way - with a sharp knife and a grater!
• Do you really need to blow-dry your hair every time you wash it? Try towelling it dry, then combing into your style and letting it dry naturally (or you could make a cuppa and take it and a book and sit in the sun for 20 minutes). It won't take long to dry and once it is, just comb or brush it through.
• Switch to washing every second day, or even just twice a week. Yes, you'll have more loads to do, but there is a much better chance of them being full loads.
• If you have a large chest or upright freezer, only open it once a week. Treat it as a shopping trip and take out everything you'll need for the coming week: meat, bread, vegetables, desserts, pastry etc. Transfer the food to your fridge or the fridge freezer compartment. Each time you open your freezer, it costs you money to bring it back down to the set temperature. Eliminate frequent opening and save some money.
None of these things will save you a fortune on their own. But collectively, over a year, they will make a big difference to your power consumption and the overall bill. Why not give some of these ideas a try and see how much of a difference they make to your power bill?
• Electronic equipment, like computers, use electricity even when switched off. To really save money, unplug them when you're not actively using them.
• You may think that it won't make much difference because things like light bulbs don't use up much electricity anyway, but you'll be pleasantly surprised at how much savings you'll see on your energy bill.
• Keep the food processor in the cupboard and dice, chop and grate your vegetables the old fashioned way - with a sharp knife and a grater!
• Do you really need to blow-dry your hair every time you wash it? Try towelling it dry, then combing into your style and letting it dry naturally (or you could make a cuppa and take it and a book and sit in the sun for 20 minutes). It won't take long to dry and once it is, just comb or brush it through.
• Switch to washing every second day, or even just twice a week. Yes, you'll have more loads to do, but there is a much better chance of them being full loads.
• If you have a large chest or upright freezer, only open it once a week. Treat it as a shopping trip and take out everything you'll need for the coming week: meat, bread, vegetables, desserts, pastry etc. Transfer the food to your fridge or the fridge freezer compartment. Each time you open your freezer, it costs you money to bring it back down to the set temperature. Eliminate frequent opening and save some money.
None of these things will save you a fortune on their own. But collectively, over a year, they will make a big difference to your power consumption and the overall bill. Why not give some of these ideas a try and see how much of a difference they make to your power bill?