by David | April 16, 2009 | In Home, Water | 4 Comments
In your toliet! No – Not down it! In the cistern!
The average cistern holds around 8 litres of water. Approximately 6 litres is emptied EVERYTIME you pull the chain. Try carrying 6 litres of water round the block. Its a lot of water. Read the rest of this tip…
by David | March 25, 2009 | In Home | No Comments (Yet!)
When you buy a new electrical appliance, get an A or A+ rated energy-efficient model. The new energy and water efficient appliances you can buy these days cost less to run, save electricity, save water, save you money and contribute less to climate change.
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by David | March 17, 2009 | In Home | No Comments (Yet!)
Everyone does laundry. Most of us hate it, but it has to be done. There are new washing products being developed that operate at really low temperatures. However, here are some other ideas to make your washing more eco-friendly.
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by David | February 20, 2009 | In Saving Energy | 7 Comments
If you’re drying your clothes indoors, avoid putting them on your radiators. By covering your radiators, you are preventing the heat from reaching the rest of the room.
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by David | February 19, 2009 | In Technology, Work | 7 Comments
When buying new computer equipment for the office, consider buying laptop computers rather than desktop PCs. Old desktop computers can seriously waste energy, often consuming up to 400 Watts of power. Laptop computers are much more energy efficient, using up to 70% less heat.
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by David | February 12, 2009 | In Food | No Comments (Yet!)
To save energy whilst cooking, turn off your cooker hob or oven several minutes before the food has finished cooking.
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by David | February 10, 2009 | In Saving Energy | 1 Comment
Many local city or regional utility companies have joined forces to encourage home owners to upgrade the insulation efficiency of their home. When blown in insulation sits it an attic it settles. The depth of the insulation is the key to a more efficient home. Some homes are found with little or no insulation in the attic.
Many utility companies have rebate programs available to help offset the cost or even rebate the whole amount. With the reduction in new home construction, many insulation companies are doing the work for the price of the rebate. Some will even carry the cost until the rebate is processes, leaving the home owner with zero cost out of pocket.
Search your area for utility rebates for upgraded insulation. Not all areas are offering the same rebate. Talk with your utility company; they may even refer you to a company offering special financing. This will not be around for ever so take advantage now.
This guest tip was written by Steve Feller (Kyanisunrise) from Green Building Ideas.
by David | January 30, 2009 | In Technology | 2 Comments
Andrew Davey, a 13-year-old who lives in Knaphill, Surrey, UK has created a search engine website that can help people save energy. Andrew got the idea from a Mark Ontkush, who concluded that an all-white web page uses 74 watts of energy compared to 59W from an all-black webpage. Therefore changing from using a white web page to a black one would save up to 15W every time it’s displayed.
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by David | January 26, 2009 | In Home, Work | No Comments (Yet!)
Nansulate is a water-based acrylic latex base containing an insulating nanocomposite material. The paint is used to coat walls and ceilings, acting as a layer of insulation to reduce energy costs associated with heating and cooling. Nansulate is suitable for both residential and industrial applications, where the coating can be also used on pipes, tanks and equipment.
Nansulate is not a ceramic coating, but a transparent 'paint'. The coating does not change the appearance of the painted surface, making it suitable for a wide variety of surfaces. Even better, Nansulate doesn't contain any VOCs either!
I think that the product is a great idea for adding insulation. You can add an insulating layer to older buildings without the need for specialists to apply the coating. If you combine this with other insulating materials, you can massively reduce your heating and cooling bills. The Nansulate is very effective on its own, giving most users between 20% and 40% savings!
Thanks to Francesca from Nansulate for telling me about the product.
by David | January 20, 2009 | In Food, Home | No Comments (Yet!)
Here’s a simple tip for the kitchen. Don’t open the oven door to check on how things are cooking! Use the oven light!
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by David | January 9, 2009 | In Home | No Comments (Yet!)
Regularly defrosting your freezer can massively improve its efficiency. The ice that builds up becomes an insulator, reducing the effectiveness of the freezing process. Also make sure you use the whole of your freezer, rather than leaving it only half-full.
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Ariel Excel Gel is a new product that has hit the UK that allows you to do your washing at just 15 degrees Celcius (59 degrees Fahrenheit)! Since 15C is less than average room temperature, you should save a small fortune on energy costs. Most of the energy costs associated with washing machines are associated with heating the water to a specific temperature.
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by David | December 30, 2008 | In Food, Home | No Comments (Yet!)
If you are not using your microwave, ensure it’s completely switched off. Simply powering the clock can use more energy than heating your food! It’s another example of one of those standby energy guzzlers!
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by David | December 22, 2008 | In Energy Suppliers, Home | No Comments (Yet!)
Bleeding your radiators releases any air trapped inside them. By bleeding your radiators regularly, you improve how efficiently they heat up your rooms. If you get into the habit of checking your radiators regularly, you should find you can reduce the amount of radiators that you have on. You should even be able to save money too.
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Did you know that 20% of the heat in an average home is lost due to draughts and poor ventilation? When you next have a cold day, walk around your hope and check for badly sealed windows, draughts coming from under doors, letter boxes that don’t have draft excluding seals and gaps in the floor boards.
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Though air conditioners use tons of energy, some climates make it difficult to live without them. So if you’ve got one in your home or office, make sure the filters are changed and the units are serviced regularly.
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by David | November 10, 2008 | In Energy Suppliers, Green Resources, Home, Water, Work | No Comments (Yet!)
With the environment and being eco-friendly becoming a growing concern, there are a few organisations that have been set up to help people save money and be more eco-aware. One of these organisations in the UK is called the Energy Saving Trust. The Energy Saving Trust gives impartial energy saving advice for your home, businesses and communities.
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by David | October 28, 2008 | In Technology | No Comments (Yet!)
If you want to save some energy with your PC, there are a number of very simple tips you can use without buying a new computer or buying some energy saving gadget.
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by David | October 1, 2008 | In Home | 2 Comments
We know air drying clothes is better for the environment due to the decrease in energy consumption by not using electric or gas clothes dryers. So here’s a cool new product that will make it easier. It’s called the CordoClip, which automatically un-pegs your clothes as you reel in the washing line.
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by David | September 25, 2008 | In Home, Water | No Comments (Yet!)
Showers are already known to be significant water savers compared to having a hot bath. Bath’s use a lot of water, and although it nice to treat yourself to a nice soak every once in a while, it costs a lot in energy and water to fill a bath.
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